Peptides for Fat Loss: What the Evidence Shows for Body Recomposition

Key Takeaways

• Compounds covered: Semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, tesamorelin, CJC-1295, AOD-9604, MOTS-c
• Goal area: Fat loss and body recomposition
• Evidence range: Ranges from Phase III RCTs (semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, tesamorelin) to animal-only data (AOD-9604, MOTS-c)
• Regulatory range: Includes FDA-approved compounds, compounded peptides available through licensed providers, and research-only compounds not approved for human use
• Key biomarkers for fat loss: Fasting insulin, HbA1c, fasting glucose, triglycerides, TSH, IGF-1, hs-CRP
• As of April 2026: Semaglutide is FDA-approved as Wegovy for chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with a weight-related comorbidity; tirzepatide is FDA-approved as Zepbound for the same indication.
• Bottom line: Only semaglutide and tirzepatide have Phase III RCT data for fat loss; all other compounds on this list have less robust or no human efficacy evidence.

Understanding Fat Loss and Body Recomposition: The Biology

Fat loss, at the cellular level, is the net result of lipolysis exceeding lipogenesis: stored triglycerides in adipocytes are broken down into free fatty acids and glycerol, released into circulation, and oxidized by metabolically active tissues. What drives that balance is not simply caloric intake but a complex interplay of hormonal signals, receptor expression in adipose tissue, and central nervous system regulation of appetite and energy expenditure.

Body recomposition — specifically, reducing fat mass while preserving or increasing lean muscle mass — is biologically more demanding. Most weight-loss interventions produce mixed results on body composition: total weight drops, but a meaningful fraction of the loss comes from lean tissue, not fat. The degree to which a given intervention favors fat-mass loss over lean-mass loss depends largely on the mechanism it engages.

Peptides interact with fat metabolism through three distinct pathways. The first is GLP-1 receptor agonism: GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus, brainstem, and stomach coordinate appetite suppression, delayed gastric emptying, and insulin-sensitizing effects that reduce caloric intake and improve fat mobilization. The second is the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis: GHRH analogs and GH secretagogues stimulate pituitary GH release, which drives lipolysis in visceral adipose tissue and promotes lean-mass preservation — a different mechanism from appetite suppression. The third pathway involves mitochondrial and metabolic regulators, including mitochondria-derived peptides like MOTS-c that act through AMPK-dependent pathways to influence fat oxidation and insulin signaling. These three categories have very different evidence bases and different regulatory statuses. The mechanism a given compound targets determines which clinical setting it is relevant for, which biomarkers it affects, and how its evidence should be interpreted.

Peptides Studied for Fat Loss: A Quick Comparison

The following peptides have published evidence relevant to fat loss and body recomposition. They are listed by strength of clinical evidence, from most-studied to least.

• Compound: Semaglutide
  Mechanism for fat loss: GLP-1 receptor agonism — reduces appetite via hypothalamic signaling, slows gastric emptying, improves insulin sensitivity
  Evidence: Phase III RCT (STEP 1, N=1,961; STEP 5, N=304 for long-term durability). SELECT (N=17,604, cardiovascular outcomes trial) reported weight-loss findings as a secondary outcome; primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events
  FDA status: FDA-approved as Wegovy for chronic weight management (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with comorbidity); FDA-approved as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes
  Route: Subcutaneous injection (weight management); oral tablet (Rybelsus, diabetes only)
• Compound: Tirzepatide
  Mechanism for fat loss: Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonism — additive appetite suppression and insulin sensitization beyond GLP-1 alone
  Evidence: Phase III RCT (SURMOUNT-1, N=2,539; SURMOUNT-2, N=938; SURMOUNT-4, N=670)
  FDA status: FDA-approved as Zepbound for chronic weight management; FDA-approved as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes
  Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: Liraglutide
  Mechanism for fat loss: GLP-1 receptor agonism — same class as semaglutide but shorter half-life (daily dosing)
  Evidence: Phase III RCT (SCALE, N=3,731)
  FDA status: FDA-approved as Saxenda for chronic weight management; FDA-approved as Victoza for type 2 diabetes
  Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: Tesamorelin
  Mechanism for fat loss: GHRH analog — stimulates pituitary GH release, driving visceral fat lipolysis via the GH/IGF-1 axis
  Evidence: Phase III RCT (Falutz et al. 2007, N=412; Stanley et al. 2014, N=155)
  FDA status: FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only; use for general fat loss is off-label and not FDA-approved. Tesamorelin is classified as a biologic (transitioned to biologic status under the BPCIA's March 2020 "deemed to be a license" provision) and cannot be lawfully compounded under Section 503A — only the FDA-approved product is legally available
  Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: CJC-1295
  Mechanism for fat loss: GHRH analog — sustained elevation of endogenous GH and IGF-1 via pituitary stimulation; proposed lipolytic effect
  Evidence: Phase I human pharmacokinetics only (Teichman et al. 2006, N=52); no published human fat-loss efficacy data
  FDA status: Not FDA-approved for any indication; classified by FDA as a Category 2 bulk drug substance (significant safety concerns identified). Compounding from bulk CJC-1295 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion under Section 503A and is increasingly the subject of FDA and state board enforcement action; routine availability through compounding pharmacies is restricted
  Route: Subcutaneous injection (where prescribed; 503A compounding restricted — see FDA status)
• Compound: AOD-9604
  Mechanism for fat loss: Proposed direct lipolytic action in adipose tissue (independent of hGH receptor); failed Phase 2b human obesity trial
  Evidence: Animal studies only (supporting data); Phase 2b human trial failed primary endpoint
  FDA status: Not FDA-approved; classified as FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance; compounding restricted pending further review
  Route: Not available through licensed channels
• Compound: MOTS-c
  Mechanism for fat loss: Mitochondria-derived peptide; proposed AMPK activation improving fat oxidation and insulin sensitivity
  Evidence: Animal studies only (Lee et al. 2015)
  FDA status: Research-only; not approved for human use
  Route: Research context only

