The A peptide is a short chain of amino acids, and the six peptides in the October 2026 federal compounding policy are 3 to 16 amino acids long. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and a peptide is the shorter chain. The GLP-1 medications prescribed at BrightSide today are peptides, and six more are coming by prescription.
What is a peptide?
A peptide is two or more amino acids joined in a chain by peptide bonds. The National Library of Medicine's subject headings describe peptides the same way, with oligopeptides at about 2 to 12 amino acids and polypeptides at about 13 or more. FDA draws the line in regulation: a protein is any alpha amino acid polymer with a specific, defined sequence that is greater than 40 amino acids in size, so a chain of 40 or fewer falls outside that definition. The body makes its own peptides, and several of the six compounded peptides are pieces or copies of them: TB-500 is the active region of thymosin beta-4, KPV is the tail of the hormone alpha-MSH, and MOTS-c is made by your mitochondria.
How does a peptide apply to GLP-1 treatment?
The GLP-1 medications on our shelf are peptides. GLP-1 itself is a hormone of 30 amino acids made in the intestine, and the Wegovy label describes semaglutide as a GLP-1 analogue with 94 percent sequence homology to human GLP-1. The Zepbound label describes tirzepatide as based on the sequence of GIP, another gut hormone, with changes to the chain and a fatty diacid attached. Zepbound is the FDA-approved tirzepatide injection. Compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide are made by a state-licensed pharmacy for one patient on a prescription, and they are not FDA approved. A provider reviews your health history and decides whether to prescribe, and which one. Every plan and its up-front total is on our pricing page.
Which peptides will BrightSide offer by prescription?
Six: BPC-157, TB-500, Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c and Semax, named in Appendix A of the federal compounding policy HHS published on October 30, 2026. Each is a single ingredient, prescribed by a Seattle-based Arora Health provider to support a goal such as recovery, sleep, energy or focus, and each will be available by prescription once prescribing opens. BPC-157 and TB-500 are prescribed to support recovery and repair. KPV, taken by mouth or on the skin, is prescribed to support the gut lining and skin. Epitalon is prescribed to support sleep and healthy aging, MOTS-c energy and metabolic health, and Semax, a nasal spray, focus and mental clarity. The table below lists each one. Join the list on our peptide hub to be first.
| Peptide | Amino acids | Prescribed to support | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | 15 | Tendon and ligament recovery, tissue repair, a healthy gut lining | Injection |
| TB-500 | 7 | Tissue repair, healthy tendons and muscles | Injection |
| Epitalon | 4 | Restful sleep, a steady daily rhythm, healthy aging | Injection, in intermittent courses |
| KPV | 3 | A calm, healthy gut lining, comfortable skin | By mouth or on the skin |
| MOTS-c | 16 | Energy, metabolic health, healthy aging | Injection |
| Semax | 7 | Focus, memory, mental clarity | Nasal spray |
What does a compounded peptide mean at the pharmacy?
At the pharmacy, a compounded peptide is a single-ingredient medication made for one patient on a prescription, under the conditions of the federal policy. The bulk ingredient comes from a manufacturer registered with FDA and is identified on a certificate of analysis for that lot, and each product holds one peptide, so there are no blends. BPC-157 and TB-500 are the local options, coming soon at Nordic Pharmacy in Poulsbo, Washington, for patients in Washington and Oregon. Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c and Semax sit in a separate category, nationally compounded, and our national pharmacy partners also fill BPC-157 and TB-500 outside Washington and Oregon. Washington licenses its pharmacies through the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, whose rule WAC 246-945-100 sets the compounding standard. Our pharmacy network page covers how we choose pharmacies, and our Washington page is where Washington and Oregon patients start.
Common questions
Are compounded peptides FDA approved?
No. A compounded peptide is made by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy for one patient on a prescription, and FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality. The October 30, 2026 federal policy is a draft enforcement discretion policy, not an approval. BrightSide's six peptides will be available by prescription once prescribing opens.
Which pharmacy will fill a peptide prescription?
It depends on the peptide and your state. In Washington and Oregon, Nordic Pharmacy in Poulsbo will compound BPC-157 and TB-500. Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c and Semax are nationally compounded for every state, and our national pharmacy partners also fill BPC-157 and TB-500 outside Washington and Oregon. Either way, it ships to your door.
Related terms
- GLP-1: the peptide hormone the GLP-1 medications are built on.
- Compounded medication: what each compounded peptide is.
- Enforcement discretion: how the federal peptide policy works.
Sources
- National Library of Medicine, Medical Subject Headings, Peptides: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68010455
- 21 CFR 600.3(h)(6), definition of a protein: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title21-vol7/xml/CFR-2025-title21-vol7-sec600-3.xml
- Zepbound prescribing information, Eli Lilly, revised 8/2026, on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b
- HHS, peptide enforcement discretion policy, notice of availability, 91 FR 68526, October 30, 2026: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-30/html/2026-22192.htm
Compounded medications are not FDA approved. They are prescribed by a licensed clinician and filled by a licensed 503A pharmacy. Compounded peptides are not FDA approved and will be available by prescription from a licensed 503A pharmacy once prescribing opens.
