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Peptides for longevity: what the evidence shows

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, usually 2 to 50 of them. The body uses many as messengers, and a few lab-made ones are approved drugs. Many more are sold online with big promises and little testing in people. Here is how far each has got, what the FDA has said, and what is changing.

October 30, 2026HHS published a draft policy: it won't act against pharmacies that make six peptides, including BPC-157, under set conditions. Not an approval: what it means →
Amino acids linked by peptide bonds
I4Approved peptide drugsII5Tested in people, not FDA-approvedIII6Mostly lab and animal research
The peptides we follow

Where each one stands

Grouped by how far each has got. The stage counts research in people, from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov, and is updated every morning. It is not a verdict on whether something works.

Approved peptide drugs

FDA-approved for specific diseases, by prescription. None is approved for aging.

Semaglutide and tirzepatideozempic · wegovy · rybelsus4Stage 4 · Widely recommendedPrescription drugFDA-approved: semaglutide as Ozempic (2017) and Wegovy (2021), tirzepatide as Mounjaro (2022) and Zepbound (2023), for type 2 diabetes and weight management.Large trials: major weight loss, and fewer heart attacks and strokes in people with heart disease. A large Alzheimer's trial found no benefit.Tesamorelinegrifta · egrifta sv · egrifta wr2Stage 2 · Small studies in peopleApproved only for HIV-related belly fatPrescription drugFDA-approved in 2010 as Egrifta (the current labels are Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR), only to reduce excess belly fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.Approved to shrink belly fat in people with HIV. In a 20-week trial of older adults, thinking-test scores improved slightly.Elamipretide (SS-31)forzinity · mtp-131 · bendavia2Stage 2 · Small studies in peopleApproved only for Barth syndromePrescription drugFDA-approved on September 19, 2025 (as Forzinity), under accelerated approval, to improve muscle strength in people with Barth syndrome who weigh at least 30 kg (66 lb).Approved in 2025 for a rare inherited disease. One dose briefly raised muscle energy in older adults; a trial in healthy older adults is recruiting.Sermorelingeref · grf 1-29 · ghrh 1-292Stage 2 · Small studies in peopleApproved in the 1990s, since discontinuedCompounded prescriptionFDA-approved as Geref (1990 and 1997), then discontinued by its maker.Small, short studies in older men in the 1990s: growth hormone rose, with mixed effects on strength and none on body fat.

Mostly lab and animal research

Little or no testing in people. Several are sold online without a prescription, outside the FDA's oversight.

BPC-157body protection compound · pentadecapeptide · wolverine peptide2Stage 2 · Small studies in peopleSold online, not approvedNot FDA-approved.Only three tiny human studies, 30 people in all, all of poor quality. A 2026 review rated the evidence “very low”.TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment)1Stage 1 · Tested in animals onlyTrials tested the full protein, not TB-500Sold online, not approvedNot FDA-approved.No published study of TB-500 itself in people. Trials of the full thymosin beta-4 protein, as eye drops and infusions, found it well tolerated.Epitalonepithalon · aedg · ala-glu-asp-gly2Stage 2 · Small studies in peopleNot FDA-approvedNot FDA-approved.Human studies are small, and most come from one research group in Russia. A 2026 review found no adequately sized trial showing it works.MOTS-c1Stage 1 · Tested in animals onlyOnly a modified version has been testedSold online, not approvedNot FDA-approved.No trial has given people MOTS-c itself. A modified version, CB4211 from CohBar, had a small early trial; the company reported lower liver-damage markers after four weeks.Humaninhumanin peptide1Stage 1 · Tested in animals onlyNever given to people in a trialNot FDA-approvedNot FDA-approved, and not on the FDA's lists of substances nominated for pharmacy compounding.Never tested as a treatment in people. In one study, people with a gene variant linked to lower humanin showed faster decline in thinking skills with age.FOXO4-DRIproxofim1Stage 1 · Tested in animals onlyNot FDA-approvedNot FDA-approved, and not on the FDA's lists of substances nominated for pharmacy compounding.Tested only in mice so far. In a 2017 study, it restored fitness, fur and kidney function in old mice.
What's changing · checked Oct 28, 2026

The FDA and peptides: 2026 so far

Whether pharmacies may make BPC-157 and similar peptides is under review. Here is what has happened, with dates and sources, and what hasn't been decided.

