The Peptide Family Tree
183 molecules across 10 mechanistic families, drawn as lineages of structural and pharmacological inheritance.
How to read this chart
Each family runs left-to-right: the endogenous parent (or earliest anchor) sits on the left, with structural descendants and pharmacological successors branching out rightward. A solid arrow marks a direct structural derivative or fragment; a dotted arrow marks a next-generation analog that inherits the mechanism but re-engineers the backbone. Some peptides (mitochondrial, antimicrobial, standalone hormones) don't cleanly belong to a lineage and are shown as an island of discrete nodes at the bottom.
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Most peptide charts you'll find online are alphabetical lists or marketing grids. This one is a genealogy. We grouped every peptide on Peptide List into 10 families defined by shared mechanism — which receptor they hit, which fragment of which native hormone they were carved from, which earlier compound they're a next-generation successor to. A final section collects notable standalones that don't fit a lineage. Each family tells the story of how a single endogenous molecule branched into the peptides people actually use today.
GLP-1 Dynasty
The incretin-agonist lineage that reshaped metabolic medicine. Every generation extended the half-life, added receptor targets, or deepened the weight-loss signal — from a twice-daily injection derived from Gila monster venom to a weekly triple agonist.
- Exendin-4 (Gila monster venom, 1992)— endogenous source molecule
- Exenatide— 2005 · first GLP-1 agonist
- Liraglutide— 2010 · daily
- Dulaglutide— 2014 · weekly
- Semaglutide— 2017 · Ozempic / Wegovy
- Tirzepatide— 2022 · GLP-1 / GIP dual agonist
- Retatrutide— 2026 · triple GLP-1 / GIP / GCG
- Lixisenatide— 2013 · short-acting
GH Secretagogues — GHRH Branch
Analogs of growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH). Each entry is a structural trim or extension of the native 44-amino-acid hormone, designed to raise endogenous GH pulses without bypassing the pituitary's own feedback loops.
- GHRH (endogenous)— 44-aa hypothalamic hormone
- Sermorelin— first 29 aa of GHRH
- CJC-1295 (no DAC)— Modified GRF(1-29)
- CJC-1295 with DAC— DAC extends half-life to ~8 days
- Tesamorelin— FDA-approved for HIV lipodystrophy
GH Secretagogues — Ghrelin Branch
The parallel GH-secretagogue lineage that works through the ghrelin receptor rather than the GHRH receptor. Often stacked with a GHRH analog for a synergistic pulse.
Melanocortins
Analogs of α-MSH, the endogenous melanocortin that drives pigmentation, appetite, and sexual arousal. Early research chased a sunless tan; the breakout clinical wins were in photoprotection and libido.
Thymosins
Peptides isolated from thymic tissue in the 1970s. The α-family modulates immunity; the β-family drives actin-based tissue repair.
BPC Family
Fragments of body-protection compound, a stable gastric pentadecapeptide first isolated in 1993. The arginate salt form was developed to improve stability for compounded formulations.
Copper & Cosmetic Peptides
Topical short peptides that migrated from wound-healing research into cosmeceuticals. GHK (1973) is the endogenous tripeptide that started the category.
Khavinson Bioregulators
Short organ-targeted peptides developed by Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Each is named for the organ it was isolated from (or developed to target).
- Epitalon— pineal · telomerase / longevity
- Thymalin— thymus
- Thymagen— thymus variant
- Prostamax— prostate
- Livagen— liver
- Vesugen— vascular
- Pinealon— pineal · neuropeptide form
- Cortagen— cortex
- Cardiogen— cardiac tissue
- Cartalax— cartilage
- Testagen— testicular
- Bronchogen— bronchial
- Ovagen— hepatic / ovarian
- Pancragen— pancreas
- Chonluten— respiratory mucosa
- Vilon— immune
- N-Acetyl Epitalon Amidate— stabilized Epitalon
Nootropic Intranasals
Short Russian-origin neuropeptides designed for intranasal delivery to cross the blood-brain barrier. Semax is an ACTH(4-10) analog; Selank is derived from tuftsin.
GnRH Agonists
Decapeptide analogs of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Paradoxically, continuous dosing suppresses the HPG axis — which made them workhorse drugs for prostate cancer, endometriosis, and precocious puberty.
Mitochondrial & Standalone Peptides
Notable peptides that don't share a clean lineage with the families above — each sits in its own mechanistic island.