RFK Jr. Announces 14 Peptides Coming Off FDA Restricted List

In an announcement on February 27, 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that approximately 14 of the 19 peptides currently on the FDA’s Category 2 “do not compound” list would be removed from that list. Removing a peptide from Category 2 is not the same as adding it to Category 1 — the list of bulk substances a compounding pharmacy may actually prepare. A peptide becomes eligible for compounding only once the FDA formally adds it to Category 1, and to date none of these compounds has been added.

The announcement, made on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, would mark a significant shift in peptide compounding policy — but it was a statement of intent, not a completed regulatory action, and as of this writing no peptide has changed compounding status.

Background: The 2023 FDA Peptide Ban

In late 2023, the FDA placed numerous research peptides on a restricted compounding list, citing safety concerns and lack of clinical trial data. The move affected some of the most widely researched compounds in the longevity, recovery, and metabolic health space — including BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, and others.

What RFK Jr. Announced

Kennedy indicated that approximately 14 of the 19 restricted peptides would be removed from Category 2. He framed this as restoring their eligibility for licensed compounding — but that eligibility depends on the FDA formally adding each compound to the Category 1 bulk-substances list, and to date none of the 19 has been added to Category 1. Compounds named in the announcement include:

• BPC-157
• TB-500
• CJC-1295
• Ipamorelin
• Thymosin Alpha-1
• Sermorelin
• Tesamorelin
• Epitalon
• Selank
• Semax

Important Caveats

As of publication, no formal FDA rule change has been published in the Federal Register. Kennedy’s announcement was made through a media appearance, not an official regulatory filing. Researchers should continue to monitor FDA official communications for formal guidance.