TB-500 vs AHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of TB-500 and AHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
TB-500
AHK-Cu
TB-500
TB-500 is the name the market and the FDA use for a short synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4: the seven-amino-acid, N-acetylated actin-binding sequence Ac-LKKTETQ (residues 17 to 23). Thymosin beta-4 itself is a…
Lowest listed price: $29.00 across 8 listings
Full TB-500 profileAHK-Cu
AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a…
Lowest listed price: $44.99 across 5 listings
Full AHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | TB-500 | AHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Injury, Repair & Recovery | Skin & Hair |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Preclinical |
| Mechanism of Action | Actin Sequestration and Cytoskeletal Dynamics The primary molecular function of thymosin beta-4 (and the synthetic peptide sold as TB-500) is binding to monomeric G-actin in a 1:1 complex, preventing its polymerization into F-actin filaments (PMID: 1627561).… | AHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (antioxidant), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The tripeptide… |
| Half-Life | Plasma half-life is short - full-length thymosin beta-4 clears on the order of hours, while the short LKKTETQ actin-binding fragment clears within minutes. Tissue-level regenerative effects persist substantially longer than plasma exposure. | Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) |
| Typical Dose Range | 2000-5000 mcg (2-5 mg) subcutaneous 2x weekly loading; 2000 mcg (2 mg) weekly maintenance | — |
| Dosing Frequency | 2x per week during loading; 1x per week maintenance | once_daily |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Topical, Subcutaneous, Intradermal |
| Side Effects | Human safety is unknown: FDA's 2026 review found no clinical studies or human exposure data for TB-500 by any route. None of the effects that follow comes from a study. Occasional mild headache, nausea, or lethargy. Localized irritation at injection site.… | — |
| Molecular Weight | 889 Da (Ac-LKKTETQ); full-length thymosin beta-4 4963 Da | Free peptide (AHK): 354.41 Da (C15H26N6O4). Copper complex (AHK-Cu): 415.9 Da (C15H24CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex - Cu(II) displaces two protons from the tripeptide ligand). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 2mg, 5mg, 10mg | 50, 100 |
Price History
4 data points- OF
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- Half Nattys
- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
TB-500: potential benefits
- Accelerated dermal wound healing through enhanced keratinocyte and fibroblast migration, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, including in diabetic and aged models (PMID: 12581423)
- Cardioprotection and tissue repair after myocardial infarction via ILK/Akt survival signaling in preclinical models (PMID: 17600280)
- Anti-inflammatory effects via NF-kB suppression and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (preclinical)
- Corneal wound healing and dry eye symptom improvement in topical ophthalmic (RGN-259) Phase 2 trials (PMID: 25826322)
- Enhanced hair follicle stem cell migration associated with hair growth (preclinical)
- Musculoskeletal recovery through collagen deposition and matrix remodeling (preclinical)
- Endothelial cell migration and vascular regeneration in ischemic tissues (preclinical)
AHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Hair follicle stimulation — activates anagen phase via Wnt/β-catenin in dermal papilla cells
- Reduction of follicle miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia models
- Enhanced scalp vascularity via VEGF upregulation
- Wound healing acceleration — copper cofactor for lysyl oxidase and collagen maturation
- Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations
Frequently asked
What's the difference between TB-500 and AHK-Cu?
TB-500 is a injury, repair & recovery that actin sequestration and cytoskeletal dynamics the primary molecular function of thymosin beta-4 (and the synthetic peptide sold as tb-500) is binding to monomeric g-actin in a 1:1…. AHK-Cu is a skin & hair that ahk-cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Plasma half-life is short - full-length thymosin beta-4 clears on the order of hours, while the short LKKTETQ actin-binding fragment clears within minutes. Tissue-level regenerative effects persist substantially longer than plasma exposure. vs Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, TB-500 or AHK-Cu?
TB-500 has a half-life of Plasma half-life is short - full-length thymosin beta-4 clears on the order of hours, while the short LKKTETQ actin-binding fragment clears within minutes. Tissue-level regenerative effects persist substantially longer than plasma exposure.. AHK-Cu has a half-life of Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, TB-500 or AHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: TB-500 from $29.00, AHK-Cu from $44.99. 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 TB-500 and AHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. TB-500 and AHK-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 TB-500 or AHK-Cu
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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.