FDA staff questions RFK-backed peptides
Advisory panel review takes place this month [07/2026]
By: Sneha S K
Reuters
..... FDA staff reviewers said there is little evidence to allow compounding pharmacies to manufacture seven popular peptides, in stark contrast to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pullback endorsed the compounds and said he is a "big fan."
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The remarks, outlined in documents the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released on June 29, [2026] come ahead of a July 23-24 [2026] meeting of its Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, which will consider whether to add the peptides to the agency's list of bulk drug substances permitted for sue in compounded medicines.
..... Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks of proteins and perform essential biological functions in the body. If permitted, compounding pharmacies can manufacture them for personalized medications tailored to patients; unique needs.
..... Peptides have gained mass popularity over the past year, driven by endorsements form wellness influencer, but reviewers have flagged inadequate human studies and limited evidence of their safety and efficacy - a position that diverges from Kennedy's.
..... At tis July 23-24 [2026] meeting, the committee will weigh whether compounding pharmacies should be permitted to manufacture seven peptides, including BPC-157 for ulcerative colitis, KPV for wound healing and inflammatory conditions, TB-500 for would healing, and MOTS-c for obesity and osteoporosis intemperate.
..... The panel will also consider emideltide for opioid withdrawal and chronic insomnia, semax for conditions such as cerebral ischemia, migraines, and chronic pain, and eptialon for insomnia.
..... The committees' recommendations are non-binding, but they are expected to inform FDA's final decision.
..... The FDA could cerate some guardrails within which peptides could be prepared by legitimate pharmacies said Scott Brnuuer, CEO of Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding.
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"We would urge the agency to look at this not as an up-or-down vote, but to consider a middle path that does address a very real pubic health concern," Brunner added.
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The FDA also appointed several new members to the panel that will review whether the peptides may be used in compounded drugs. Seven of the committee's 14 members have ties to businesses or clinics involved in peptide therapies.
..... Among them is Melissa Loseke, who owns a wellness clinic in Omaha, Nebraska, that provides personalized, "concierge" care in hormone therapy, sexual wellness and regenerative aesthetics.
..... Gabriel Alzaidy is the scientific director at Maximus Health, which offers GLP-1 miscrodosing protocols and growth hormone peptides.
..... Another panelist Robert Harshbarger, is a Tennessee senator and licensed pharmacist. His mother, congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, wrote to Secretary Kennedy last year [2025] to loosen FDA restrictions on the production of peptides.
..... Panel member Asare Christian's clinic offers patients peptide therapies for pain relief, muscle growth, and longevity.
..... Also part of the panel is Haleem Mohammed, global Men's Health, with over 400 clinics across the United States, that offers shoreline peptide injections, currently not on any FDA restricted list.
.... "All committee members underwent the same ethics review and vetting process required of all FDA advisory committee members. Candidates that could not meet existing ethics requirements were removed form consideration," a spokesperson for the HHS said.