Compounds listed as "research-only" have not completed the clinical trial process required for FDA approval. They are not legal to prescribe or sell for human use in the US. Their inclusion here is for educational context only.

Peptides Studied for Fat Loss: Individual Profiles

Each compound in this list targets different biological pathways, has been studied in different populations, and carries a different regulatory status. A provider will evaluate these factors together — not rank compounds by a single metric.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, available as Ozempic (approved for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (approved for chronic weight management). For fat loss, semaglutide reduces appetite through hypothalamic GLP-1 receptor signaling, slows gastric emptying to reduce food intake, and improves peripheral insulin sensitivity — each of these mechanisms contributing to a sustained reduction in caloric intake and improved metabolic efficiency. A 2017 study by Blundell and colleagues in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism reduced energy intake by 24% and shifted food preferences away from high-fat foods, providing mechanistic underpinning for the weight-loss data. In the STEP 1 trial, published by Wilding and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, 1,961 adults with obesity achieved mean weight loss of 14.9% at 68 weeks with once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg, compared with 2.4% with placebo. [Phase III RCT] Durability was confirmed by Garvey and colleagues in STEP 5, published in Nature Medicine in 2022, where 15.2% weight loss was sustained over 104 weeks. Semaglutide is FDA-approved as Wegovy for adults with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with a weight-related comorbidity. Superpower members can request evaluation by a licensed provider for FDA-approved GLP-1 therapy (Wegovy for weight management, Ozempic for type 2 diabetes); eligibility and prescribing decisions are made by the provider. Weight regain after discontinuation has been documented: in a 2022 STEP 1 extension study by Wilding and colleagues in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, participants regained approximately two-thirds of their prior weight loss within 12 months of stopping, establishing this as a long-term rather than short-course therapy.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, available as Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound (weight management). Its dual receptor activity produces appetite suppression, gastric slowing, and insulin sensitization — with the GIP component adding effects on adipose tissue metabolism and potentially amplifying the GLP-1 response. In SURMOUNT-1, published by Jastreboff and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2022, 2,539 adults with obesity achieved mean weight loss of 20.9% at 72 weeks with tirzepatide 15 mg, compared with 3.1% with placebo. [Phase III RCT] A body-composition substudy by Look and colleagues published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2025 reported that in the SURMOUNT trial population, approximately 75% fat mass and 25% lean mass accounted for total weight reduction, on average. For readers with type 2 diabetes, the SURMOUNT-2 trial by Garvey and colleagues in The Lancet in 2023 showed 14.7% weight loss with tirzepatide 15 mg. Tirzepatide is FDA-approved as Zepbound for chronic weight management. Superpower members can request evaluation by a licensed provider for FDA-approved GLP-1/GIP therapy (Zepbound for weight management, Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes); eligibility and prescribing decisions are made by the provider. As with semaglutide, withdrawal leads to weight regain: SURMOUNT-4, published by Aronne and colleagues in JAMA in 2024, found that withdrawal produced approximately 14% weight regain while continuation maintained the prior loss in 89.5% of participants.

