Skin science article

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR), Marketed as Rigin — The Complete History

The Breakthrough Act 2: The Quest Scientists Search for a Natural Solution Key Moment They found an interesting pattern in antibodies, special proteins that fight germs. In the 1990s, researchers at Sederma looked at immune cells for clues. They found an inter

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished May 24, 2026

The Breakthrough

Act 2: The Quest

Scientists Search for a Natural Solution

Key Moment

They found an interesting pattern in antibodies, special proteins that fight germs.

In the 1990s, researchers at Sederma looked at immune cells for clues. They found an interesting pattern in antibodies, special proteins that fight germs. These antibodies had a special sequence of four amino acids. The sequence was GQPR. Scientists thought: what if we borrow this pattern and put it on skin? They added a fatty chain to help it stick. This fatty chain was palmitic acid, something natural that already exists in skin. The combination was born: Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7.

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

EDITOR’S ABSTRACT

Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) is not FDA-approved for any indication — not for topical cosmetic use, not for medical treatment, not for any clinical application in humans.
In the United States, Rigin is classified as a research-only compound, meaning its legal use is restricted to laboratory and preclinical settings with appropriate institutional oversight.
Because Rigin has never received FDA approval, prescribing it to patients is not "off-label" use — it's prescribing an unapproved drug, which carries distinct legal and liability consequences for providers.
Compounding pharmacies operating under 503A or 503B frameworks cannot legally compound Rigin for patient use absent FDA authorization, because the compound lacks an approved drug application.
Products sold online as "research use only" Rigin are operating in a legal grey zone — and buying them for personal use or human administration carries real regulatory risk.
Your safest path forward is working with a licensed peptide therapy clinic that uses only FDA-reviewed compounds; use MyPeptideMatch's clinic finder to locate compliant providers near you.

Filed from mypeptidematch.com

Comparison edit

Read side by side

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 vs Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 — Peptide Comparison

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 vs Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 — Peptide Comparison Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 vs Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 — compare dosing, benefits, safety profiles, side effects, and how…

Open comparison ⟶

Source shelf

Research & excerpts

Research note

Where to Buy Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) for Research

Research Use Only — not intended for human consumption Research peptides are sold for laboratory use only and are not intended for human consumption.

Source · mypeptidematch.com ⟶

Act 2: The Quest

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 vs Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 — Peptide Comparison

Where to Buy Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) for Research

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Protocol — Complete Dosing & Administration Guide

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dosing, Need to Know Information, Safety, Stacks, Dosing Calculator and more!

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 vs Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 — Peptide Comparison