Instructions, not hormones
A peptide is a short chain of amino acids that acts as a signal. Testosterone therapy replaces a hormone directly. Peptide products, at most, signal the body to adjust its own output. That difference matters for what any of them can and cannot do, and it is the first thing to understand before anyone sells you one.
This page tracks compounds that come up constantly in podcasts, clinics and social feeds. It does not tell you what to take, and it does not replace a clinician who knows your history.
Two axes, never one
Evidence tier describes how much human proof sits under a specific claim: A, B, C, or Preclinical. Regulatory bucket describes legality: Approved, Compoundable, Under review, Research-only. A compound can be fully approved and have no evidence for the use being pitched to you. Sort by bucket first. Then ask what tier the evidence is.
The status directory
Regulatory status changes. Where a bucket is blank, the status is unsettled or depends on how a product is sourced, and the note says so. Check the FDA’s current 503A bulks list yourself before relying on anything here.
| Compound | Regulatory bucket | Evidence (by claim) | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elamipretide (SS-31) | Approved | Longevity or energy claims in humans: Preclinical to Tier C | Accelerated approval 2025 for Barth syndrome only; single specialty pharmacy. Not an approved longevity or energy therapy. |
| Sermorelin | Unsettled | Mechanism (GH secretagogue): Tier B Functional outcomes, healthy midlife men: Tier C | Prior FDA drug history. Nominated for the FDA 503A bulks list, filed in Category 3, not on the list as of Sept 2026; 'compoundable' overstates the FDA sources. Bucket withheld pending Peters/Compliance ruling (Ch12 CH12-003). |
| CJC-1295 | Unsettled | Mechanism (GH secretagogue): Tier B Functional outcomes, healthy midlife men: Tier C | Removed from FDA Category 2 list Sept 2024 after nominators withdrew; not on 503A bulks list as of Sept 2026; FDA still lists safety concerns. Regulatory gray zone. |
| Ipamorelin | Unsettled | Mechanism (GH secretagogue): Tier B Functional outcomes, healthy midlife men: Tier C | Availability varies by clinic; bucket check required before relying on legality. |
| BPC-157 | Under review | Not tiered on this page | Before an FDA advisory panel July 2026; non-binding committee recommendation to allow compounding again; no final FDA ruling at time of writing; FDA's own briefing proposed excluding some substances. |
| MOTS-c | Under review | Longevity or energy claims in humans: Preclinical to Tier C | Before an FDA advisory panel July 2026; non-binding committee recommendation; no final FDA ruling at time of writing; FDA's own briefing proposed excluding some substances. |
| Kisspeptin | Unsettled | Midlife-optimization claims: Tier C | Access outside research settings is limited; treat commercial 'kisspeptin therapy' claims with skepticism. |
| GHK-Cu (copper peptide) | Unsettled | Not tiered on this page | Mostly relevant as a topical for skin; different regulatory category from injectables. Human skin data are small studies; connective-tissue claims are preclinical. |
Questions worth asking before anything else
- Is this the approved product, and is this an approved use?
- Which regulatory bucket is it in, and where can I check that myself?
- What human evidence sits under the specific claim being made to me, and at what tier?
- Where does the product come from, and can the batch be verified?
- What baseline labs should exist before anyone discusses this with me, and who is reading them?
Red flags in how peptides are sold
- Sold without a prescription or a physician relationship
- Labeled “not for human consumption” or “for research use only”
- A multi-compound stack offered before any single compound has been evaluated
- “Approved” or “FDA-cleared” claimed without naming the approved use
- A protocol sold before any labs have been reviewed
Start with your labs, not the vial
Peptides are the last question in a long list. The Bio-Audit shows where your foundations stand first: sleep, training, blood pressure, alcohol, and the numbers a clinician should be reading with you.
Take the Bio-Audit