Liraglutide

Liraglutide is a daily GLP-1 receptor agonist, available as Victoza (diabetes) and Saxenda (weight management). It shares the GLP-1 agonist mechanism with semaglutide but has a shorter half-life requiring daily rather than weekly injection. In the SCALE trial, published by Pi-Sunyer and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015, 3,731 adults with obesity achieved mean weight loss of 8.4 kg versus 2.8 kg with placebo over 56 weeks with liraglutide 3.0 mg. [Phase III RCT] Liraglutide is FDA-approved as Saxenda for chronic weight management. Liraglutide was the foundational daily GLP-1 fat-loss agent before once-weekly semaglutide became available; its modest weight-loss magnitude compared to newer agents reflects the evolution of the GLP-1 class rather than a failure of the mechanism.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is a stabilized analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), available as Egrifta. For fat loss, it stimulates pituitary GH release, which drives lipolysis specifically in visceral adipose tissue through the GH/IGF-1 axis — a mechanistically distinct path from appetite suppression. In a Phase 3 trial by Falutz and colleagues published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, 15.2% reduction in visceral adipose tissue and an 81% rise in IGF-I over 26 weeks in HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation, compared with a 5.0% increase in the placebo group. A 2014 JAMA trial by Stanley and colleagues reduced visceral fat and liver fat over 6 months in HIV patients. [Phase III RCT — in HIV-associated lipodystrophy only] Tesamorelin is FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only. Its use for general fat loss or body recomposition has not been approved by the FDA; the safety and efficacy for this use have not been established through adequate and well-controlled clinical trials. Because tesamorelin transitioned to biologic status under the BPCIA's March 2020 "deemed to be a license" provision, it cannot be lawfully compounded under Section 503A. Only the FDA-approved product, Egrifta, is legally available in the United States.

CJC-1295

CJC-1295 is a synthetic GHRH analog originally developed with drug affinity complex (DAC) technology that binds the molecule to albumin, allowing GH and IGF-1 elevation lasting several days from a single injection. Its clinical development was discontinued and CJC-1295 has never received FDA approval for any indication. A Phase I pharmacokinetic study by Teichman and colleagues published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2006 2 to 10-fold GH elevation persisting for several days after a single injection in 52 healthy adults; no Phase II or III trial in an obesity population has been completed, and no fat-loss efficacy data in humans have been published. [Phase I — pharmacokinetics only; no fat-loss efficacy data] FDA classifies CJC-1295 as a §503A Category 2 bulk drug substance (significant safety concerns identified); compounding from bulk CJC-1295 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion under Section 503A and is increasingly the subject of FDA and state board enforcement action. The Endocrine Society's 2011 clinical practice guideline on adult growth hormone deficiency (Molitch et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism) restricts GH replacement to diagnosed deficiency — a relevant professional-society framing when considering any GHRH-axis compound outside a diagnosed GH-deficiency context.

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is a synthetic C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177 to 191). It is not FDA-approved for any indication; its pivotal Phase 2b human obesity trial failed to demonstrate significant weight loss versus placebo and development was terminated in 2007. As of April 2026, AOD-9604 is classified as an FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance, meaning 503A compounding from bulk AOD-9604 is not within FDA's enforcement discretion. Not available through Superpower. Earlier preclinical rodent work (Ng et al., Hormone Research, 2000, reduced weight gain in obese rats; Heffernan et al., Endocrinology, 2001, independent of beta-3 receptor) supported the development program that ultimately did not produce a positive human efficacy signal. [Animal studies only; human Phase 2b trial failed primary endpoint]

MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a mitochondria-derived peptide encoded by the mitochondrial genome, with a proposed mechanism involving AMPK activation to improve fat oxidation and insulin sensitivity. A foundational study by Lee and colleagues published in Cell Metabolism in 2015 showed MOTS-c prevents diet-induced obesity in mice through AMPK-mediated metabolic regulation. [Animal study only — no published human efficacy data] MOTS-c has not been approved by the FDA for any medical use and is not on the §503A bulk drug substances list; there is no lawful US compounding pathway for MOTS-c. Research is limited to laboratory and animal studies. MOTS-c is not available through Superpower. Inclusion is for educational context only.

Regulatory Status at a Glance

As of April 2026, the peptides discussed in this article carry different regulatory statuses. These distinctions matter when discussing any of them with a healthcare provider.

