Published by Pinnacle Pulse, maker of a self-tracking app. We have no affiliate or sales relationship with any peptide seller. Editorial policy →
Legal status of peptides and GLP-1 medicines in the EU and the US
By Pinnacle Pulse Editorial Team · Status as of 16 October 2026 · Next scheduled update: 14 January 2027
Short answer: These pages explain the legal and anti-doping status of five substances in the EU and the US: BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, semaglutide and tirzepatide. Two are authorized prescription medicines. Two are unauthorized peptides that WADA prohibits. One is a cosmetic ingredient. Everything here is general information as of 16 October 2026, not legal advice.
Overview
| Substance | EU | US | WADA 2027 | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | Not authorized as a medicine | Not FDA-approved; no 503A category; advisory vote July 2026, no rule | S0, prohibited at all times | Is BPC-157 legal? |
| TB-500 | Not authorized as a medicine | Not FDA-approved; no 503A category | S2.3, prohibited at all times | Is TB-500 legal? |
| GHK-Cu | Cosmetic ingredient; not a medicine | Cosmetic use; non-injectable in 503A Category 1; injectable withdrawn | Not named | GHK-Cu legal status |
| Semaglutide | Authorized prescription medicine since 2018 | FDA-approved; proposed exclusion from 503B bulks list | Not prohibited; Monitoring Program | Semaglutide legal status |
| Tirzepatide | Authorized prescription medicine since 2022 | FDA-approved; proposed exclusion from 503B bulks list | Not prohibited; Monitoring Program | Tirzepatide legal status |
A few terms that come up on every page
Marketing authorization
In the EU a medicine needs an authorization before it can be sold, either centrally through the European Medicines Agency or nationally, through a member state’s own regulator. In the US the equivalent is FDA approval. A substance with no authorization anywhere can’t be legally sold as a medicine.
Compounding lists
US pharmacies may sometimes prepare medicines themselves from bulk ingredients. Ordinary pharmacies (section 503A) and larger outsourcing facilities (section 503B) each have their own list of allowed bulk substances. While FDA evaluates a nominated substance under 503A, it sorts it into categories; Category 1 may be used in the meantime, Category 2 flags significant safety risks. Advisory committee votes on these lists are recommendations. FDA decides.
WADA classes
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List sorts substances into classes. S0 covers non-approved substances, a catch-all for anything not dealt with elsewhere on the list and not approved for human use by any health authority. S2 covers peptide hormones and growth factors. The Monitoring Program is not a ban; it tracks substances WADA wants more data on.
What the research does not show
Legal status and evidence are separate questions, and one is often mistaken for the other. A substance being sold openly online doesn't mean it is legal or tested. A favorable vote by an advisory committee isn't proof that something works. And an authorized medicine's trial data don't extend to copies sold outside pharmacies. The evidence for each substance is covered in our [research section](/research/).How we keep this current
Regulatory positions change, sometimes within weeks. Each page shows the date of its last check and a change log, and we recheck all of them at least every 90 days. No lawyer reviews these pages before publication, so treat them as background, not advice.
FAQ
Is this legal advice?
No. These pages describe the law and official positions in general terms. For a decision about your own situation, speak to a lawyer in your country.
Which countries do you cover?
The EU as a whole and the US at federal level. State law in the US and the national law of individual EU member states can differ.
How often do these pages change?
At least every 90 days, and sooner when a regulator or WADA makes a change. The date of the last check is at the top of each page.
Sources
Each page lists its own primary sources: EU legislation and documents from EMA, FDA and WADA. Facts on this overview page were last checked on 16 October 2026.
Facts last checked: 16 October 2026.
About this article
Written by: the Pinnacle Pulse Editorial Team, the people who make the Pinnacle Pulse app. We work only from primary sources such as regulators, legal texts, trial registries and PubMed, and we remove claims we can’t check against one.
This page has not been reviewed by a lawyer. It is general information, not legal advice.
Spotted an error? Our editorial policy explains how to report it and how we correct mistakes.
Change log
- 16 October 2026: First published.
From the makers of this site: Pinnacle Pulse is a neutral tracking app. We don’t sell or recommend any substance. About Pinnacle Pulse
This page is general information about the law as of the date shown. It is not legal advice. For your own situation, consult a lawyer.