  1. April 2026

    Off the FDA's safety-risk list

    The FDA's page listed BPC-157, TB-500, epitalon, MOTS-c, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, thymosin alpha-1 and injected GHK-Cu among substances once on its “significant safety risks” list (category 2) whose nominations were withdrawn. Leaving category 2 doesn't let pharmacies use them. FDA safety-risk list ↗McDermott ↗

  2. May 2026

    GHK-Cu back in category 1

    The FDA returned GHK-Cu, except injected forms, to category 1: substances pharmacies may use while the FDA decides. It plans to consult its advisory committee about GHK-Cu by the end of February 2027. FDA compounding list ↗

  3. July 23–24, 2026

    FDA advisers back six of seven peptides

    The FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted to recommend adding BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, epitalon, KPV and Semax to the substances pharmacies may use, and voted against emideltide (DSIP). FDA staff had recommended against all seven. The votes are advice: the FDA decides, and adding a substance takes a proposed rule, public comments and a final rule. FDA advisers ↗AJMC ↗McDermott ↗FDA advisers ↗

  4. October 14, 2026

    An interim peptide policy goes to the White House

    The FDA sent an “Interim Access Policy for Compounding Using Certain Peptides” for review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Its text is not public. Reuters, citing the AP and two people who weren't named, reported that it would let pharmacies make some popular peptides, including BPC-157. reginfo.gov ↗Reuters ↗

  5. October 27, 2026

    White House review finished

    The review concluded “consistent with change”: cleared, with changes. reginfo.gov ↗

  6. October 28, 2026

    HHS files a draft peptide policy

    HHS's Office of the Secretary filed a notice for the Federal Register announcing a draft “Enforcement Discretion Policy Regarding 503A Compounding Using Certain Peptide Bulk Drug Substances”, under the same regulatory number (RIN 0910-ZD94) as the policy the White House reviewed. Federal Register ↗reginfo.gov ↗

  7. October 30, 2026

    Published: a draft policy for six peptides

    The notice was published. Under the draft policy, HHS does not intend to act against state-licensed pharmacies, federal facilities or licensed physicians that compound BPC-157, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, semax or TB-500 under set conditions, while the list of substances pharmacies may use is worked out through rulemaking. The conditions include a prescription for each patient, peptide from an FDA-registered maker, one peptide per product, a label saying it is a compounded drug and not for resale, an FDA-cleared syringe as the only device, and reporting serious side effects and quality problems to the FDA and the state. HHS says it aims to move people away from research-use-only peptides from foreign suppliers to a more controlled alternative. It is not an FDA approval and not binding, and HHS may revisit it if a safety or quality problem arises. Comments are open for two weeks. Federal Register ↗HHS ↗

The July vote, peptide by peptide

The FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 23–24, 2026. Advice only: the FDA decides. The FDA hasn't posted the meeting's minutes, so the counts are as reported by the sources below; abstentions are shown faint.

BPC-157For ulcerative colitisRecommended · 8–6, 1 abstaining
TB-500For wound healingRecommended · 8–6, 1 abstaining
KPVFor wound healing and inflammationRecommended · 8–6, 1 abstaining
MOTS-cFor obesity and osteoporosisRecommended · 7–5, 2 abstaining
SemaxFor reduced blood flow to the brain, migraine and facial nerve painRecommended · 8–5
EpitalonFor insomniaRecommended · 7 in favor; reports differ on the votes against
Emideltide (DSIP)For opioid withdrawal, insomnia and narcolepsyNot recommended · 6–7, 1 abstaining

Vote counts: McDermott ↗FDA advisers ↗AJMC ↗FDA advisers ↗ Meeting: FDA advisers ↗

Where things stand today

BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c and epitalon are not FDA-approved. Under HHS's draft policy of October 30, 2026, HHS does not intend to act against pharmacies and doctors that compound them, or KPV and semax, under set conditions while the list of substances pharmacies may use is worked out through rulemaking. It is a draft, comments are open for two weeks, and HHS may revisit it. GHK-Cu may be used in forms that aren't injected while the FDA decides. New notices from the FDA or HHS appear in the list below the morning after. Federal Register ↗HHS ↗FDA compounding list ↗

Federal Register notice · 8:00 AMFederal health agency sets policy on some peptide ingredients used in compounded medicines
Before you try

What to know first

Peptides sold for longevity sit between medicine and the gray market. Six things that matter, each from the FDA, the World Anti-Doping Agency or published research.

  1. “Approved” means approved for one use

    The FDA approves a drug for specific diseases after trials show it works for them. The approved peptides on this page are approved for diabetes, weight, heart risk, HIV-related belly fat or a rare disease. None is approved to slow aging. FDA safety-risk list ↗Drugs@FDA ↗Drugs@FDA ↗

  2. “Research use only” is not a safety label

    The FDA has warned companies that illegally sold unapproved copies of peptide drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, falsely labeled “for research purposes” or “not for human consumption” while giving dosing instructions for people. It says these products are of unknown quality. FDA ↗

  3. What's in the vial may not match the label

    In a small 2024 test (Ashraf and colleagues, Journal of Medical Internet Research), researchers ordered semaglutide from six illegal online pharmacies. Three vials arrived. All three held 29% to 39% more semaglutide than their labels said, all contained bacterial endotoxin, and their measured purity was 7.7% to 14.4%, against the 99% on the labels. Doctors warn of the same risks with other unregulated peptides. PubMed ↗PubMed ↗

