US health secretary Kennedy eases enforcement on six unapproved wellness peptides
The gist
HHS will stop enforcing a ban on compounding six wellness peptides while the FDA drafts a rule change.
The move overrides FDA scientists' safety objections and widens access to unproven drugs.
How it unfolded
- 2023The FDA added more than a dozen peptides, including BPC-157 and TB-500, to its list of substances that should not be compounded, citing safety concerns.
- Jul 2026An FDA advisory panel voted to loosen restrictions on six unapproved peptides for compounding, against the recommendations of the FDA's own scientists; the vote did not constitute FDA approval.
- Oct 28, 2026HHS posted a draft policy directing the FDA not to act against specialty pharmacies selling six wellness peptides — BPC-157, Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, Semax and TB-500 — and opened a two-week comment period. Hims stock rose 5% after the announcement.