Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1)
GHK-Cu
Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1)
Thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) is a 28-amino-acid N-acetylated peptide (N-Ac-Ser-Asp-Ala-Ala-Val-Asp-Thr-Ser-Ser-Glu-Ile-Thr-Thr-Lys-Asp-Leu-Lys-Glu-Lys-Lys-Glu-Val-Val-Glu-Glu-Ala-Glu-Asn) isolated and characterized by Allan…
Lowest listed price: $39.99 across 4 listings
Full Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) 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 | Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Immune & Inflammation | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Approved (International) | 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 | Thymosin alpha-1 does not act through a single canonical receptor in the way many peptides do. Its mechanism is pleiotropic, involving pattern-recognition receptors, modulation of immune cell maturation and function, and shifts in cytokine signaling patterns.… | 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 | ~2 hours | ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study) |
| Typical Dose Range | 1,600 mcg (1.6 mg) per injection (standard clinical dose) | 200-500 mcg SC daily (community/RUO; no clinically established injectable dose) |
| Dosing Frequency | Twice weekly (subcutaneous) - the approved Zadaxin schedule; alternatively 900 mcg daily for intensive short-term courses | Once daily subcutaneous; some run 5 days on / 2 days off. Topical: 1-2x daily to cleansed skin. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous | Subcutaneous, Topical |
| Side Effects | Tα1 has one of the most benign side-effect profiles in the peptide space, supported by 45+ years of clinical experience in approved indications. Most users experience no acute side effects beyond mild injection site discomfort. Common (5-15% of users): -… | 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 | 3108 Da | Free peptide (GHK): 340.38 Da (C14H24N6O4). Copper complex (GHK-Cu): 401.9 Da (C14H22CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 5mg, 10mg | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Price History
3 data points- OF
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Price History
4 data points- OF
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Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1): potential benefits
- Immune enhancement
- Antiviral defense
- Cancer adjuvant therapy
- Autoimmune modulation
- Vaccine potentiation
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 Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) and GHK-Cu?
Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) is a immune & inflammation that thymosin alpha-1 does not act through a single canonical receptor in the way many peptides do. its mechanism is pleiotropic, involving pattern-recognition receptors, modulation of…. 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 (~2 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, Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) or GHK-Cu?
Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) has a half-life of ~2 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, Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) or GHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) from $39.99, 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 Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) 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
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Before you buy Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1) or GHK-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.