Use of untested 'Wolverine' peptide backed by US Health Secretary Kennedy on the rise, study finds
Researchers found a 33-fold rise in new users and said most patients got the peptide from compounding pharmacies or gray-market vendors.
- U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy has backed the experimental peptide BPC-157, which is rising in use for pain and healing despite lacking human safety data, a new analysis found.
- Consumers often pair the unapproved compound with TB-500 in a popular "Wolverine" stack, sourcing it from gray-market vendors or compounding pharmacies based on social media claims of injury recovery.
- Data analytics firm nference reviewed more than 15 million medical records, identifying 1,039 patients using the peptide, with new users increasingly male and younger, averaging age 49 by 2026.
- While the Food and Drug Administration previously restricted BPC-157 compounding due to safety risks, an agency advisory panel voted in July to allow the practice, encouraged by Kennedy.
- University of Utah researcher Flynn McGuire noted the study lacks standardized data, warning that randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if BPC-157 causes clinically meaningful improvement.
11 Articles
11 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Use of experimental ‘Wolverine’ peptide backed by RFK Jr is on the rise, study finds
The peptide, BPC-157, has not been approved for use in the United States but has attracted consumers in a gray market, bolstered by social media posts
Use of untested ‘Wolverine’ peptide on the rise, U.S. study finds
An experimental peptide backed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and marketed online for pain, healing and performance enhancement is being used for a wide range of ailments despite little safety and efficacy evidence from human studies, a new analysis found.
A new analysis finds that the use of an experimental peptide called BPC-157 for pain relief, recovery and performance enhancement is on the rise in the United States, despite little clinical evidence to support its safety and effectiveness. The peptide’s popularity is fueled by social media and the endorsement of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Use of untested 'Wolverine' peptide backed by US Health Secretary Kennedy on the rise, study finds
An experimental peptide backed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and marketed online for pain, healing and performance enhancement is being used for a wide range of ailments despite little safety and efficacy evidence from human studies, a new analysis found.
It is a substance that has never been approved for human use, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Yet, it is experiencing a significant increase in popularity across the Atlantic, a phenomenon that does not fail to alarm the health authorities.
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