RFK, Jr., loosens restrictions for six popular peptides, bypassing the FDA
Scientific American · Adam Kovac ·
Under the new policy, compounded combinations of these unproven peptides can now be dispensed by certain pharmacies
The Department of Health and Human Services announced a loosening of restrictions on six unproven peptides on Wednesday. These substances have long been touted by biohackers as a means to hack people’s bodies and brains for the better, but they often have had scant scientific evidence behind them. In the past, HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has voiced support for peptides, such as the so-called Wolverine stack, a combination of two such substances—BPC-157 and TB-500—that is meant to promote healing. Both of these peptides are included in the list of those that are now available to dispense.
The new policy allows some licensed pharmacists to produce compounds made up of multiple peptides—provided that those peptides are made by registered manufacturers. Users must also have a valid prescription to receive the compounds.
In a document outlining the new policy, the agency acknowledged that compounded drugs carry risks: they are not regulated in the same way as a name-brand or generic medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, leading to concerns over their safety and efficacy. But the agency said that the level of public interest and available data had led it to expand access to some combinations of peptides and that doing so would discourage the growing gray and black markets for peptides.
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