GoKawiilRFK Jr. issues HHS rule easing enforcement against sale of six peptide drugs
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a Department of Health and Human Services policy stating it will not take enforcement action against compounding pharmacies that produce and sell six peptides—BPC-157, Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, Semax, and TB-500. The move does not formally change the drugs' regulatory status, but effectively reverses a 2023 FDA decision that removed those peptides from the approved list for compounding due to safety and efficacy concerns. The policy was posted to the Federal Register this week, with final publication set for October 30.
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The decision bypasses the FDA's formal rulemaking process, raising questions about how much authority a political appointee can exert over the agency's scientific determinations. Kennedy has said he personally uses some of these peptides, which are popular among allies in his Make America Healthy Again movement, a connection that could invite scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest. Because FDA scientists maintain there isn't enough evidence of the peptides' safety or effectiveness, the broader availability could expose consumers to unproven or risky substances before further review occurs.
- HHS will stop enforcement against compounding pharmacies selling six specific peptides.
- The move effectively reverses a 2023 FDA action removing those peptides from the approved compounding list.
- FDA scientists maintain there is insufficient evidence of the peptides' safety and efficacy.
Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-10-28
Published there as: “Peptide peddlers cheer as RFK Jr. unilaterally grants access, overruling FDA”
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