FDA panel loosens restrictions for controversial peptides popular online

FDA panel loosens restrictions for controversial peptides popular onlineImage source, Getty ImagesByMadeline Halpert and Kathryn ArmstrongPublished23 July 2026, 23:52 BSTUpdated 4 minutes agoA US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has voted to loosen restrictions on controversial peptides that have become popular online, but have not been well researched for human usage. The panel narrowly voted to allow specialised pharmacies to produce drugs including BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV, a major regulatory hurdle towards making them available via prescription. Peptides are small proteins that our bodies normally produce and that have long been used to treat medical conditions, including diabetes.But unregulated injectable peptides have exploded in the online wellness community - including among many young influencers - since GLP-1s (weight loss drugs) became mainstream.The FDA does not have to follow the panel's recommendations, but often does. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy has described himself as a "big fan" of the drugs and has previously vowed to ease restrictions on them after the Biden administration clamped down on the growing industry. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, or small proteins, which our bodies naturally produce. They act as messengers, telling our cells what to do, and play vital roles in our skin health, immune system and helping to control our hormones.Online influencers have been marketing peptides in "stacks" for unproven uses, claiming they can be used as a quick way to look younger, help you heal and improve your skin. They've become popular among teens on TikTok, especially boys, over unproven claims that certain peptides can help with building muscle mass and enhancing your body, with some online using phrases like "biohacking" and "looksmaxxing" to describe the trend. Health experts have cautioned against use of the drugs, citing a lack of clinical trials for humans and th...