Peptides — the buzzy class of molecules that includes the science behind GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic — may be moving closer to wider availability. According to the AP, a federal advisory committee voted 8-6 in favor of recommending looser rules for compounds including BPC-157 and TB-500, which have gained traction among wellness personalities like Joe Rogan and through telehealth providers. Unlike Ozempic, however, these particular peptides have not been approved by the FDA as medicines.
The panel’s decision does not make the peptides legal or broadly accessible overnight, but it is an important signal about where federal policy could be headed. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has described himself as a “big fan” of peptides, had already moved earlier this year to take some of them off the FDA’s high-risk list. Several committee members with connections to the peptide industry — including some added shortly before the vote — largely backed expanded access, while a number of scientists urged more caution.
“This is really alarming,” said Rita Jew, a pharmacist who serves as president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. She warned that the current peptide market resembles a “Wild West” filled with unproven and poorly regulated products. The FDA is expected to issue its final decision after weighing the advisory panel’s vote along with public comments gathered during this week’s hearings.
Peptides, the increasingly popular molecules often mentioned in the same wellness conversations as GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, could soon face fewer federal barriers. The AP reports that a federal advisory panel voted 8-6 to recommend easing restrictions on peptides such as BPC-157 and TB-500, substances promoted by some online health influencers and offered through certain telehealth clinics. But unlike FDA-approved drugs such as Ozempic, these compounds have not been cleared by regulators for medical use.
While the recommendation does not immediately change the legal status of these peptides, it adds momentum to a broader push for easier access. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. health secretary, has publicly said he is a “big fan” of peptides and earlier this year removed some from the FDA’s list of high-risk substances. Support for loosening the rules was strongest among panelists linked to the peptide business, including several who joined the committee shortly before the vote, while some scientific experts expressed reservations.
Rita Jew, pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, sharply criticized the move, saying, “This is really alarming.” She characterized the peptide marketplace as a “Wild West” where unregulated and unproven drugs are being promoted to consumers. The FDA will now review the committee’s recommendation and public feedback from the hearings before making a final determination.
