Melanotan II vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Melanotan II and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Melanotan II
GHK-Cu
Melanotan II
Melanotan-II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) engineered in the late 1980s by researchers at the University of Arizona, most prominently Mac Hadley and…
Lowest listed price: $34.99 across 5 listings
Full Melanotan II profileGHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a molecule Pickart and Thaler first pulled out of human plasma in 1973. The free peptide (GHK, C14H24N6O4) weighs about 340.4 Da; bind it 1:1…
Lowest listed price: $34.99 across 7 listings
Full GHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Melanotan II | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Approved/marketed as a topical cosmetic ingredient (Copper tripeptide-1) with supporting small human studies. Injectable use is preclinical/off-label, research-use-only, with no human clinical trials. |
| Mechanism of Action | Melanotan-II works by binding to and activating all four G-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors expressed in mammalian tissue (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R - MC2R responds only to ACTH), with particularly high affinity at MC1R, MC3R, and MC4R. Melanocortin… | GHK-Cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. It binds Cu(II) with high affinity (log K around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper for copper-dependent enzymes like SOD1, lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, and… |
| Half-Life | Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours. | ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study) |
| Typical Dose Range | — | 200-500 mcg SC daily (community/RUO; no clinically established injectable dose) |
| Dosing Frequency | — | Once daily subcutaneous; some run 5 days on / 2 days off. Topical: 1-2x daily to cleansed skin. |
| Administration | — | Subcutaneous, Topical |
| Side Effects | The side-effect profile of MT-II is dose-dependent and largely driven by pan-melanocortin receptor activation. Many users experience the acute side effects as more limiting than the tanning benefit. Very Common (50% of users): - Nausea — the single most common… | Topical GHK-Cu is generally well tolerated; higher-concentration formulations (4-5%) raise the odds of irritation, redness, or stinging. Injectable use has no safety data from controlled trials; the main theoretical concern is copper accumulation with repeated… |
| Molecular Weight | ~1024.2 g/mol (average molecular weight; monoisotopic mass ~1023.5 Da). Molecular formula C50H69N15O9 (PubChem CID 92432). | Free peptide (GHK): 340.38 Da (C14H24N6O4). Copper complex (GHK-Cu): 401.9 Da (C14H22CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex). |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Price History
3 data points- Half Nattys
- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Price History
4 data points- OF
- BM
- Half Nattys
- BHG Labs
Melanotan II: potential benefits
- Tanning without UV
- Appetite suppression
- Sexual arousal
- Photoprotection
- Fat loss
GHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Stimulates type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblasts at low nanomolar-to-picomolar concentrations (PMID: 3169264)
- Increases glycosaminoglycans (dermatan/chondroitin sulfate) and upregulates decorin in wound models (PMID: 11121126)
- Modulates matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, partially correcting the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in a smoke-induced emphysema model (PMID: 35936787)
- Drives tissue remodeling and chemoattracts macrophages, mast cells, and capillary cells to injury sites (PMID: 18644225)
- Modulates expression of ~4,000+ human genes via the Broad Institute Connectivity Map, including DNA-repair and antioxidant genes (PMID: 25302294)
- Increases stemness and proliferative potential of epidermal basal cells and keratinocytes (PMID: 23019153)
- Acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory copper regulator in the context of aging (PMID: 22666519)
- Broad skin-regeneration effects on collagen, proteoglycans, MMPs, and immune/endothelial cell recruitment (PMID: 26236730)
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Melanotan II and GHK-Cu?
Melanotan II is a skin, hair & aesthetics that melanotan-ii works by binding to and activating all four g-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors expressed in mammalian tissue (mc1r, mc3r, mc4r, mc5r - mc2r responds only to…. GHK-Cu is a skin, hair & aesthetics that ghk-cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. it binds cu(ii) with high affinity (log k around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours. vs ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Melanotan II or GHK-Cu?
Melanotan II has a half-life of Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours.. GHK-Cu has a half-life of ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, Melanotan II or GHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: Melanotan II from $34.99, GHK-Cu from $34.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack Melanotan II and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Melanotan II and GHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
See current vendor prices
Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy Melanotan II or GHK-Cu
Check the vendor trust score. Every supplier we track is rated 0-100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and listings: one published, reproducible methodology, applied to every vendor.
Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.