By Our Staff Writer
A 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, BBC repported.
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 short chains of amino acids, or small proteins, which our bodies naturally 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.
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 have become popular among teens on TikTok, especially boys, over unproven claims that certain peptides can help with building muscle mass and enhancing your body.
Health experts have cautioned against use of the drugs, citing a lack of clinical trials for humans and the unknown long-term effects of the substances.
BPC-157 is one of the most popular peptides among wellness influencers. It is made from stomach protein and is marketed online as being good for gut health, tissue repair and to treat inflammation.
