Topical GHK-Cu Gel for Acute Skin Wound Healing

What Was Tested

In this phase 2 trial, researchers set out to test GHK-Cu (Copper peptide).

Participants will receive two small punch-biopsy wounds on the upper arm; each wound will be randomly assigned to receive GHK-Cu gel or vehicle gel under identical dressings.

Wounds will be photographed and assessed over 3 weeks, with a follow-up visit to evaluate scar quality.

It had two arms (groups): one (experimental) and Arm B: Vehicle Gel applied once daily to the assigned wound for 14 days + standard non-adherent dres (experimental).

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

More on the Plan

GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is a naturally occurring human peptide that can form a stable complex with copper(II) (GHK-Cu).

Study procedures (overview) Day 0: Two 5-mm punch-biopsy wounds will be created under local anesthetic on the non-dominant upper arm.

Wounds will be randomized (1:1) to receive GHK-Cu gel or vehicle gel.

Study products will be applied once daily for 14 days under standardized non-adherent dressings.

Who Took Part

60 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 18 years up to 55 years.

Healthy volunteers could join, not only people with the condition.

Examples of who could join: Age 18 to 55 years at screening. Healthy adult as determined by medical history and limited physical examination. Body mass index (BMI) 18.0 to 30.0 kg/m². Willing and able to comply with study visits and daily product application for 14 days. Willing to avoid applying non-study topical products (including medicated creams, retinoids, acids) to the wound area during the study period.

The full record lists 6 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: known allergy or sensitivity to copper, peptides, gel excipients, adhesives, or dressings used in the study; history of abnormal wound healing, hypertrophic scarring, or keloid formation; diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, immunodeficiency, or other condition that may impair wound healing (investigator judgment).

How the Study Was Run

Design: randomized, parallel-group and quadruple-blind.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the GHK-Cu (Copper peptide) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

The GHK-Cu (Copper peptide) group and the comparison group ran side by side rather than switching.

As a double-blind GHK-Cu (Copper peptide) study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

Those kept unaware of assignments: participant, care provider, investigator and outcomes assessor.

It started in 2026-02-02 with completion listed for 2027-02-14.

It ran at 1 site in China.

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What Was Measured

It also tracked 7 secondary outcomes, for example Proportion of wounds healed, Incidence of suspected or confirmed wound infection, Participant-reported wound pain, Local tolerability score, Scar quality (POSAS) and Safety.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 2, randomized trial of GHK-Cu (Copper peptide) in 60 people.

It is still recruiting; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the GHK-Cu (Copper peptide) compound page, all human trials.