Peptides by the numbers

By the Peptide Science Desk Editorial TeamFact-checked against FDA and official sources · Oct 26, 2026Not yet reviewed by a licensed clinician. How we check facts

Short answer: 16 of the 50 peptides on this site are FDA approved for at least one use. 27 are not approved. Only 15 have strong proof in people. Many peptides sold online were tested in very few people, or none.

50peptides profiled
16FDA approved for at least one use
27not FDA approved
15with strong proof in people
18banned in sports (all or men)
37recall records we track
69studies listed on our peptide pages
58charts on this site

FDA status

How many of our 50 peptides are FDA approved?

16 approved, 27 not approved

50 peptides

1627

FDA approved 16
In testing 4
Off market 3
Not FDA approved 27

Most peptides sold online are not FDA approved.

Show the numbers as a table

How many of our 50 peptides are FDA approved?
Peptides	FDA approved	In testing	Off market	Not FDA approved	Total
50 peptides	16	4	3	27	50

"FDA approved" means approved for at least one use, not every use people try it for. Orforglipron (Foundayo) is counted as approved but is not a peptide. Sources: Our 50 peptide pages (each links its FDA source); Drugs@FDA.

FDA status vs proof

For each FDA status, how strong the proof is

FDA approved (16)

123

Strong 12
Some 3
Early 1

In testing (4)

Strong 3
Some 1

Off market (3)

111

Some 1
Early 1
None found 1

Not FDA approved (27)

41263

Mixed 4
Early 12
Animal or lab only 6
None found 3
Tested: no clear benefit 2

None of the not-approved peptides has strong proof in people.

Show the numbers as a table

FDA status vs proof
FDA status	Strong	Some	Mixed	Early	Animal or lab only	None found	Tested: no clear benefit	Total
FDA approved (16)	12	3	0	1	0	0	0	16
In testing (4)	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	4
Off market (3)	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	3
Not FDA approved (27)	0	0	4	12	6	3	2	27

An approved drug can have "early" proof for the use we list when that use is not its approved one. Sources: Our 50 peptide pages.

Does it work?

How strong is the proof that each peptide works?

Number of our 50 peptides with each proof rating

Strong

Some

Mixed

Early

Animal or lab only

None found

Tested: no clear benefit

Proof is about the main use we list for each peptide.

Show the numbers as a table

How strong is the proof that each peptide works?: Number of our 50 peptides with each proof rating
Proof rating	Peptides
Strong	15
Some	5
Mixed	4
Early	14
Animal or lab only	6
None found	4
Tested: no clear benefit	2

Our own rating, based on the studies in people listed on each page. See how we rate. Sources: How we rate the proof; Our 50 peptide pages.

Is it safe?

How much safety data is there?

Number of our 50 peptides by how well their side effects are known

Well studied

Limited

Very little

"Very little" means the risks are mostly unknown, not that it is safe.

Show the numbers as a table

How much safety data is there?: Number of our 50 peptides by how well their side effects are known
Safety data	Peptides
Well studied	14
Limited	16
Very little	20

Our own rating, based on how many people were studied and for how long. Sources: How we rate safety data.

What they are used for

What our 50 peptides are used for

Grouped by the main use on each page (our own grouping)

Weight & blood sugarGLP-1: Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide), GLP-1: Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide), GLP-1: Retatrutide, GLP-1: Saxenda / Victoza (liraglutide), and more

Muscle & growth hormoneIpamorelin, CJC-1295, Sermorelin, GHRP-2, and more

Healing, gut, skin & immuneBPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV, and more

Brain, mood, sleep & nervesSemax, Selank, DSIP (emideltide), Dihexa, and more

Sex, fertility & hormonesVyleesi (bremelanotide, PT-141), Kisspeptin-10, Oxytocin (Pitocin), HCG (Pregnyl, Novarel), and more

BonesForteo (teriparatide), Tymlos (abaloparatide)

Aging (claims)Epitalon, MOTS-c

Rare diseases & otherMelanotan II, Scenesse (afamelanotide), VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), Forzinity (elamipretide, SS-31)

Weight-loss and blood-sugar drugs are the biggest group.

