Research Library

Legal & Compliance

FDA 503A Bulks List 2026: PCAC Agenda for Research Peptides

FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee will meet July 23-24, 2026 to discuss whether seven research peptides — BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Emideltide, Semax, and Epitalon — should be added to the section 503A Bulks List. This research-use-only reference explains what the 503A Bulks List actually is, what's on the July 2026 agenda, the three nomination categories used during evaluation, the PCAC's advisory role versus FDA's final-decision authority, and what the outcomes mean — and don't mean — for research-grade peptide supply.

Research & Science

Tirzepatide Structure and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Pharmacology

Tirzepatide (LY3298176, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound) is a synthetic 39-amino-acid peptide engineered from a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide backbone. It is a dual agonist at the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. This research-use-only reference covers its primary structure, the two engineered Aib residues that give it protease resistance and tuned receptor activity, the cryo-EM evidence for how a single continuous α-helix engages both Class B GPCRs in distinct conformations, the imbalanced potency profile and biased agonism at GLP-1R, and the regulatory framing for laboratories ordering research-grade material.

Research & Science

Retatrutide Structure and Triple Agonism at GLP-1R, GIPR, and GCGR

Retatrutide (LY3437943) is a synthetic 39-amino-acid peptide engineered from a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide backbone. It is a triple agonist at the GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. This research-use-only reference covers its primary structure, the three engineered non-coded residues that give it protease resistance and receptor-tuned activity, the cryo-EM evidence for how a single continuous α-helix engages three different Class B GPCRs, the comparative receptor-level potency profile, and the current regulatory picture.

Research & Science

BPC-157 Chemical Structure and In-Vitro Research Applications

BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid pentadecapeptide derived from a fragment of a protein found in human gastric juice. Catalogued as PubChem CID 9941957 with molecular formula C62H98N16O22, the compound is widely used in cell-culture work because of its unusual proteolytic stability. This research-use-only reference summarizes the primary sequence, the structural rationale for its 24-hour stability in gastric juice, the in-vitro endpoints reported across the literature, the two signaling pathways characterized in endothelial cell models, and the current regulatory status.

Peptide Education

Peptides Bodybuilders Use for Muscle Growth | Optides

Peptides have become a major topic in bodybuilding for muscle growth and recovery. Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s being used and why it matters.

Research & Science

Retatrutide Explained: Triple Agonist Weight Loss | Optides

Retatrutide is one of the most talked-about experimental peptides in weight loss research. Its triple-action mechanism could redefine how obesity is treated.

Top 10 Research Peptides of 2026

Peptide research has taken some interesting turns in 2026, with certain compounds pulling ahead of the pack in labs around the world. From regeneration and metabolism to cognition and cellular health, here's a look at the ten peptides researchers can't stop talking about this year, and what makes each one worth a closer look.

Peptide Education

Are Peptides Legal in 2026? Research Use Explained

Peptides occupy a nuanced space in U.S. law — legal to buy and possess for research, but tightly regulated when it comes to how they're marketed and used. Understanding that distinction is what separates a compliant purchase from a risky one. This guide breaks down exactly where the legal lines are drawn in 2026.