ADVISORY BULLETIN:
The SSRP is a medical education institute. We do not sell peptides. Our platform serves as a global scientific forum which promotes peptide science alongside cellular medicine education and clinical applications. It enables open dialogue and innovation through its support of the highest ethical and legal standards.
Our mission is to “improve patient outcomes, together”. This includes informing you how to protect both your patients and your license. Please take the time to discern the differences in peptide sourcing. This information is crucial for the safety of your patients, and the legal risks to you and your practice.
RUO Peptides
Some companies solicit research-use-only (RUO) peptides that exist outside human drug approval and/or prescription requirements. These products are for laboratory, educational, and investigational purposes only, not clinical, therapeutic, or diagnostic applications. They are labeled “not for human use” or “for research use only” as a legal disclaimer in an attempt to remove liability from the manufacturer in the context of human administration. Clinically prescribing or administering RUO peptides — even if they are third-party tested — violates federal and state board of pharmacy laws. The FDA sees this as misbranding and distribution of unapproved new drugs, and it’s legally indefensible in a court of law. Providers can get sued, have their license suspended, and face jail time for offering RUO meds directly from their clinics.
What If They Claim They’re Not RUO?
Even when a vendor claims their peptides are “pharma-grade” or “direct from manufacturer,” unless they are a licensed pharmacy, they are not legally authorized to sell medications for human use — and neither 3rd-party testing nor disclaimers remove this liability.
Compounded Peptides
If you have specific questions about how to source peptides appropriately, please reach out to your preferred compounding pharmacy. If you do not have one, we have several listed publicly on our website. Compounding pharmacies exist inside of a highly regulated, prescription drug supply chain. If you cannot find a particular peptide within their formulary, ask about substitutes they offer. If they do not ship to your state, ask your local compounding pharmacist how you can support them in their efforts to continue providing legitimate custom peptides for patients.
In Summary
Online injectable peptides that are not received from a legitimate compounding pharmacy are illegal. Period. Clinics can get raided, and providers can get shut down, if they are found to be prescribing them and storing them with intent to use clinically.
Compounding pharmacies compound drugs for human use for individually identified patients pursuant to a medical provider’s prescription. They ship directly to the patient, and patients’ rights to peptide therapy are protected under federal patient personal use laws.
Please consult with your legal counsel to ensure that, if you’re going to provide appropriate clinical guidance on peptide therapy, you’re doing so in a way that protects your patient’s health and your ability to continue to better ensure their safety.