Peptide Legal Status

Class

Small molecule

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

5-Amino-1MQ is a quinolinone derivative studied in nicotinamide N-methyltransferase–related metabolic models; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone studied in metabolic and lipolysis-related research. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide sequence studied in laboratory and preclinical research models. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

CJC-1295 refers to modified growth hormone–releasing hormone analog peptides studied in laboratory research. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Dihexa is an oligopeptide-derived compound studied in synaptic plasticity and cognitive preclinical models; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

DSIP is a neuropeptide studied in sleep physiology and stress-related laboratory models; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Epithalon (epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide studied in aging-related laboratory models; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical (injectable), OTC (topical)

Summary

GHK-Cu is a copper-complexed tripeptide used in cosmetic peptide research and related topical formulation categories, and it appears in non-cosmetic research contexts as well. U.S. regulatory framing can differ by route; formal FDA guidance following the February 2026 HHS announcement had not been published as of April 2026.

Approved in multiple countries including the US, EU, and UK.

Class

Peptide

FDA

FDA approved

Access

Prescription

Summary

Gonadorelin (GnRH) is a decapeptide hypothalamic hormone used in FDA-approved diagnostic testing contexts for pituitary function, available by prescription.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied in cell stress, metabolism, and aging-related laboratory models; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue-related pentapeptide studied in laboratory research. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Kisspeptin-10 is a kisspeptin fragment studied in reproductive neuroendocrine research; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

KPV is a tripeptide fragment studied in anti-inflammatory and barrier-related laboratory models. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

LL-37 is the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide studied in innate immunity and infection-related research; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic melanocortin peptide studied in laboratory models related to pigmentation biology; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Small molecule

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

MK-677 (ibutamoren) is an orally active ghrelin receptor agonist studied as a growth hormone secretagogue in clinical pharmacology research; it is not FDA-approved as a marketed drug product.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial open reading frame–associated peptide studied in metabolic regulation and exercise biology models. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Class

Small molecule

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

OTC supplement category for certain precursors (for example NMN and NR marketed as dietary ingredients); IV infusion use appears in clinic settings outside a unified FDA drug product pathway.

Summary

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a ubiquitous redox coenzyme studied in cellular energetics and aging-related biology. It is not FDA-approved as a drug in the way small-molecule medicines are typically reviewed, while related precursors are commonly sold as dietary supplements and some clinics offer IV formulations outside a single standardized approval framework.

Listed on the WHO Essential Medicines List; widely approved globally.

Class

Peptide

FDA

FDA approved

Access

Prescription

Summary

Oxytocin is a nonapeptide hormone used as an FDA-approved drug for specific obstetric indications when manufactured and labeled as a drug product, available by prescription.

Approved in the US only.

Class

Peptide

FDA

FDA approved

Access

Prescription

Summary

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a cyclic peptide melanocortin receptor agonist approved as a drug product for a specific indication and available by prescription.

Investigational globally (Phase 3).

Class

Peptide

FDA

Investigational

Access

Not yet available

Summary

Retatrutide is a triple incretin agonist peptide in late-stage clinical development for obesity and related metabolic endpoints; it is not FDA-approved or generally available as a commercial drug product as of April 2026.

Approved in Russia as an anxiolytic.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide studied in anxiety- and cognition-related research, including approvals outside the United States. U.S. regulatory treatment remains unsettled; formal FDA guidance following the February 2026 HHS announcement had not been published as of April 2026.

Approved in EU (EMA), Japan, UK, Canada, Australia, and 80+ other countries.

Class

Peptide

FDA

FDA approved

Access

Prescription

Summary

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist available in injectable and oral dosage forms under FDA-approved indications for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, available by prescription.

Approved in Russia and Ukraine for cognitive and neurological indications.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide studied in cognitive and neurological research, including approvals outside the United States. U.S. regulatory treatment remains unsettled; formal FDA guidance following the February 2026 HHS announcement had not been published as of April 2026.

Previously approved in the US only; not marketed internationally.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Previously approved

Access

Compounding pharmacy (prescription)

Summary

Sermorelin acetate is a growth hormone–releasing hormone (1–29) analog that was previously FDA-approved and later withdrawn by the sponsor; regulatory discussions note that prior approval history can influence how it is treated in pharmacy compounding contexts compared with peptides lacking an approval history.

Investigational globally.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Investigational

Access

Not yet available

Summary

SS-31 (elamipretide) is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide studied in primary mitochondrial disease trials; it is not FDA-approved for broad marketing as of April 2026.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

TB-500 commonly denotes a thymosin beta-4–related peptide fragment studied in tissue repair and cell migration preclinical models. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Approved in the US and Canada.

Class

Peptide

FDA

FDA approved

Access

Prescription

Summary

Tesamorelin is a growth hormone–releasing factor analog approved for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, available by prescription under FDA-labeled indications.

Not FDA-approved as a drug; approved in 35+ countries (e.g. China, Russia, India, Philippines) as Zadaxin for hepatitis B/C and as an immune adjuvant.

Class

Peptide

FDA

Not FDA approved

Access

Research chemical

Summary

Thymosin alpha-1 is a thymic peptide studied in immunology and vaccine adjuvant research and is approved in many countries outside the United States. U.S. regulatory treatment remains in flux after a February 2026 HHS announcement; formal FDA guidance reflecting that announcement had not been issued as of April 2026.

Approved in EU (EMA), Japan, UK, and 30+ other countries.

Class

Peptide

FDA

FDA approved

Access

Prescription

Summary

Tirzepatide is an injectable dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and GLP-1 receptor agonist studied and marketed for glycemic control and weight management under FDA-approved indications, available by prescription.