A panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers narrowly voted Thursday to broaden access to BPC-157, a peptide popular among longevity and wellness advocates, despite limited evidence supporting its safety and effectiveness. The vote marked the beginning of a two-day meeting reviewing several peptides, unapproved substances linked to a growing health trend primarily promoted online.

The panel, composed of FDA experts and supplemented by a number of individuals connected to the peptide industry—including doctors, pharmacists, and consultants—voted 8 to 6 in favor of permitting specialty pharmacies to compound their own formulations of BPC-157 for patient use. One member abstained from voting. The meeting was convened under the auspices of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted supporter of peptides who has pledged to relax restrictions established during the Biden administration.

Supporters of the peptide argued that decisions surrounding access should rest with physicians, pharmacists, and patients. David Pope, chief pharmacy officer at Xifin Pharmacy Solutions, expressed support for broader availability, emphasizing patient choice. Wellness clinic owner Brigham Buhler, whose clientele reportedly includes public figures such as podcaster Joe Rogan, advocated for allowing U.S. pharmacies to compound peptides as a way to reduce reliance on unregulated imports primarily from China.

However, FDA staff scientists strongly questioned the evidence supporting BPC-157’s medical efficacy and flagged significant safety concerns. Their review identified only a handful of small-scale, short-duration studies that were exploratory and insufficient to establish therapeutic benefit. Additionally, regulators highlighted risks including contamination, allergic reactions, and inconsistency in product quality. BPC-157 is not recognized as an official pharmaceutical ingredient in the United States, further complicating efforts to standardize its use. Russell Wesdyk, an associate director at the FDA’s drug center, stressed the uncertainty surrounding the substance’s identity and legal status.

The meeting will continue with evaluations of six other peptides, several of which are also unapproved yet widely used for conditions such as ulcerative colitis, migraines, and opioid addiction. These substances have also drawn warnings from the FDA due to associated health risks. Both BPC-157 and TB-500 have been identified as doping agents by international sports authorities.

While the advisory panel’s recommendations are not binding, the FDA typically considers them seriously but retains the authority to make independent decisions. Observers suggest that the agency may opt for a provisional policy that offers pharmacies temporary reassurance against enforcement actions related to compounding these peptides. Fully incorporating them into a list of drugs deemed safe for compounding would require a more protracted regulatory process, potentially taking months or years.

The FDA will review the panel’s votes, deliberations, and public input before announcing any changes in policy. The outcome could signal a significant shift in the agency’s approach to peptides, aligning with Secretary Kennedy’s stated intent to ease access to these emerging wellness products despite ongoing scientific uncertainty.