Which ones were allowed?
The six are BPC-157, TB-500, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c and Semax, as listed in the Federal Register notice filed October 28, 2026:
- BPC-157 and TB-500: the two most often taken together, in a combination influencers call the "Wolverine stack." The policy covers each only as a single ingredient, so a pharmacy can make each one alone but can't blend them.
- Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c and Semax: the other four on the list, all promoted online for healing, skin, sleep or longevity.
This is an "enforcement discretion" policy, not FDA approval. HHS is promising not to act against licensed pharmacies and physicians who compound these, as long as they meet conditions such as tested ingredients, reporting side effects and labeling each product for a specific patient. HHS calls it interim while the FDA decides whether to add them to its formal list of compoundable ingredients. The FDA's own scientists said there isn't enough evidence of safety and effectiveness for each one. Coverage of the notice is still fresh, so the details could change as the FDA acts.
For a full account, see Detroit News on the policy.
🕒 As of October 2026
Why do people take each one of those?
Mostly because of claims made online, and the research behind each is thin, mostly in animals or small groups. Here is what each is promoted for and what the studies cover.
- BPC-157: promoted for tendon, ligament and gut healing. Most data come from rodents, with a few small human studies. That's shown in animals and suggested, not established, in people.
- TB-500: a synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, a protein involved in tissue repair, used for injuries and recovery. The evidence is mainly animal wound studies, with few human trials.
- Epitalon: marketed for aging and sleep. Work by Khavinson's group in Russia reported effects on melatonin and lifespan in animals and small human groups, mostly from one research group, and it hasn't been widely replicated.
- KPV: a three-amino-acid fragment related to a hormone that regulates inflammation. It's promoted for gut and skin problems, and studied mainly in mouse models of colitis and skin inflammation.
- MOTS-c: a peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Lee and colleagues (Cell Metabolism, 2015) reported better insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity in mice, which is why it's sold for metabolism and fitness. Human data are very limited.
- Semax: developed in Russia and approved there for stroke and cognitive uses. People take it for focus and mood. The studies are mostly small trials, many run by its developers.
None of the six is FDA-approved for any use, which is the core of the FDA scientists' objection. If you're weighing one for your own health, that's a conversation for your doctor about your situation.
