As a fitness editor in New York City, I first started picking up chatter about peptides around 2016. Longevity was just being written into the wellness lexicon and things like NAD, red light therapy, and cold plunging were taking their first steps into the mainstream. But peptides were an outlier. For one, you had to inject them, which seemed sketchy. More important, there was virtually no research to back up their efficacy. On top of that, they were expensive. So peptides hung back on the fringes, quietly gaining traction among what would soon emerge as the inaugural class of biohackers.
That all changed with the introduction of weight-loss drugs like semaglutide, tirzepatide, and, most recently, retatrutide—all peptides. The meteoric rise in popularity of drugs like Mounjaro and Zepbound has in short order stripped much of the doubt and stigma surrounding peptides, including the requisite self-inflicted needle jabs. Meanwhile, as the biohacking crowd has grown increasingly larger—and louder—having infiltrated popular culture through every major entrypoint from Netflix to the podcastsphere, anecdotal accounts of peptides’ benefits have become unavoidable.
“People are generally hearing the word ‘peptide’ thrown around a whole lot more,” says Dr. Duncan, “whether that be on social media or in mainstream media, and they’re starting to wonder, ‘What even is this, what does it do, and should I care?’”
The tipping point came this past February, when health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that, based on no new findings whatsoever, he would be instructing the FDA to allow pharmacies to resume compounding over a dozen peptides that had previously been banned over safety concerns—including some of the most in-demand formulations (such as BPC-157) that have propped up a thriving online gray market in the meantime. With that change expected to be made in the coming weeks, it’s safe to say we’re going to be hearing a lot more about peptides.
What are some of the more popular peptides?
Probably the most popular peptide that you’re likely to hear about is BPC-157, or “the Wolverine peptide,” as it is commonly known. “I get asked about that one all the time,” says Dr. Duncan. A naturally occurring peptide found in the digestive system, it helps maintain the stomach lining. But when isolated and administered as an injectable peptide, it’s believed to be capable of much more, including accelerating healing and recovery.
Similarly, GHK-Cu, or GHK Copper, is naturally present in saliva and some other bodily fluids. It’s been reported to boost skin health by spurring collagen production and supporting cell regeneration. Other popular peptides include MOTS-c, CJC-1295, and TB-500, which are alleged to improve mitochondrial function, release growth hormone, and repair muscle and tendons, respectively.
It’s worth noting that all of these peptides are currently on the FDA’s Category 2, or “Do Not Compound,” list due to significant safety concerns stemming from either a lack of testing or documented adverse effects. In other words, until such time as these peptides are recategorized by the FDA, none can legally be prescribed for human use in the United States—and perhaps for good reason. “Some peptides can impact cell growth, and we need to be mindful of a potential cancer risk,” says Dr. Duncan. Other risks include immune reactions and pancreatitis.