What the evidence levels mean
Approved, approved in some countries, human studies, lab and animal studies: how uPrime labels the evidence behind each peptide, and research versus community protocols.
Peptides range from medicines tested in thousands of people to compounds that have only been studied in mice. Every compound in uPrime carries one of four labels, so you can see at a glance how much is really known.
The four levels
- Approved compound: approved as a medicine in the US or EU for at least one use, for example semaglutide, tirzepatide and tesamorelin.
- Approved in some countries: a medicine only in some countries, for example Russia or Japan. Selank and Semax are approved in Russia.
- Human studies: tested in people, but not approved as a medicine, such as retatrutide and ipamorelin.
- Lab and animal studies: the evidence comes mainly from cells or animals, as with BPC-157 and TB-500.
Why animal results are not enough
Many compounds work in rats and then fail in people, or turn out to have side effects that only show up in larger human trials. AOD-9604 is a clear example: it reduced fat in animals, but human trials with several hundred people found no meaningful weight loss. A promising animal result is a reason to study a compound, not proof that it works or is safe.
Research and community protocols
- Research protocol: a dose from the official label or from a published clinical trial in people. The page also says who that study was done in, because a dose may not apply to anyone else.
- Community protocol: the most common reference found online. It has not been validated in human trials.
How to use the labels
Read the evidence level and the cautions together. A lower level does not mean a compound is dangerous, and a higher one does not mean it is right for you: it tells you how much is known. Each compound page shows its sources, so you can read the studies behind it.
Educational reference only. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any compound or dose. Talk to a doctor before using any of these compounds.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26
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