Ensuring patient safety is one of the most important responsibilities of the FDA. Before Americans inject a drug into their bodies, they deserve evidence that it works, an understanding of its risks, and confidence that what’s printed on the vial is actually what’s inside.
The peptide market has raced far ahead of both the science and the safeguards meant to protect patients.
Federal regulators need to take the explosion of unapproved injectable peptides far more seriously — and target the sellers and suppliers fueling it.
Peptide use has grown well beyond a handful of dedicated “biohackers.”
One researcher who tracks the market told Forbes that he follows nearly 1,000 online peptide storefronts. All told, the market could be worth as much as $4 billion.
Social media has helped turn substances with names like BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and CJC-1295 into fitness and anti-aging trends.
BPC-157, for instance, is promoted for healing injuries, while CJC-1295 is marketed to boost growth hormone.
Yet popularity is no substitute for evidence.
Stanford researchers reported this summer that peptides tested only in mice were already being sold online for people to inject themselves.
For several popular compounds, the evidence is particularly thin. The Food and Drug Administration says it has only limited safety information about BPC-157. For TB-500, another purported healing aid, the agency has found no human exposure data at all.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Peptide Dangers Result in Hospitalizations
Sally C. Pipes
Ensuring patient safety is one of the most important responsibilities of the FDA. Before Americans inject a drug into their bodies, they deserve evidence that it works, an understanding of its risks, and confidence that what’s printed on the vial is actually what’s inside.
The peptide market has raced far ahead of both the science and the safeguards meant to protect patients.
Federal regulators need to take the explosion of unapproved injectable peptides far more seriously — and target the sellers and suppliers fueling it.
Peptide use has grown well beyond a handful of dedicated “biohackers.”
One researcher who tracks the market told Forbes that he follows nearly 1,000 online peptide storefronts. All told, the market could be worth as much as $4 billion.
Social media has helped turn substances with names like BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and CJC-1295 into fitness and anti-aging trends.
BPC-157, for instance, is promoted for healing injuries, while CJC-1295 is marketed to boost growth hormone.
Yet popularity is no substitute for evidence.
Stanford researchers reported this summer that peptides tested only in mice were already being sold online for people to inject themselves.
For several popular compounds, the evidence is particularly thin. The Food and Drug Administration says it has only limited safety information about BPC-157. For TB-500, another purported healing aid, the agency has found no human exposure data at all.
Read the entire op-ed here.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.