Show the numbers as a table

What our 50 peptides are used for: Grouped by the main use on each page (our own grouping)
Main use	Peptides
Weight & blood sugar GLP-1: Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide), GLP-1: Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide), GLP-1: Retatrutide, GLP-1: Saxenda / Victoza (liraglutide), and more	13
Muscle & growth hormone Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Sermorelin, GHRP-2, and more	10
Healing, gut, skin & immune BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV, and more	7
Brain, mood, sleep & nerves Semax, Selank, DSIP (emideltide), Dihexa, and more	6
Sex, fertility & hormones Vyleesi (bremelanotide, PT-141), Kisspeptin-10, Oxytocin (Pitocin), HCG (Pregnyl, Novarel), and more	6
Bones Forteo (teriparatide), Tymlos (abaloparatide)	2
Aging (claims) Epitalon, MOTS-c	2
Rare diseases & other Melanotan II, Scenesse (afamelanotide), VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), Forzinity (elamipretide, SS-31)	4

Each peptide is counted once, under its main use. Some have more than one use. Sources: Our 50 peptide pages.

How many people were tested

How many people each peptide was tested in

Biggest study in people we list for each one (log scale, so small numbers still show)

GLP-1: Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide)FDA approvedSELECT heart trial

17,604 people

GLP-1: Trulicity (dulaglutide)FDA approvedREWIND heart trial

9,901 people

GLP-1: Saxenda / Victoza (liraglutide)FDA approvedSCALE

3,731 people

Cagrilintide (part of CagriSema)In testingREDEFINE 1 (with semaglutide)

3,417 people

GLP-1 pill: Foundayo (orforglipron)FDA approvedATTAIN-1 · not a peptide

3,127 people

GLP-1: Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide)FDA approvedSURMOUNT-1

2,539 people

Tymlos (abaloparatide)FDA approvedACTIVE

2,463 people

GLP-1: RetatrutideIn testingTRIUMPH-1

2,339 people

Forteo (teriparatide)FDA approvedFracture trial

1,637 people

Vyleesi (bremelanotide, PT-141)FDA approvedRECONNECT (2 trials)

1,267 people

Thymosin alpha-1Not FDA approvedTESTS sepsis trial · no benefit

1,106 people

Egrifta (tesamorelin)FDA approvedBelly fat trial

412 people

IpamorelinNot FDA approvedPhase 2 (gut, after surgery)

114 people

SemaxNot FDA approvedNot randomized

110 people

SelankNot FDA approvedSmall randomized study

70 people

BPC-157Not FDA approvedAll 3 small studies added up

30 people

GHK-CuNot FDA approvedSkin product trial

13 people

TB-500Not FDA approvedNo study of TB-500 itself

0 people

KPVNot FDA approvedMice only

0 people

MOTS-cNot FDA approvedMice only

0 people

AOD-9604Not FDA approvedRats only

0 people

The popular online peptides were tested in tens of people, or none. The approved drugs were tested in thousands.

