FDA to review controversial peptide drugs with industry‑linked panel
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a two‑day meeting next month to reconsider the safety and effectiveness of seven injectable synthetic peptides that have become popular among athletes, influencers and wellness clinics. The panel’s composition has shifted from academic researchers to doctors, pharmacists and business owners who profit from the compounds, as well as Tennessee state senator and pharmacist Bobby Harshbarger. Panel members include Dr. Haleem Mohammed of the Gameday Men’s Health chain, Dr. Gabriel Alizaidy, who offers paid peptide‑and‑hormone consultations online, and Harshbarger, whose family pharmacy sells compounded peptide products.
The peptides, promoted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, are marketed for muscle growth, injury recovery and anti‑ageing, but FDA scientists have repeatedly warned that there is little scientific evidence of their safety or efficacy. Many are produced by compounding pharmacies and labeled “for research use only,” skirting regulation, and are also classified as doping substances by international sports authorities. Earlier FDA panels composed of university experts voted against the same ingredients, citing high risk.
The upcoming review will assess whether to relax restrictions on these unapproved drugs despite the agency’s internal concerns.