  4. Pharmacies can't make whatever they like

    Compounding pharmacies may only use substances that meet the FDA's rules. Under a draft HHS policy published October 30, 2026, HHS won't act against pharmacies that compound six peptides, including BPC-157 and TB-500, under set conditions, among them a prescription for each patient. That is not an approval. For the other peptides here, nothing has changed: see What's changing above. FDA compounding rules ↗FDA compounding list ↗Federal Register ↗HHS ↗

  5. Banned for tested athletes

    The World Anti-Doping Agency bans BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin and tesamorelin at all times, in and out of competition. WADA ↗

  6. No doses here: talk to a doctor

    We don't give doses or tell you where to buy. Bring what you have read to your doctor, along with every medicine and supplement you take.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Is this peptide approved for anything, and is my reason one of those uses?
  • What is the evidence in people like me, and how strong is it?
  • Could it interact with my medicines or conditions?
  • Where would it come from, and how would I know what is in it?

This page gathers what regulators and researchers have published. It is not medical advice.

Updated every morning

The latest on peptides

New studies, trials and news that name these peptides, from PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, the FDA and trusted outlets, in plain English. Studies in people come first.

15New papers in the last 30 days
50Papers in our database
1News reports and FDA notices
  1. Prediction or opinion · The Atlantic · Oct 27The Atlantic examines the broad healing claims surrounding BPC-157The Atlantic asks whether there is anything BPC-157 can't cure.
  2. Summary of earlier studies · Oct 26Review of a stomach-derived peptide and other agents for liver injury in animal studiesThis review looks at many possible liver treatments, mostly tested in lab animals.
  3. Study in 30 healthy young males aged 18 to 25 · Oct 26Blood marker MOTS-c linked to fitness in young menResearchers compared 30 young men who were athletes, active, or inactive.
  4. Summary of earlier studies · Oct 26Review of peptide products BPC-157 and TB-500 for joint and muscle recoveryThis review found mostly animal and lab studies, plus one small human case series with no standard measures.
  5. Summary of earlier studies · Oct 15What a review says about epitalon, a synthetic peptide studied for agingThis review looked at lab, animal, and human studies of epitalon.
  6. Study in 30 adults across three small studies · Oct 15Few human studies exist for BPC-157, a peptide used in sports injury recoveryThis review found only three small human studies of BPC-157, so the evidence is very weak.
  7. Study in Model cosmetic products made in a lab (oil-in-water emulsions and serums) · Oct 15Testing whether copper peptide stays stable inside liposomes in skin creamsScientists checked if a copper peptide stayed packed inside tiny fat bubbles in creams and serums.
  8. New trial · Oct 5Testing tirzepatide for hot flashes and aging signs in women with obesityThis trial is still enrolling people, so no results are available yet.

All the latest research →

Common questions

Peptides, plainly

What are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins: usually 2 to 50 of them. The body uses many as messengers. GLP-1, the gut hormone copied by Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound, is one (its full name is glucagon-like peptide-1). NHGRI ↗

Which peptides are FDA-approved?

Of the peptides on this page, four are FDA-approved drugs: semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus), tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), tesamorelin (Egrifta) and elamipretide (Forzinity). Each is approved for specific diseases, not for aging. Sermorelin was approved as Geref and later discontinued. Drugs@FDA ↗Drugs@FDA ↗Drugs@FDA ↗Drugs@FDA ↗Drugs@FDA ↗

Is BPC-157 safe?

Nobody knows yet. The FDA says it has too little information to tell whether BPC-157 would harm people. A 2026 review found only three small, poor-quality human studies (30 people). Products sold online may not contain what their labels say. FDA safety-risk list ↗PubMed ↗PubMed ↗

Are peptides legal?

Approved peptide drugs are legal with a prescription. The others are not approved for use in people, and the FDA has warned companies that illegally sold unapproved copies of drugs like semaglutide labeled “for research purposes”. FDA advisers backed letting pharmacies make six peptides in July 2026. On October 30, 2026 HHS published a draft policy saying it won't act against pharmacies that compound those six (BPC-157, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, semax and TB-500) under set conditions while the rules are worked out. That is not an approval. FDA ↗FDA advisers ↗Federal Register ↗HHS ↗

Do any peptides slow aging?

No peptide is approved to slow aging. The strongest evidence in people is for GLP-1 drugs on weight and heart attacks and strokes; a large trial of semaglutide in early Alzheimer's disease found no benefit. Elamipretide is in a small trial in healthy older adults. PubMed ↗PubMed ↗ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Can athletes use peptides?

Not most of these. The World Anti-Doping Agency bans BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin and tesamorelin at all times. WADA ↗