Show the numbers as a table

How many people each peptide was tested in: Biggest study in people we list for each one (log scale, so small numbers still show)
Peptide	People in the study
GLP-1: Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide) (FDA approved) SELECT heart trial	17,604 people
GLP-1: Trulicity (dulaglutide) (FDA approved) REWIND heart trial	9,901 people
GLP-1: Saxenda / Victoza (liraglutide) (FDA approved) SCALE	3,731 people
Cagrilintide (part of CagriSema) (In testing) REDEFINE 1 (with semaglutide)	3,417 people
GLP-1 pill: Foundayo (orforglipron) (FDA approved) ATTAIN-1 · not a peptide	3,127 people
GLP-1: Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide) (FDA approved) SURMOUNT-1	2,539 people
Tymlos (abaloparatide) (FDA approved) ACTIVE	2,463 people
GLP-1: Retatrutide (In testing) TRIUMPH-1	2,339 people
Forteo (teriparatide) (FDA approved) Fracture trial	1,637 people
Vyleesi (bremelanotide, PT-141) (FDA approved) RECONNECT (2 trials)	1,267 people
Thymosin alpha-1 (Not FDA approved) TESTS sepsis trial · no benefit	1,106 people
Egrifta (tesamorelin) (FDA approved) Belly fat trial	412 people
Ipamorelin (Not FDA approved) Phase 2 (gut, after surgery)	114 people
Semax (Not FDA approved) Not randomized	110 people
Selank (Not FDA approved) Small randomized study	70 people
BPC-157 (Not FDA approved) All 3 small studies added up	30 people
GHK-Cu (Not FDA approved) Skin product trial	13 people
TB-500 (Not FDA approved) No study of TB-500 itself	0 people
KPV (Not FDA approved) Mice only	0 people
MOTS-c (Not FDA approved) Mice only	0 people
AOD-9604 (Not FDA approved) Rats only	0 people

Bar length uses a log scale: each step is 10 times more people. For TB-500 we found 2 small trials of the full thymosin beta-4 protein (18 and 73 people), not TB-500 itself. Each number is on that peptide's page with a link to the study. Sources: Our 50 peptide pages, "Studies in people" tables; Lincoff et al., NEJM 2023 (SELECT) (PMID 37952131); Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2026 (TRIUMPH-1) (PMID 42814954).

FDA risky-ingredient list

Where the FDA's risky-ingredient list stands

Peptides the FDA reviewed for its "Category 2" list (may have serious safety risks)

Peptides named on the FDA pageStill listed: GHRP-2, GHRP-6, ipamorelin acetate, kisspeptin-10

417

Still on Category 2 4
Nominated, then withdrawn 17

"Withdrawn" does NOT mean approved or safe. It means the people who nominated them pulled the request.

Show the numbers as a table

Where the FDA's risky-ingredient list stands
FDA list	Still on Category 2	Nominated, then withdrawn	Total
Peptides named on the FDA page	4	17	21

The 17 withdrawn: AOD-9604, BPC-157, LL-37, CJC-1295, dihexa, DSIP, epitalon, GHK-Cu (shots), ipamorelin, KPV, PEG-MGF, melanotan II, MOTS-c, selank, semax, thymosin alpha-1 and TB-500. MK-677 (ibutamoren) is also still on Category 2, but it is not a peptide. Sources: FDA: Bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks (content current as of 04/22/2026).

Sports bans

Are peptides banned in sports?

Our 50 peptides sorted by the WADA banned list

50 peptides

14167

Banned in sports 14
Banned for male athletes 4
Likely banned in sports 3
Not named, but may be banned 16
Not banned (WADA is watching it) 2
Not banned in sports 4
Not named on the banned list 7

"Not named" does not mean allowed. WADA bans many drugs by type, not just by name.

Show the numbers as a table

Are peptides banned in sports?
Peptides	Banned in sports	Banned for male athletes	Likely banned in sports	Not named, but may be banned	Not banned (WADA is watching it)	Not banned in sports	Not named on the banned list	Total
50 peptides	14	4	3	16	2	4	7	50

Based on the WADA list, checked 2026-10-18. This is about sports tests, not work drug tests. Sources: WADA Prohibited List; Our drug test tool.

Recalls

Peptide and GLP-1 recalls we track

37 recall records from FDA reports, by drug, by reason, and by how serious

By drug

2184

Semaglutide 21
Tirzepatide 8
Glutathione 4
NAD+ 1
Sermorelin 1
Exenatide 1
Liraglutide 1

By reason

1614

No proof it was sterile 16
Bits floating inside 14
Germ toxins (endotoxin) 2
Germs found 2
Factory rules not followed 2
Pen might be empty 1

By how serious (FDA class)Class I is the most serious

Class II 33
Not classed yet 2
Class I 2

Most recalls were for compounded copies, mainly because no one could prove they were sterile.

