The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will convene a panel next month to review the safety and effectiveness of several popular peptide injections, including compounds favored by presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The agency has announced a list of participants that includes doctors and pharmacists with significant financial connections to the burgeoning industry of unproven peptide chemicals.
This composition marks a shift from prior FDA panels on the subject, which primarily consisted of academics and researchers. The new group predominantly features health professionals who actively prescribe, produce, or promote peptides, substances that have become a wellness trend embraced by athletes, influencers, and celebrities.
These peptides are frequently marketed online and by wellness clinics with claims of aiding muscle growth, injury recovery, and anti-aging, despite limited scientific evidence supporting these assertions. Sellers often navigate regulatory oversight by labeling their products as "for research use only," thus avoiding FDA regulation as the substances are not classified as traditional drugs. Many of these injectable peptides sold in the U.S. are manufactured by compounding pharmacies, which create custom medications not available from mainstream drug manufacturers.
For several years, the FDA has issued warnings about the risks associated with injecting substances like BPC-157 and TB-500, which have not undergone extensive human studies. International sports authorities also classify these peptides as doping agents. Both are among seven peptides scheduled for review in July.
Previous FDA expert panels tasked with evaluating drug compounding had voted against numerous peptide ingredients submitted by compounding pharmacies, deeming them too risky for patient use. Those earlier panels were largely comprised of experts from universities such as Duke, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins.
The newly announced FDA panel includes over a half-dozen members who operate clinics, online businesses, or pharmacies specializing in peptides, often administered alongside other unapproved therapies like vitamin infusions. For instance, panel member Dr. Haleem Mohammed runs clinics in Florida offering peptide injections, vitamins, testosterone, and weight loss medications. His business website explicitly states that compounded medications offered are not FDA-approved and their safety has not been verified by the agency.
Another panelist, Dr. Gabriel Alizaidy, offers "peptide and hormone" consultations for $500, which include guidance on obtaining peptides. Alizaidy promotes peptides such as BPC-157 and GHK-Cu to thousands of followers on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, though his website clarifies these consultations are educational and do not constitute medical care.
Bobby Harshbarger, a Tennessee state senator, is also a member of the panel. He is a pharmacist at Premiere Pharmacy, a family business that sells compounded medications for various conditions. His mother, U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger, is also a pharmacist and previously urged Secretary Kennedy to relax FDA restrictions on several peptides. President Donald Trump has publicly supported Diana Harshbarger's stance.
The FDA utilizes over 30 expert panels to advise on a wide range of products, including drugs, vaccines, and food ingredients. Advisory meetings are subject to government transparency rules regarding panel composition and financial disclosures. While individuals with financial stakes in an industry are permitted to serve, their relationships must be disclosed, and regulators are expected to justify why the expert's knowledge outweighs potential conflicts of interest.
Kennedy and his supporters have frequently criticized federal expert panels, often alleging conflicts of interest. Last year, Kennedy replaced the entire 17-member vaccine panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with a group that included individuals known for anti-vaccine views, a decision later found by a federal judge to likely violate federal rules. Kennedy has publicly stated he is "a big fan of peptides" and has described using them for injury recovery.