Plain-language definitions. This describes the category, not any specific offer, and is not medical advice.
A short chain of amino acids. Many hormones and signalling molecules in the body are peptides, and so are several approved drugs. The peptides discussed on this site are synthetic copies or fragments of natural ones. This is a plain description of the category for business owners. It is not medical advice and not an offer of treatment.
A statement by a regulator that it does not intend to take action against conduct that would otherwise be subject to enforcement, provided stated conditions are met. It is not approval, it creates no legal right, and it can be withdrawn. The HHS peptide policy of October 28, 2026 is enforcement discretion.
A licensed clinician reviews a patient's health history through a secure intake, decides whether treatment is appropriate, and, where it is, issues a prescription that a licensed pharmacy fills. The clinician, not the business, makes every clinical decision.
A state-licensed pharmacy or physician preparing a medication for an identified individual patient on a valid prescription. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not the same as, or interchangeable with, approved drugs, and no such claim is made. Under the HHS policy, a compounded peptide must contain one active ingredient, come from an FDA-registered source with a certificate of analysis, and be labelled "This is a compounded drug product. Not for resale."
A document from the manufacturer of a bulk substance reporting the tests run on a specific lot and their results: identity, purity, water content, endotoxin, microbial limits and more. The HHS policy sets out the tests it expects and requires the manufacturer's physical location to appear on the certificate. A vial sold online rarely comes with one that means anything.
For the policy itself and the primary sources, see the policy page.