AHK-Cu
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 17, 2026
What is AHK-Cu?
AHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide, L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+, studied for stimulating hair follicle growth in laboratory experiments. It is related to the better-studied copper peptide GHK-Cu but has far less published research behind it. AHK-Cu does not appear on FDA's compounding substance lists and is not an FDA-approved drug; it is sold in hair and skin products.
What is AHK-Cu and what has it been studied for?
AHK-Cu, L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+, was tested in a 2007 laboratory study at concentrations of 10^-12 to 10^-9 M, where it stimulated elongation of human hair follicles ex vivo and increased proliferation of dermal papilla cells in vitro [1]. The same study found a reduction in apoptotic (dying) cells that was not statistically significant [1]. This was the only AHK-Cu study identified in our search; it was not tested in a living person or animal, only isolated human tissue and cells in a dish.
Is AHK-Cu FDA-approved?
No. AHK-Cu does not appear in FDA's May 14, 2026 list of bulk drug substances nominated for compounding, and it is not an FDA-approved drug [2]. Unlike its relative GHK-Cu, which has far more published research and a place on FDA's Category 1 compounding list for non-injectable routes, no human clinical data on AHK-Cu were found in our search. It is sold in hair and skin products as a cosmetic ingredient.
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This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
