Opinion: STAT+: Did Kennedy just stack the deck on FDA oversight of peptides?

STAT PlusOpinionLab Dish Did Kennedy just stack the deck on FDA oversight of peptides? It sure looks like it Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Paul KnoepflerApril 29, 2026 Knoepfler is a professor of cell biology and human anatomy at UC Davis School of Medicine. I’ve been waiting for health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to do something big on oversight of what I call pop peptides, like BPC-157 and GHK-Cu. He had long signaled that he was going to free such peptides from what he saw as a past, misguided FDA that had banned them in 2023. It’s finally happened — and the way it went down shook me up a bit.Advertisement For a few years, a loophole in compounding rules had allowed specialty pharmacies to make and market these peptides. It effectively meant that substances nominated for compounding — even unproven drugs — could be made and marketed by qualified pharmacies while the FDA pondered the nominations. But in 2023, the Food and Drug Administration rightly moved peptides to a no-compounding-allowed status called Category 2 due to concerns about safety and lack of clinical trial data. Now Kennedy is working to undo that with major risks to the public. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In FDA, Policy, RFK Jr., STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Paul Knoepfler Newsletter The smartest thinkers in life sciences on what's happening — and what's to come Recommended First Opinion April 29, 2026 Why alternative medicine can feel so much better than mainstream health care First Opinion Podcast April 29, 2026 The medical school nutrition blues Advertisement First Opinion April 28, 2026 Healthcare or health care? Help STAT decide First Opinion April 28, 2026 FDA commissioner: ‘Smarter,’ real-time clinical trials could transform drug development First Opinion April 28, 2026 It’s time to seize the rare bipartisan opening to address microplastics Subscriber Picks