Show the numbers as a table

Peptide and GLP-1 recalls we track
Grouped by	Breakdown	Total
By drug	Semaglutide: 21; Tirzepatide: 8; Glutathione: 4; NAD+: 1; Sermorelin: 1; Exenatide: 1; Liraglutide: 1	37
By reason	No proof it was sterile: 16; Bits floating inside: 14; Germ toxins (endotoxin): 2; Germs found: 2; Factory rules not followed: 2; Pen might be empty: 1	37
By how serious (FDA class)	Class II: 33; Not classed yet: 2; Class I: 2	37

One recall can have several records (one per product or strength). FDA Enforcement Report data last updated 2026-10-14; our list was checked 2026-10-21. Glutathione and NAD+ are not peptide drugs but are sold by the same shops. Sources: FDA Drug Enforcement Report (openFDA); Our recall checker (every record, with links).

FDA policy timeline

FDA peptide policy: what happened when

Official steps, news reports, and the White House meetings on the plan

Official record
News report
OMB meeting

Apr 22, 2026Official recordBy April 22, 2026The FDA page on risky compounding ingredients lists BPC-157 under "nominated but withdrawn," not in Category 2.
Jul 23, 2026Official recordJuly 23-24, 2026FDA advisers (the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee) talked about 7 peptides, including BPC-157, TB-500 and Semax, for the pharmacy ingredient list.
Jul 24, 2026News reportJuly 23-24, 2026 (vote details)Reuters reported the votes. July 23: yes on BPC-157, KPV, TB-500 and MOTS-c. July 24: yes on Semax and epitalon, and no on emideltide (DSIP), 7 no, 6 yes, 1 did not vote. FDA staff had advised against all 7. The advisers are outside experts. The FDA does not have to follow them.
Oct 14, 2026Official recordOctober 14, 2026The White House budget office (OMB) got the FDA plan for review. It is listed as a "notice" with no legal deadline.
Oct 15, 2026News reportOctober 15, 2026Reuters reported that the FDA sent the plan to the White House, and that Hims & Hers has said it plans to offer peptides if the rules allow.
Oct 16, 2026News reportOctober 15-16, 2026The AP reported, citing 2 people who did not give their names, that the plan would let pharmacies make some popular peptides for a while, including BPC-157. This is not confirmed by the FDA.
Oct 18, 2026Official recordOctober 18, 2026Reginfo.gov listed the first meeting: October 21, asked for by the American Academy of Peptide Medicine.
Oct 20, 2026News reportOctober 20, 2026Health Secretary Kennedy said on TV the goal is a "regulated marketplace" for peptides.
Oct 21, 2026Official recordOctober 21, 2026The list grew to 3 meetings: Hims & Hers Health (Oct 23) and the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (Oct 27) were added.
Oct 21, 2026OMB meetingMeeting: American Academy of Peptide Medicine (Lee Rosebush)Oct 21, 3:00 PM ET (Oct 21, 10:00 PM Riyadh)
Oct 22, 2026Official recordOctober 22, 2026The list grew to 5: the Center for Science in the Public Interest (Oct 27) and Carmen Group for Medivant Healthcare (Oct 28) were added.
Oct 23, 2026Official recordOctober 23, 2026A 6th meeting was added: Faegre Drinker Consulting for the Collaborative for Evidence-Based Medicines (Oct 28). No notes or handouts were posted when we checked.
Oct 23, 2026OMB meetingMeeting: Hims & Hers HealthOct 23, 2:00 PM ET (Oct 23, 9:00 PM Riyadh)
Oct 26, 2026Official recordOctober 26, 2026Still pending at OMB. Still 6 meetings listed. No Federal Register notice. No policy text.
Oct 27, 2026OMB meetingMeeting: Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (Scott Brunner)Oct 27, 2:00 PM ET (Oct 27, 9:00 PM Riyadh)
Oct 27, 2026OMB meetingMeeting: Center for Science in the Public Interest (Quynh Nguyen)Oct 27, 2:30 PM ET (Oct 27, 9:30 PM Riyadh)
Oct 28, 2026Official recordOctober 28, 2026HHS issued the peptide policy. It lists 6 peptides: BPC-157, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, Semax and TB-500. Pharmacies must use tested ingredients from FDA-registered makers, use only 1 peptide per product, and report bad side effects to the FDA. A Federal Register notice was filed the same day and published October 30.
Oct 28, 2026Official recordOctober 28, 2026 (meetings)Reginfo.gov now lists 4 meetings. The 2 meetings planned for October 28 are no longer on the list.
Oct 29, 2026News reportOctober 29, 2026 (reactions)NPR reported that the consumer group Public Citizen says the policy puts patients at risk by going around FDA approval. NPR also noted that outsourcing facilities (503B), which make larger batches, are not part of the policy, and that a Florida compounding pharmacy said it needs time to prepare before filling prescriptions.
Oct 30, 2026Official recordOctober 30, 2026The Federal Register printed the HHS notice (91 FR 68526). It says written comments can be sent for 2 weeks after publication on regulations.gov, Docket No. HHS-OASH-2026-0496.
Oct 30, 2026News reportOctober 30, 2026 (reactions)Politico reported that states are not bound by the HHS policy: many are expected to go along, but some may set stricter rules or keep blocking peptide compounding. AJMC reported that FDA career scientists had recommended against all 6 peptides, that the Partnership for Safe Medicines petitioned the FDA to block compounding of them, and that an FDA advisory committee was scheduled (as of July) to review 5 more peptides in February.

