Peptides for weight loss

Which weight-loss peptides does FDA approve?

Wegovy (semaglutide) is indicated "in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity" to "reduce excess body weight" in adults with obesity or overweight plus a weight-related condition [1]. In the STEP 1 trial of 1,961 adults with obesity, once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg produced a mean body-weight change of −14.9% versus −2.4% with placebo over 68 weeks [2]. Zepbound (tirzepatide) carries a similar FDA indication to reduce and maintain weight reduction long term [3]. Both are peptide drugs in the GLP-1 class.

What about AOD-9604, MOTS-c and tesamorelin?

AOD-9604 and MOTS-c are unapproved peptides marketed online for fat loss. FDA withdrew AOD-9604's compounding nomination, warning that "compounded drugs containing AOD-9604 may pose significant risk for immunogenicity for certain routes of administration and may have complexities with regard to peptide-related impurities and API characterization" [4]. MOTS-c's nomination was also withdrawn after FDA said it had "not identified any human exposure data on drug products containing MOTs-C" [4]. Products marketed as "peptide weight-loss shots" using these two names are not the same thing as an FDA-approved GLP-1 medication.