The FDA's Own Scientists Said No. The Health Secretary, Who Says He Uses Peptides, Said Go Ahead

Here's the order of events. In July, FDA advisers voted to expand access to six peptides through compounding pharmacies. At the same meeting, the FDA's own scientists recommended against it. Now HHS says it will use "enforcement discretion," which is a polite way of saying it won't come after small compounders who make them, NPR reports.

The man running HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has said he's used some peptides himself.

The pitch is that compounded peptides beat sketchy "research-use-only" vials from overseas. Fair point. But the evidence they work and are safe is thin, and the policy skips normal rulemaking. Public Citizen said Kennedy "has undermined the FDA."

And the practical joke: Florida pharmacy owner Joshua Fritzler told NPR his shop will probably make one of the six, in small amounts. "I don't think all the [503]As in the country could meet the demand." So the gray market isn't going anywhere.

Dez's take: When the guy approving it is also a customer, people are going to ask questions. That's not a conspiracy, that's just optics.

What we still don't know: how HHS will track bad reactions, and which way the FDA goes on the citizen petition asking it to reverse course.