The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering easing restrictions on certain peptides, potentially allowing specialty pharmacies to produce injections not approved for medical use, raising safety concerns.The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has submitted an interim access policy for peptides to the White House for review, according to a government website posting on Thursday. The proposal was sent to the Office of Management and Budget, the Associated Press reported.The list of peptides includes BPC-157, an unapproved peptide promoted online for pain relief, healing and performance enhancement, has gained popularity among wellness influencers and followers of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. A recent study found that its use increased 33-fold between 2020 and 2026.What Is The FDA Planning?Also read: RFK Jr-Backed ‘Wolverine’ Peptide Use Surges: Why Are People Taking An Unapproved Drug For Injury Recovery?The proposal could allow compounding pharmacies to produce certain peptides, including BPC-157, according to AP, citing two people familiar with the matterThe policy would reportedly give pharmacies greater assurance that they would not face enforcement action for producing these substances. Formally permitting peptides for compounding would require federal rulemaking, a process that could take years. It remains unclear whether the administration intends to pursue that route.In July, an FDA advisory committee recommended allowing six of seven peptides under review to be used by compounding pharmacies for patients with prescriptions. The recommendation went against FDA staff concerns that there was insufficient evidence to establish their safety and effectiveness.The proposal has drawn support from some peptide sellers. Telehealth companies Hims & Hers and Noom have also announced plans to offer peptides if federal restrictions are eased. Wall Street analysts estimate the market could be worth $2 billion to $3 billion.What Are Peptides?Peptides are short chains of amino acids that play various roles in the body, including regulating hormones and processes involved in growth, metabolism and healing. Some peptide-based medicines are approved for conditions such as diabetes and obesity.However, other peptides promoted online have not been adequately studied or approved as medicines.BPC-157 is often combined with TB-500, a peptide derived from thymosin beta-4, in a combination marketed as the “Wolverine stack.” It is promoted online for tissue repair and recovery from muscle, tendon and other injuries. BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA for medical use.Read More: 4 in 10 US High School Students Report Binge Eating: What Are the Risks?What Are The Safety Concerns?The FDA has raised concerns about limited human safety data, potential immune reactions and impurities in BPC-157 products. It has also cited risks associated with certain compounded peptides, including contamination, allergic reactions and tumor growth.The agency's adverse-event database includes reports of injection-site reactions, shortness of breath and skin or gum pigmentation changes among people who used BPC-157. However, these reports do not establish that the peptide caused the events.Compounded medicines can meet specific patient needs, but they are not FDA-approved. The agency does not verify their safety, effectiveness and quality through the same premarket approval process used for approved drugs.Allowing pharmacies to compound certain peptides would not mean the substances had received FDA approval or that their safety and effectiveness had been established.