Peptides May Soon Be Legal. These Companies Are Ready To Cash In - Forbes

What the report says

Forbes reports that an FDA advisory panel is expected to meet this week at the agency’s Maryland campus to consider whether to recommend allowing legal compounding of up to seven peptides, a move that could open a major new market for compounding pharmacies and telehealth firms. The peptides under review include products known online by names such as BPC-157 and TB-500, which supporters promote for recovery, inflammation and wound-healing claims, though Forbes notes that safety and efficacy data remain limited.

The article says industry figures are preparing for a large turnout at the two-day meeting, including compounders, telehealth founders and wellness influencers. Houston-based Empower Pharmacy, led by founder and CEO Shaun Noorian, and Strive Pharmacy, co-founded by Mike Walker, are among companies watching closely. Forbes also points to Hims & Hers, ReviveRx, Hallandale, Revelation Pharma, Wheel and OpenLoop as part of a broader commercial ecosystem that could benefit if the FDA ultimately permits production.

Forbes frames the issue as both a business opportunity and a public-health debate. The current market for many of these peptides operates through a “research purposes” loophole, with sellers often outside normal oversight; the article cites an estimate that the illicit market could be worth about $3 billion. Supporters of legalization argue regulated production could reduce risks from contamination or inaccurate dosing, while FDA technical staff and public-health advocates have warned against expanding access to products they view as unproven.

The panel’s recommendation would not itself legalize the peptides. Forbes reports the FDA would still decide whether to begin an approval process, which could take months or more than a year. The decision matters because compounders, many of which expanded during the GLP-1 weight-loss drug shortage, may be seeking new growth as that market faces tighter regulatory and legal pressure.