Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Areas of active research — not promised effects

Each tag links to other compounds with research into that goal. Research use only: these are areas of study, not human-use claims.

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Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is regulated as a cosmetic ingredient in the United States under FDA cosmetics law, including the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA, 2022). It is not an FDA-approved drug, is not subject to the FDA bulk drug substance lists (FDA-19, Category I or II), and requires no prescription. Finished cosmetic product marketers must comply with MoCRA facility and product registration obligations (effective July 2024) and maintain adequate safety substantiation. The February 2026 HHS/FDA action on Category-2 compounding (docket FDA-2025-N-6895, effective April 23 2026; PCAC review July 23-24 2026) applies exclusively to bulk drug substances nominated for compounding and does not affect palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, which is a cosmetic ingredient.

Transparent blend · bci-1.0 · never paid-placement

Primary name

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Origin

Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (INCI: Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7; trade name Rigin, formerly Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3) was developed by Sederma (now part of Croda). The tetrapeptide core sequence Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg (GQPR) is derived from a fragment of immunoglobulin G (IgG). A palmitoyl (C16 fatty acid) chain is conjugated to the N-terminus to confer lipophilicity and facilitate partition through the stratum corneum. The compound is one of the two active peptide components of the Matrixyl 3000 blend (the other being palmitoyl tripeptide-1, Pal-GHK). IDENTITY NOTE: The INCI name for this compound is Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (four-amino-acid sequence GQPR). The PeptideCompass slug 'palmitoyl-tripeptide-7' and the alias Pal-GQPR both reference this tetrapeptide; no distinct well-established INCI ingredient named 'Palmitoyl Tripeptide-7' was identified. The identity record is flagged manual_pending and requires curator verification. The previously associated CAS 221227-05-0 was rejected (correctly points to palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 under the INCI nomenclature). See flags.

Registry IDs

PubChem CID

10078408

InChIKey

IHRKJQSLKLYWBQ-QKDODKLFSA-N

Molecular formula

C34H62N8O7

InChIKey

IHRKJQSLKLYWBQ-QKDODKLFSA-N

Appearance

White to off-white lyophilised powder (vendor-typical)

Solubility

Low aqueous solubility as free peptide due to the palmitoyl chain; typically sup…

Sequence not available in current seed.

Stability: Lyophilised powder is stable under cool, dry, light-protected conditions. Hydrolysis of the palmitoyl amide bond is a primary degradation pathway in aqueous med

Vial sizes

null mg

Purity grades

cosmetic grade / research grade

Salt forms

Free base (primary)

• GHS hazard class on file
• PPE & spill response
• Disposal guidance
• Not-for-human-consumption posture

How much research exists, and of what maturity — never a verdict on whether it works.

Mechanism of action

• Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 functions primarily through suppression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by keratinocytes and dermal cells
• IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that promotes inflammatory-driven matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, which degrades collagen and elastin in aged and UV-exposed skin
• The IgG-derived GQPR core sequence mimics an endogenous immunomodulatory signal, engaging cell surface receptors and dampening the keratinocyte inflammatory response
• In vitro studies have demonstrated up to 86% reduction in UV-induced IL-6 secretion from human keratinocytes in the presence of the GQPR peptide moiety

Pharmacokinetics (ADME)

PK–PD note: No formal systemic pharmacokinetic parameters have been published for palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. The compound is intended for topical cosmetic application and is not expected to achieve meaningful syst…

Reading the evidence

• Evidence quality and gaps vary by application — see the cited grades above.
• Indexed-article counts span all evidence tiers, not only completed human trials.
• No first-party human-dosing, efficacy, or benefit claims are made here.

Key reviews & evidence-gap sources

• Resende DISP et al. Usage of Synthetic Peptides in Cosmetics for Sensitive Skin. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021;14(8):702. PMID 34451799 — Narrative review surveying synthetic peptides in cosmetic formulations; mentions palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 as found in one cosmetic product analyzed. Not a systematic review of this peptide.
• CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) Safety Assessment of Palmitoyl Oligopeptides — Expert-panel safety assessment covering palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (as Matrixyl 3000 component); includes in vivo skin rejuvenation study summary. Not a systematic review of efficacy.
• Yang F et al. Comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a new multi-component anti-aging topical eye cream. Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(7):e13790. PMID 38932444 — PubMed-tagged 'Clinical Trial'; 12-week open-label study of a multi-ingredient eye cream containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (0.0001%). Not an RCT; not registered on ClinicalTrials.gov; peptide not isolated.

No registered human trials found for this compound.

Status

No registered trials found

Summary (literature)

Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 has an established cosmetic safety profile based on the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel assessment of palmitoyl oligopeptides (CIR, 2012 and updates) and extensive commercial use in leave-on facial cosmetics worldwide. At concentrations pres…

WADA status

Not specifically listed on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List. Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 is a topically applied cosmetic anti-inflammatory signal peptide without an i…

Dominant research route: Topical (TOP)

Human clinical trials (12-week topical eye cream/serum formulations containing palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7); in vitro human skin fibroblast and keratinocyte models; mechanistic IL-6 downregulation assays

Bioavailability: Palmitoyl (C16) lipid chain conjugated to the tetrapeptide (Pal-GQPR) is described as enhancing skin absorption/lipid solubility; a 2022 review (Mortazavi & Moghimi) flags skin permeability as a 'dismissed necessity' for anti-wrinkle peptide performance, noting limited published permeability data for palmitoylated peptides. No systemic PK/bioavailability values were found.

