FDA panel narrowly backs unapproved peptide drugs favored by RFK Jr. and
wellness influencers
[July 24, 2026]
By MATTHEW PERRONE
WASHINGTON (AP) — A panel of federal health advisers on Thursday
narrowly recommended easing access to several peptides popular with
wellness influencers and celebrities, despite warnings from government
scientists that the chemicals haven’t been shown to be safe or
effective.
In a series of votes, outside experts to the Food and Drug
Administration advised the agency to drop current restrictions barring
pharmacies from producing injectable peptides with names including
BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV.
The panel’s vote is not binding but is likely to embolden Health
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has described himself as a “big
fan” of peptides and vowed to overturn FDA restrictions put in place
under President Joe Biden.
Across several votes, the panelists voted 8-6, with one abstention, in
favor of putting the peptides on FDA’s list of substances considered
safe for pharmacy compounding. If FDA follows that advice, telehealth
companies are expected to ramp up marketing of the chemicals for
wellness and cosmetic uses.
Thursday’s vote tally reflected the unusual makeup of the panel. Prior
to the meeting, more than a half-dozen people with connections to the
peptide industry were added to the group, including doctors, pharmacists
or consultants who work in the field.
“I voted yes because it’s time to put this decision back in the hands of
the patient, the physician and the pharmacist,” said David Pope, chief
pharmacy officer of Xifin Pharmacy Solutions, after the vote on BPC-157.
The panel will vote Friday on three more peptides. The FDA isn't
required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.
FDA scientists remain unconvinced of peptide safety and benefits
The positive votes came despite highly critical reviews from FDA staff
scientists, who said there was little data that BPC-157, TB-500 and the
other chemicals can be safely used for medical purposes.
Panel members with backgrounds in academia, rather than peptides, mostly
voted against the substances, which are widely advertised on social
media.
“I’m concerned we’re responding to a market-induced demand rather than a
decision based in solid science,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rebello of the
University of Texas MD Anderson Center.
Peptide supporters include podcaster Joe Rogan and longevity influencers
such as Gary Brecka, a supporter of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy
Again” agenda who sells peptides through his website.
But medical experts describe the marketplace as a “Wild West” of
unproven, unregulated drugs that could cause serious harm, including
infection, allergic reactions or other problems.
“This is really alarming,” said Rita Jew, a pharmacist and president of
the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in an interview ahead of
the meeting. “There aren’t that many other substances people are
injecting into themselves where you see that the clinical evidence is so
lacking.”
In recent years, the FDA has warned Americans about the risks of
injecting peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500. In 2023, both were placed on
a list of substances considered to be too high-risk for pharmacy
compounding. But Kennedy announced their removal from that list earlier
this year.
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 Gap between FDA-approved drugs
and wellness peptides is wide
Peptides are the building blocks of more complex proteins,
triggering hormones inside the body needed for growth, metabolism
and healing. Drug companies have brought several to market as
medications, including mainstay treatments for diabetes and weight
loss.
But most peptides sold online are promoted for unproven uses, often
combined in “stacks,” to purportedly heal injuries, build muscle,
rejuvenate skin or increase energy.
FDA scientists said they could find little data on the effectiveness
of peptides for proposed medical uses like ulcerative colitis, wound
healing and opioid addiction.
Five studies of BPC-157 reviewed by the agency “were of short
duration, had small sample sizes and evaluated doses that were
likely exploratory in nature,” the staffers said.
For TB-500, regulators said they could not find any human studies
using the compound.
Even determining which form of the peptides should be used was
unclear to regulators, since substances like TB-500 aren't
recognized as official pharmaceutical ingredients in the U.S.
“There’s no way to know what the substance actually is, was or will
be tomorrow because that name has no legal meaning,” said Russell
Wesdyk, an associate director in FDA’s drug center.
Peptide supporters push for easier access
The panel votes are only one part of more than 18 hours of
discussions and presentations scheduled across two days.
During several public comment periods, the panel heard from more
than two dozen speakers — including doctors, lawyers and peptide
entrepreneurs — urging that the substances be made more widely
available.
Brigham Buhler, a wellness clinic owner whose clients include Rogan
and other celebrities, said allowing U.S. pharmacies to compound
peptides would steer Americans away from unvetted products imported
from China and other foreign countries.
“It’s crucial to allow patients to have safe and effective access to
these treatment options,” Buhler said. “Individuals who have gotten
these resources are going to continue to utilize these products.”
After the meeting, the FDA will review the votes, discussion and
public comments before making a decision on each of the peptides.
FDA-watchers say the most likely outcome may be a temporary policy
reassuring pharmacies that they won’t be targeted for compounding
the peptides under review. Formally placing the substances on FDA's
list of drugs that are safe for compounding would require new
regulations, which can take months or years to draft.
“We’re still going through this process, but I think it’s more than
likely that the process will end up at the result that Secretary
Kennedy wants,” said Nathan Beaver, an attorney specializing in FDA
issues.
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