Although initially thought to be a growth factor because it turned old liver cells metabolically young again, Tripeptide-1 (Copper Tripeptide) is actually a growth factor analog – meaning it is very similar to a growth factor but, strictly speaking, chemically different. Tripeptide-1 (Copper Tripeptide) is a short peptide composed of three amino acids complexed with copper. It is identical to a naturally occurring molecule, i.e. is “bioidentical”, within skin and other human cells used for tissue repair and synthesis of new, youthful collagen. Its actions are similar, in many ways, to a growth factor, but it is very safe and has no association with the development of cancerous cells. In fact, research using this molecule has shown it to be toxic to cancer cell lines while allowing normal cell lines to develop as usual.