OMM Newsroom
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has proposed easing restrictions on controversial peptides, according to the BBC.
A plan announced in the US Federal Register on Wednesday would allow compounding pharmacies to prepare six popular peptides that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The draft came from the health secretary’s office rather than the FDA. After it is officially published later this week, the public will have two weeks to comment.
The peptides named in the plan include BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, MOTS-c and Semax. Compounding pharmacies would be able to mix them to make medications. The BBC said it had contacted the FDA for comment.
An FDA advisory panel voted in July to loosen restrictions on the six peptides, while FDA staff members recommended against the move.
Kennedy has called himself a “big fan” of the drugs and previously vowed to ease restrictions after the Biden administration clamped down on the growing industry.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, or small proteins, naturally produced by the body. They act as messengers that tell cells what to do and play roles in skin health, the immune system and hormone regulation.
Peptides have been used to treat medical conditions for more than a century. Insulin, one of the first peptide hormones discovered, helps people with Type 1 diabetes and some people with Type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels.
Unregulated peptides have gained traction in the wellness market since GLP-1 weight-loss drugs became mainstream. Online influencers have promoted them in what they call “stacks” for unproven purposes, claiming they can help people look younger, heal or improve their skin.
The substances have also become popular among teenagers on TikTok, particularly boys, amid unproven claims that they can help build muscle. The trend is associated with online practices known as “biohacking” and “looksmaxxing”.
Health experts have cautioned against using the drugs, pointing to a lack of human clinical trials and unknown long-term effects.
