A divided panel of experts, aligned with health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., voted to broaden public availability of peptides, defying the US drug regulator’s scientists. The panel voted eight to six to end prohibitions for BPC-157, also known as the “Wolverine” peptide, despite FDA staff recommending against it due to insufficient scientific evidence.

The panel’s composition was altered under Kennedy’s leadership to include individuals with ties to the peptide industry, including pharmacists and doctors who stand to benefit from sales. Tennessee state senator Bobby Harshbarger, son of a pharmacist who has advocated for peptides, also voted in favor of deregulation.

This decision comes as investors view the niche peptide market as a lucrative opportunity, with estimates suggesting it could become a multibillion-dollar market. BPC-157 is one of seven peptides under consideration for deregulation. While the panel's vote is nonbinding, Kennedy is expected to potentially overrule any FDA rejections, signaling a shift where political preferences may influence policy changes over scientific objections.