Give the body’s peptide and the treatment their own questions
“The body makes something like it” is an interesting fact. We still want to know what happens when a particular substance is used as a treatment.
The biology is only part of the answer
Semaglutide is related to GLP-1, a gut hormone, but has been altered. Tirzepatide acts on the receptors where two gut hormones, GIP and GLP-1, have their effects. Their semaglutide and tirzepatide labels explain those actions. Neither fact answers whether a medicine suits a particular person.
We keep two questions apart: “What does it do in the body?” and “Has it helped people with this problem?” An interesting answer to the first cannot fill in a missing answer to the second.
NAD+ belongs in a different group altogether. It’s a coenzyme, a helper for chemical reactions in cells, rather than a peptide. Its role in cell energy is background biology, not evidence that an infusion improves health.
Approval belongs to a particular medicine
There are FDA-approved medicines containing semaglutide and tirzepatide. In separate semaglutide and tirzepatide trials, people receiving the medicines lost more weight than those receiving placebo, a comparison without the active medicine. Participants had obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition, and no diabetes. Both trials included lifestyle support.
Their safety information matters too. Both medicines commonly cause stomach problems. Their labels carry boxed warnings, the FDA’s strongest kind, about thyroid tumours seen in rodents, with human relevance unknown. The tirzepatide label and semaglutide label rule out use with a personal or family history of a rare thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer, or MEN 2, an inherited condition.
For women who haven’t reached menopause, there is an FDA-approved bremelanotide injection for distressing low sexual desire. Bremelanotide is also called PT-141, but research chemicals sold under that name don’t share the approval. It must have developed after a period without that problem, occur across situations and have other causes excluded. It isn’t approved for sexual performance. It can cause nausea and temporary blood-pressure rises; the label rules it out with uncontrolled high blood pressure or known cardiovascular disease.
Compounding doesn’t bring FDA approval with it
Compounding means making a medicine to meet a patient’s particular need. FDA explains that role. A compounded medicine is not FDA-approved; FDA doesn’t check its safety, effectiveness or quality before it’s sold. An ingredient name shared with an approved medicine doesn’t change that.
Research chemicals are another category. BPC-157 has no FDA-approved use. “Research use only” is no substitute for evidence of benefit in people.
On FDA’s page current as of April 22, 2026, BPC-157 and GHK-Cu for injectable routes appear under nominations that were withdrawn. This is not clearance, approval for compounding or Category 1 status. FDA gives no individual withdrawal dates and still lists safety concerns. Our evidence chapter explains the human research; care questions help connect it with a personal concern.