# Peptides. An Honest Guide

Peptides are short chains of amino acids the body uses for signaling, and they are one of medicine's most established drug classes: roughly 100 are approved globally, including GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy. The grey-market longevity stack (BPC-157, TB-500, sermorelin, CJC-1295, MOTS-c, epitalon) is a different story. Only tesamorelin and thymosin α1 are well-evidenced, most sit between "promising in mice" and marketing, and none has human evidence for lifespan extension. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland these are regulated as medicines, not supplements, so non-EU mail-order and grey-market sale carry real criminal exposure.

What peptides are, what they actually do, what's hype, and what the rules are in the US, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

## On this page

- So What Actually Is a Peptide?
- How Did Peptide Therapy Get Here?
- Which Peptides Can Your Doctor Already Prescribe?
- What's in the Grey-Market Longevity Stack?
- What's the IGF-1 Paradox?
- What Are the Real Risks (with Names and Dates)?
- What's the Legal Status in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland?
- Where Is the Field Actually Going?

## FAQ

- What's the difference between a peptide and a protein?
- Are peptide injections like BPC-157 FDA-approved?
- Do peptides actually slow aging?
- Are GLP-1s like Ozempic also peptides?
- Are peptides legal in Germany?
- What about Bryan Johnson's Blueprint stack?
- How do I know if a peptide vial is what it claims to be?
- What does 'peptide therapy' actually look like inside a real medical practice?

## Sources

- Wang L, Wang N, Zhang W, et al.. (2022). Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-00904-4
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. (2019). IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology — Peptides (P04479). https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04479
- Furman BL. (2012). Discovery and development of exenatide: the first antidiabetic agent to leverage the multiple benefits of the incretin hormone, GLP-1. Toxicon / Regulatory Peptides. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23231438/
- Vasireddi N, Hahamyan H, Salata MJ, et al.. (2025). Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/15563316251355551
- U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). (2024). BPC-157: Experimental Peptide Creates Risk for Athletes (S0 listing rationale). https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/bpc-157-peptide-prohibited/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, CDER. (2023). Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding That May Present Significant Safety Risks (Category 2). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
- Ashraf AR, Mackey TK, Vida RG, Fittler A, et al.. (2024). Multifactor Quality and Safety Analysis of Semaglutide Products Sold by Online Sellers Without a Prescription. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e65440
- World Health Organization. (2024). Medical Product Alert N°2/2024 — Falsified OZEMPIC (semaglutide). https://www.who.int/news/item/19-06-2024-medical-product-alert-n-2-2024--falsified-ozempic-(semaglutide)
- Guevara-Aguirre J, Balasubramanian P, Guevara-Aguirre M, et al.. (2011). Growth Hormone Receptor Deficiency Is Associated with a Major Reduction in Pro-Aging Signaling, Cancer, and Diabetes in Humans (Laron syndrome cohort). Science Translational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3001845
- Milman S, Atzmon G, Huffman DM, Barzilai N, et al.. (2014). Low insulin-like growth factor-1 level predicts survival in humans with exceptional longevity. Aging Cell. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12213
- López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. (2023). Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe (12 hallmarks framework). Cell. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)01377-0
- Baar MP, Brandt RMC, Putavet DA, et al.. (2017). Targeted apoptosis of senescent cells restores tissue homeostasis in response to chemotoxicity and aging (FOXO4-DRI senolytic peptide). Cell. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5556182/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration / Federal Register. (2013). Determination That GEREF (Sermorelin Acetate) Was Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/03/04/2013-04827/determination-that-geref-sermorelin-acetate-injection-05-milligrams-basevial-and-10-milligrams
- Hathaway JT, Shah MP, et al. (Mass Eye and Ear). (2024). Risk of NAION in Patients Prescribed Semaglutide. JAMA Ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.2296
- Bundesministerium der Justiz. (2026). § 73 Arzneimittelgesetz — Verbringungsverbot. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/amg_1976/__73.html
- Bundesministerium der Justiz. (2026). Dopingmittel-Mengen-Verordnung (DmMV) Anlage — Fünfte Verordnung 2023. https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/antidopg/anlage.html
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). (2026). World Anti-Doping Code — Prohibited List 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf
- Wyss-Coray T, et al.. (2025). Plasma proteomics links brain and immune system aging with healthspan and longevity (organ-specific proteomic clocks). Nature Medicine. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03798-1
- HM Senior Coroner, Manchester area. (2025). Inquest into death of Karen McGonigal following self-administered peptide injection (Salford, May 2025). BBC News / coroner's report. https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-28/wake-up-call-mums-suspected-skinny-jab-death-prompts-calls-for-action
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK). (2026). MHRA enforcement action against unlicensed peptide retailer (Birmingham, 24 February 2026). MHRA Drug Safety Update — gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/falsified-mounjaro-kwikpen-15mg-pre-filled-pens
- Swissmedic (Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products). (2025). Swissmedic warning on falsified retatrutide kits sold on social media (August 2025). Swissmedic press release — swissmedic.ch. https://www.swissmedic.ch/swissmedic/en/medicrime/news/warnings/smc-warnt-vor-glp-1-produkten.html
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). FDA Warning Letter Day on unlawful peptide marketing (50+ letters issued 16 September 2025). FDA press release — fda.gov. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-warns-30-telehealth-companies-against-illegal-marketing-compounded-glp-1s

_Full guide: https://longevity-china.com/en/guide/peptide-guide_

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_Canonical: https://longevity-china.com/en/guide/peptide-guide · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-05-23_