Dermatology · Investigational
Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7)
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Rigin is the tetrapeptide Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg, originally identified as a tuftsin-like fragment of human immunoglobulin G with phagocytosis-stimulating activity equal to tuftsin (PMID 7309346). In cosmetics it is used as palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, conjugated to palmitic acid.
Ingredient suppliers describe it as reducing interleukin-6 and other pro-inflammatory signals in skin cells, but this claim rests mainly on patents and supplier brochures rather than peer-reviewed studies (PMID 34451799).
02 · Research summary & key findings
Independent peer-reviewed in vitro data on palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 alone are scarce. In human volunteers, the palmitoylated tetrapeptide was detected throughout the stratum corneum after topical application, mainly on cell surfaces (PMID 42790608), and a review found that the skin permeability of GQPR and similar anti-wrinkle peptides is generally insufficient without enhancement strategies (PMID 35302659). Studies in combination with other peptides reported improved dermal matrix structure on imaging (PMID 25817264), but the isolated effects of Rigin are not well characterized.
03 · Regulatory status
Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) is in the investigational stage. While preclinical and early-phase data exist, it has not received regulatory approval for clinical use in the United States.
No lawful pathway today
Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) is an investigational compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on longevity and healthy ageing, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Topical
References
- [1]Evaluation of dermal extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction modifications using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging, in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy, echography, and histology: effect of age and peptide applications J Cosmet Dermatol, 2015. PMID 25817264
- [2]Usage of Synthetic Peptides in Cosmetics for Sensitive Skin Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2021. PMID 34451799
- [3]Skin permeability, a dismissed necessity for anti-wrinkle peptide performance Int J Cosmet Sci, 2022. PMID 35302659
- [4]Permeation behaviour of cosmetic actives into the human stratum corneum Int J Pharm, 2026. PMID 42790608
- [5]Rigin, another phagocytosis-stimulating tetrapeptide isolated from human IgG. Confirmations of a hypothesis Int J Pept Protein Res, 1981. PMID 7309346
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Rigin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Rigin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Rigin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.