The same peptide can sit in a shop under two names, and two different molecules can carry almost identical names. This is not seller carelessness but the result of catalogue names, trade names and names from scientific papers being created in different places. Below are the pairs that cause the most confusion, and a way to check what you are really buying.
Why one molecule has several names
Names come from three sources. The first is a description of the structure or target in the body, for example the receptor the molecule acts on. The second is a code assigned in a laboratory or by the company that ran the research. The third is the trade name of an approved medicine, if one was ever developed.
Peptide manufacturers use all three, sometimes two at once in one name. That is where names like ACVR2B with ACE-031 in brackets come from.
The pairs that confuse most often
| Names | Are they one and the same |
|---|---|
| ACVR2B and ACE-031 | Yes. ACVR2B is the name of the activin type 2B receptor on which the fusion protein was built, and ACE-031 is the code for the molecule from clinical trials |
| MT-2 and melanotan II | Yes. MT-2 is short for melanotan II |
| PT-141 and bremelanotide | Yes. PT-141 is the code, bremelanotide the international name, and Vyleesi the name of the approved medicine |
| Melanotan II and melanotan I | No. Melanotan I, or afamelanotide, is a medicine used in a rare blood disorder; melanotan II is a different molecule with no approval |
| HGH Fragment 176-191 and AOD9604 | Not quite. AOD9604 is a modified version of the fragment, studied separately, whose development was stopped in 2007 after a failed phase 2b trial |
| CJC-1295 and CJC-1295 with DAC | No. The DAC version acts for days, the version without DAC for minutes, and the figures from studies of the long-acting form do not describe the short one |
| Mod GRF 1-29 and CJC-1295 without DAC | Usually yes. The trade names overlap, and both terms describe short-acting GHRH analogues from the same family |
Three notations that change the meaning
The first is DAC in brackets. The DAC addition binds the molecule to blood proteins and stretches its action to days, so leaving out those three letters turns the product into a different product. The two are compared in the guide to CJC-1295 with and without DAC, and both versions have their own pages with us: without DAC and with DAC.
The second is the unit next to the number. 5000 IU means biological activity and 5 mg means mass, and they cannot be compared with a single conversion. This is covered in the guide to international units and milligrams.
The third is the word mix or combo in the name. It means two peptides in one vial, with the total contents given on the pack and a ratio the manufacturer does not declare. This is described in the guide to ready-made blends.
How to check what is in your basket
The simplest route goes through the compound page, not the product name. The pages in the shop gather every brand of one molecule in one place, so if two names lead to the same page, they refer to the same substance.
The second route is the batch certificate of analysis and the code under the hologram. Checking is described on the check your product page, and how to recognise an original vial is explained in the guide to spotting genuine peptides.
Why product names in our shop look the way they do
Product names come from the manufacturers, and we keep them as they appear on the pack so that they match what the customer receives in the parcel. That is why the catalogue lists ACVR2B with ACE-031 in brackets, and MT-2 with melanotan in brackets. In the English version we tidy up how units are written, but the name of the molecule stays.
The full list of items with prices is on the price list, and the differences between the brands themselves are covered in the guide to Bio-Peptide, Genheal and Nouveaux Ltd.
Frequently asked questions
Is ACVR2B the same as ACE-031?
Yes. ACVR2B names the receptor on which the molecule was built, and ACE-031 is its code from clinical trials.
Is melanotan II the same as melanotan I?
No. Melanotan I, or afamelanotide, is an approved medicine. Melanotan II has no approval anywhere.
How does CJC-1295 differ from CJC-1295 with DAC?
In duration of action. The DAC version stays in the body for days, the version without DAC acts briefly.
What does mix or combo in the name mean?
Two peptides in one vial, with the total contents given on the pack and no declared ratio of components.
How can I check whether two names describe the same molecule?
Most simply through the compound page in the shop. If both names lead to the same page, it is the same substance.
This is information about product naming, not medical advice. We sell every item mentioned as material for laboratory research.
Sources
- Scenesse (afamelanotide). European public assessment report (EPAR), European Medicines Agency, authorised 22 December 2014. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/scenesse
- VYLEESI (bremelanotide injection). Prescribing information approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), NDA 210557, 2019. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/210557s000lbl.pdf