Compounding Pharmacies Push to Legalize Peptide Therapies as Grey-Market Demand Surges
Updated
Updated · NPR · Jul 8
Compounding Pharmacies Push to Legalize Peptide Therapies as Grey-Market Demand Surges
3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jul 8
Summary
compounding pharmacies are pressing to make peptide therapies legally, arguing regulated production would meet fast-growing demand now flowing through online grey-market sellers.
Those peptides are marketed for longevity and wellness benefits, but the therapies remain unproven, putting the access push at odds with weak clinical evidence.
BPC-157 is emerging as a test case: the FDA’s compounding advisory committee is due to review it this summer for bulk compounding use.
That review comes after regulators kept BPC-157 in Category 2 because it lacks FDA approval and has only 3 pilot studies covering 30 participants, underscoring the broader fight over access versus evidence.