Side-by-side · Research reference

GHK-CuvsProstamax

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

AHuman-MechanisticHUMAN-REVIEWED8/47 cited

BAnimal-MechanisticHUMAN-REVIEWED11/38 cited

GHK-Cu

Tripeptide · Skin / Hair / Wound Healing

1–2 mgSQ dosePickart 2018

HumanMechanisticPickart 2018 Zink 2003

HoursHalf-life

SQ or topical · Local · Daily or 2-3×/week

Prostamax

Khavinson Bioregulator · Tissue-Specific Peptide

0.05 ng/mLActive concentrationZakutskiĭ 2006

2.5×SCE frequency increaseDzhokhadze 2012

4 AAPeptide length

SQ · Protocol per Khavinson tradition

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

GHK-Cu

Prostamax

Primary target

Copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, SOD); regulator of >4000 human genesPickart 2018

Chromatin in prostatic cells — pericentromeric heterochromatin regions

Pathway

Cu(II) delivery via GHK chelation → ↑collagen / elastin / GAG synthesis; ↓inflammatory cytokines; ↑hair follicle growth-factor signalingPickart 2018

Epigenetic modulation → heterochromatin decondensation → transcriptional derepressionDzhokhadze 2012

Downstream effect

Skin firmness + texture improvement, accelerated wound healing, hair regrowth, anti-inflammatory actionPickart 2018 Zink 2003

Increased sister chromatid exchange, Ag-NOR activation, reduced C-heterochromatin condensation; tissue-specific regenerative stimulation in prostate organotypic culturesDzhokhadze 2012 Zakutskiĭ 2006

Feedback intact?

Replaces declining endogenous levels

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Origin

Endogenous tripeptide first isolated from human plasma; declines from ~200 ng/mL at age 20 to ~80 ng/mL at age 60Pickart 2018

Synthetic tetrapeptide modeled on naturally occurring protein-derived bioregulators isolated between lysine-arginine motifs in long-lived speciesKhavinson 2017

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

GHK-Cu

Prostamax

Standard SQ dose

1–2 mg / dayPickart 2018

Anecdotal injectable range; topical creams use 0.1–2% solutions.

—

Topical concentration

0.1–2.0% in serum / cream

—

Frequency

Daily or 2–3× per week (SQ)

—

Lower / starter dose

0.5 mg / day SQ

—

Evidence basis

Human-mechanistic + topical clinical studiesPickart 2018

Animal / organotypic cultureZakutskiĭ 2006 Dzhokhadze 2012

No randomized controlled trials in humans.

Duration

8–12 weeks for visible skin / hair effect

Not specified

Khavinson protocols typically 10–20 days per cycle; no long-term safety data.

Reconstitution

Bacteriostatic water; light-protected

—

Timing

No specific time; evening preferred for topicals

—

Half-life

Hours (estimated; rapid tissue uptake)

—

Effective concentration (in vitro)

—

0.05 ng/mLZakutskiĭ 2006

Organotypic culture model; demonstrated tissue-specific stimulation.

Human clinical dose

—

Not established

No published human trials; dosing extrapolated from Russian clinical tradition (not peer-reviewed).

Age groups studied

—

Young (3-week) and aged (18-month) rats; elderly humans (75–86 years) in vitroZakutskiĭ 2006 Dzhokhadze 2012

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

GHK-Cu

Prostamax

Injection site reaction

Erythema, mild pruritus (common)

—

Topical irritation

Mild redness, transient stinging

—

Copper accumulation

Theoretical with very high chronic doses

—

Allergic reaction

Rare hypersensitivity to copper

—

Pregnancy / OB

Avoid topical and SQ — insufficient data

—

Wilson disease

Contraindicated

—

Published adverse events

—

None reported in available literature

Genotoxicity signals

—

Increased sister chromatid exchange (SCE) — marker of DNA recombination/repair; unclear long-term implications

Metal ion interactions

—

Modulates Cu(II) and Cd(II) chromatin effects; unknown clinical relevance

Human safety data

—

Absent — no published Phase 1/2/3 trials

Absolute Contraindications

GHK-Cu

·Wilson disease (copper-overload disorder)
·Pregnancy / breastfeeding
·Known copper hypersensitivity

Prostamax

·Active prostate malignancy — epigenetic modulation effects unknown in cancer

Relative Contraindications

GHK-Cu

·Hemochromatosis (copper-iron crosstalk theoretical)
·Concurrent copper-chelator therapy

Prostamax

·History of prostate cancer — theoretical concern re: transcriptional activation
·Undiagnosed prostatic nodules or elevated PSA

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

GHK-Cu

Prostamax

1. Reconstitution

Add 1–2 mL bacteriostatic water to a 50 mg vial → 25–50 mg/mL. Use within 30 days, refrigerated.

Subcutaneous or intramuscular — per Khavinson bioregulator tradition. No published human pharmacokinetic data.

2. Injection site

SQ — local to the area of interest (face, scalp) for skin / hair indications. Rotate sites.

If lyophilised: reconstitute with sterile water per manufacturer protocol (not standardized in literature).

3. Timing

Anytime; evening preferred. Topical: apply to clean dry skin.

Typically daily or every-other-day in Russian clinical tradition; duration 10–20 days per cycle.

4. Storage

Lyophilised: room temp, light-protected. Reconstituted: refrigerate, light-protected, ≤30 days.

No established biomarkers. Theoretical: PSA, prostate imaging, symptom scores (IPSS for BPH).

5. Needle

30–31G, short (4–6 mm) for shallow SQ. Topical: clean fingertips, no needle.

All protocols derived from non-peer-reviewed Russian clinical practice; Western regulatory approval absent.

06Stack Synergy

GHK-Cu

+ BPC-157

Moderate

View BPC-157 →

GHK-Cu drives ECM remodelling and copper-dependent enzymes; BPC-157 upregulates VEGFR2 angiogenesis and fibroblast migration. The pathways are non-overlapping and complementary — together they accelerate wound healing more than either alone in anecdotal protocols.

GHK-Cu: 1–2 mg SQ · daily near wound
BPC-157: 250–500 mcg SQ · daily near wound
Primary benefit: Combined ECM rebuilding + angiogenesis for tissue repair

Prostamax

— no documented stacks