Peptides have become one of the hottest trends in wellness, with promises like faster muscle recovery and healthier aging. And six of these compounds cleared a major hurdle last week, when an advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration voted in favor of making them available through compounding pharmacies.
But the peptides have not yet received an official go-ahead for compounding.
The drugs remain in limbo until the FDA takes further action – and experts say it is not clear what might happen next or when, but US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could expedite the next steps.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids and act as the building blocks of proteins in the body. Some have become important prescription medicines. Insulin, for example, is a peptide, as are widely used GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
The peptides now greenlit by the FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee are different: They are not FDA-approved, but they are popular among wellness influencers, elite athletes and some doctors, who say they can help reduce inflammation, improve recovery, promote longevity and boost overall health.
