 |
A scientist conducts an experiment using laboratory glassware and chemical solutions. Illustrative image.
Kennedy Says Trump Administration Seeks Regulated Market for Peptides
WASHINGTON — October 21, 2026
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Trump administration aims to expand access to peptides by creating a regulated market for the substances, which have gained popularity through social media despite limited evidence of their safety and effectiveness in humans.
Kennedy said the government wants to ensure that consumers receive products matching their stated ingredients and that manufacturing facilities are inspected. He made the comments during an interview on Fox News as the administration considers changes that could make certain peptides more accessible through pharmacies.
“Americans are going to be buying these anyway,” Kennedy said, explaining that the administration wants to establish a regulated marketplace for the products.
The comments followed a proposal submitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the White House for review. The proposed policy change could make it easier for pharmacies to prepare certain peptide products through a process known as compounding.
Compounding pharmacies combine or adjust ingredients to prepare medicines for particular needs and under specific circumstances. The FDA proposal concerns certain peptides that have attracted interest among consumers, although the substances under consideration have not been approved by the agency as safe and effective.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks the body also uses to make proteins. Products containing them are promoted for a range of purposes, including pain relief, muscle growth, injury recovery and beauty treatments.
However, many of these uses lack strong scientific evidence from human studies. The products have gained popularity through social media, where influencers and health figures, including Kennedy, have discussed their potential benefits.
The FDA has been reviewing whether restrictions should be eased for some peptides. In July, outside advisers recommended relaxing restrictions on six of seven peptides under consideration, including BPC-157, a substance promoted for recovery and other potential health benefits. Their recommendation differed from the guidance of FDA staff.
The administration’s approach seeks to address demand for these products by bringing more of the market under regulation. Kennedy has argued that oversight could help ensure product quality and factory inspections, while questions remain about the safety and effectiveness of the substances themselves.
Any change to the rules could affect how pharmacies prepare and supply certain peptides. The proposed policy was still under White House review at the time of the report, and the substances discussed have not been approved by the FDA as safe and effective.