HHS issued an interim policy on Oct 28, 2026 for 6 peptides. Nothing in this timeline made any peptide FDA approved.

Last checked 2026-11-03. News reports are marked so you can tell them apart from official records. Sources: Federal Register: FR Doc. 2026-22192; Reginfo.gov: OMB review, RIN 0910-ZD94; Our FDA peptide policy tracker.

This site in numbers

What is on this site

Number of pages in each part of Peptide Science Desk

Guides

Peptide pages

Free tools

Longevity articles

News

Show the numbers as a table

What is on this site: Number of pages in each part of Peptide Science Desk
Section	Pages
Guides	48
Peptide pages	50
Free tools	16
Longevity articles	1
News	7

Counted from the pages this site builds. Hub and policy pages are not counted. Sources: Peptide Science Desk site map.

How we rate proof and safety

We give every peptide 3 separate ratings: FDA status, proof that it works in people, and how much safety data there is. One does not decide the others.

Proof it works

Strong: Big, well-run trials in people show it works.
Some: Good trials in people, but fewer, smaller, or with small effects.
Mixed: Some trials helped and some did not.
Early: Only a few small studies in people. Too small to prove it works.
Animal or lab only: Tested in animals or cells, not in people.
None found: We found no study that tested it for this use.
Tested: no clear benefit: Good trials in people did not show it helps.

Safety data

Well studied: Thousands of people, years of data, and side effects on an FDA label.
Limited: Some people studied, but not many, or not for long.
Very little: Few or no people studied. Risks are mostly unknown.

Proof is rated for the main use listed on each peptide page. Read our editorial policy.

More charts on this site

FAQ

How many peptides are FDA approved?

Of the 50 peptides on this site, 16 are FDA approved for at least one use. 27 are not FDA approved. 4 are still in testing. One approved drug on our list, orforglipron (Foundayo), is a pill that is not a peptide.

Where do these numbers come from?

Each count comes from our peptide pages. Each peptide page links its FDA source and the studies we used. Trial numbers come from PubMed papers and FDA labels, linked under each chart.

How often is this page updated?

The counts update every time we change a peptide page, a recall, or the policy tracker, because this page is built from the same data.

This page is for information only and is not medical advice. Different trials had different people, so numbers from separate trials are not a head-to-head comparison.