FDA Panel Backs 6 of 7 Peptides for Compounding as Staff Warn of Safety Risks
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Aug 1
FDA Panel Backs 6 of 7 Peptides for Compounding as Staff Warn of Safety Risks
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Aug 1
Summary
Six of seven peptides reviewed won FDA advisory panel support for addition to a compounding list, a step that could let specialty pharmacies make custom versions even though the products are not FDA-approved.
FDA scientists had opposed easing access to any of the peptides, citing scant human trial data, possible allergic reactions and unknown impurities from compounded manufacturing.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed for the meeting alongside lawmakers and industry allies, and the FDA could still face pressure from Trump administration officials to override staff on the final decision.
BPC-157 — one of the six backed peptides and a favorite of wellness influencers — is promoted for healing and gut repair despite only small human studies and concerns its angiogenesis effects could aid tumor growth.
The vote lands amid a U.S. peptide boom: more than 84% of patients cite online sources for information, and nearly half of surveyed doctors said patients disclosed using unapproved peptides in the past year.