Today on Forbes, peptides may soon be legal.

These companies are ready to cash in.

Before the FDA panel that's considering whether to recommend legal production of seven

peptides started meeting on Thursday, Sean Norian had told Forbes that he had planned to be at

its Maryland campus in person.

Norian, the founder and CEO of Houston-based Empower Pharmacy, one of the nation's largest

compounding pharmacies, told Forbes, quote, I wouldn't miss it for the world. The who's-who

of the peptide space will be there. Hundreds of others had been expected to jam into the room as well, including compounders,

telehealth founders, and longevity influencers who were flying in for the event.

Also before the meeting convened, Scott Brunner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding,

the industry's trade group,

told Forbes, quote, it will be a circus. Everybody and their brother is coming.

While these peptides are currently not legal to produce for anything other than, quote,

research purposes, that hasn't stopped a booming gray market from exploiting that loophole.

There's little scientific data on their safety and efficacy, and the many sketchy sellers

who distribute them operate with no oversight.

Still, the illicit peptide market could be worth an estimated $3 billion.

Silicon Valley bros, longevity medics, and maha believers take them, while wellness influencers

promote their, quote, peptide stacks online to speed recovery or improve sleep.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a self-described, quote,

big fan of peptides, as he told

podcaster Joe Rogan in February.

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