Dominant research route. Studied exclusively as a topical cosmeceutical ingredient in emulsion/cream/serum vehicles; no injectable, oral, intranasal, or other systemic routes were found in the retrieved literature. The palmitoyl chain is specifically intended to improve transdermal penetration rather than oral absorption.

Human skin fibroblast (HSF) proliferation/collagen/elastin expression; keratinocyte IL-6 secretion inhibition; UVB-induced inflammation models

Bioavailability: Not a bioavailability route; in vitro work demonstrates IL-6 downregulation in resting and inflamed cells and ECM component stimulation but does not establish systemic absorption.

Mechanistic/efficacy evidence supporting the topical route. CIR safety assessment and supplier literature report IL-6 inhibition in vitro; the 2024 Yang et al. study used HSF cells with 0.0001% palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7.

Animal & human figures are kept visibly separate so studied animal doses are never misread as human guidance.

Sorted A–Z by vendor — never by price

Weekly median $/mg from the live vendor crawl.

Researched storefront prices, bucketed

p25 $0.150 · median $0.659 · p75 $0.900 · 6 researched vendors

Legit, COA-backed band: $0.620–$0.985/mg.

Value rule: don't just buy the cheapest — a price under $3/mg is a red flag. Pair price with COA and independent-test grade.

Estimated cost of research (10 mg)

Vial (best researched price)

$1

Bacteriostatic water (generic estimate)

$6

Syringes / supplies (generic estimate)

$12

What each test proves — general guidance, plus this compound's researched purity data

Purity on the current market (researched)

≥98% to ≥99% (HPLC/LC-MS) across multiple commercial suppliers; MedChemExpress reports 99.18% purity for catalog lot HY-P0064.

Independent labs cited for this compound

No FDA recalls, enforcement actions, or counterfeit seizures specific to Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 were found. This compound is regulated as a cosmetic ingredient, not an FDA-approved drug, and no compound-specific recall or detention events were identified in FDA recall databases or import alerts.

Buyer red-flag checklist

• No FDA-approved drug status; Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is regulated as a cosmetic ingredient, not a drug, and has not undergone FDA drug safety/efficacy review.
• EWG Skin Deep rates data availability as 'Limited' and flags the ingredient as 'Restricted' under EWG VERIFIED criteria (products cannot contain it without adequate substantiation).
• Multiple online vendors sell Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 labeled 'for research/laboratory use only' despite its primary commercial use as a cosmetic ingredient, creating a gray-market distribution channel.
• No publicly available independent third-party lab test results (e.g., Janoshik, MZ Biolabs) specific to Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 were found; purity claims rely on supplier-provided COAs.
• CAS 221227-05-0 is shared between 'Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3' and 'Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7' nomenclature, creating potential for misidentification or mislabeling in the supply chain.

GMP vs research-grade: the chemistry (SPPS + HPLC + MS) is identical — the difference is the quality system.

Underdosing / mislabeling: No independent lab test results (Janoshik, MZ Biolabs, Finnrick) specific to Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 were found in publicly available databases. Underdosing prevalence cannot be determined from available data.

• FDA Import Alert 66-41 ('Detention Without Physical Examination of Unapproved New Drugs Promoted In The U.S.') provides that cosmetics making drug claims (under Section 201(i) with claims appearing to make products unapproved new drugs) may be subject to DWPE with OCS support. This alert is not compound-specific to Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 but could apply if products containing it make structure/function drug claims. No firms associated with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 appear on the Red List.66-41
• An RUO label is not an import exemption — CBP judges actual intended use.
• Lyophilized powder is ambient-stable in transit; temperature control needed for > 7-day transit.
• US-warehouse vendors dodge import scrutiny — they cost more but ship more reliably.

Every item dated & sourced

Not prohibited — classified as a cosmetic ingredient, not a pharmacological agent under WADA's framework.

No granted patents identified in current seed. Composition-of-matter coverage is limited given the peptide's synthetic origin.

• IACUC / IRB research context
• RUO buyer responsibilities & documentation
• Veterinary / alternative-use where lawful
• Jurisdiction-aware "who may lawfully obtain"

What people discuss

Reported concerns — discussion, not established effects

Reading caveats

• manufacturer-funded clinical studies dominate evidence base
• small sample sizes in cited trials (20-40 subjects)
• trade-secret peptide concentrations limit reproducibility
• affiliate/blog commerce bias in product reviews

Manually researched from reddit, youtube, x— theme weights are research estimates, not live counts; aggregated & de-identified. No individual posts, quotes, or usernames are ever shown.

Relative research / market volume — populated once the activity stream is wired

Inline tooltips for lyophilized, RUO, EU/mg, SPPS, 503A and more.

Toggle plain-language ↔ scientific in the header.

• How to read a COA
• Free base vs acetate
• Understanding evidence grades

Lipidated IgG-derived cosmetic signal peptide (Pal-GQPR) that suppresses keratinocyte IL-6 to limit UV-driven collagen degradation; component of Matrixyl 3000. Approximately 3 articles are indexed (literature last scanned 2026-05-29). US regulatory status: Cosmetic ingredient (OTC, no prescription required). Research use only.

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