• Semaglutide: FDA-approved as Wegovy (weight management, 2021) and Ozempic (type 2 diabetes, 2017). Compounded semaglutide is not the FDA-approved product and is not considered equivalent to Wegovy or Ozempic. As of 2026, following FDA's resolution of the semaglutide shortage, routine 503A/503B compounding of semaglutide copies is no longer permitted under the shortage exemption; compounded versions are generally only available where a prescriber documents a patient-specific clinical difference (e.g., allergy to an excipient in the approved product) under FDA's "essentially a copy" framework.
• Tirzepatide: FDA-approved as Zepbound (weight management, 2023) and Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes, 2022). Compounded tirzepatide is not the FDA-approved product and is not considered equivalent to Zepbound or Mounjaro. As of 2026, following FDA's resolution of the tirzepatide shortage, routine 503A/503B compounding of tirzepatide copies is no longer permitted under the shortage exemption; compounded versions are generally only available where a prescriber documents a patient-specific clinical difference under FDA's "essentially a copy" framework.
• Liraglutide: FDA-approved as Saxenda (weight management, 2014) and Victoza (type 2 diabetes, 2010).
• Tesamorelin: FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only (2010). Classified as a biologic; cannot be compounded under Section 503A. Off-label use for general fat loss is not FDA-approved.
• CJC-1295: Not FDA-approved for any indication; classified by FDA as a Category 2 bulk drug substance, meaning FDA has identified significant safety concerns. Compounding from bulk CJC-1295 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion under Section 503A and is increasingly the subject of FDA and state board enforcement action. Routine availability through compounding pharmacies is restricted. No fat-loss efficacy trials published.
• AOD-9604: Not FDA-approved; classified as FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance as of April 2026. Compounding from bulk AOD-9604 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion under Section 503A. The pivotal Phase 2b human obesity trial did not meet its primary endpoint; development was terminated in 2007.
• MOTS-c: Research-only; not approved for human use; not available by prescription in the US.

Compounds listed as "research-only" are not legal to prescribe, compound, or sell for human use in the US. Their presence in this article is for educational context only.

Considerations When Comparing Peptides for Fat Loss

Selecting a compound for fat loss is a clinical decision made by a licensed provider evaluating a specific individual — not a consumer choice from a ranked list. Direct comparison between these compounds is not straightforward: they have been studied in different populations, at different doses, with different endpoints, and in different regulatory contexts. Inferring relative effectiveness from separate trials is methodologically unreliable.

Your specific sub-goal within fat loss: Total weight reduction, visceral fat reduction specifically, or preservation of lean mass while losing fat each favor different mechanisms. GLP-1 receptor agonists produce broad appetite-driven weight loss. Tesamorelin targets visceral fat specifically through the GH axis. The recomposition goal — less fat, same or more muscle — requires an approach that addresses both fat mobilization and lean-mass preservation, and no single approved compound fully optimizes both.

Existing health conditions and biomarker profile: Elevated fasting insulin and HbA1c suggest insulin resistance, where GLP-1 receptor agonists address the underlying pathophysiology directly. Low IGF-1 relative to age-appropriate norms may make GH-axis peptides more mechanistically relevant. Thyroid dysfunction affects metabolic rate independently of any peptide and needs to be assessed before attributing metabolic changes to a peptide intervention.

Evidence level: Your provider will weigh how much clinical trial data supports a compound. The difference between a Phase III RCT (semaglutide, tirzepatide) and a single pharmacokinetic study (CJC-1295) or a failed human trial (AOD-9604) is substantial. Evidence level affects not only how confident a provider can be about efficacy, but also how much is known about the safety profile at various doses.

Regulatory status: Whether a compound is FDA-approved, compounded, or research-only affects access pathway, insurance coverage, manufacturing quality oversight, and the informed consent discussion with your provider.

This is not an exhaustive list of clinical considerations. A licensed provider will evaluate your full health history, current medications, and baseline lab results before discussing any compound.

Safety Considerations

Safety profiles vary substantially across the compounds covered here. No blanket statement about peptide safety is accurate — a Phase III-studied, FDA-approved GLP-1 agonist and a research-only mitochondrial peptide with animal-only data are not equivalent in any dimension of risk assessment.

For GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, the most commonly reported effects in Phase III trials include gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, typically most pronounced during dose titration, as reflected in the FDA-approved prescribing information. A rodent study by Bjerre Knudsen and colleagues published in Endocrinology in 2010 thyroid C-cell tumor development in rodents, forming the basis for the FDA black-box warning that applies to this class. This risk has not been confirmed in humans at current follow-up durations but warrants disclosure. All peptide therapies discussed here, except AOD-9604 and MOTS-c (not legally prescribable), require a prescription and medical supervision. The compounding quality and contamination risks of unregulated sources are documented and separate from the compound's inherent pharmacology.

Contraindications that apply broadly to fat-loss peptide therapy include:

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 — contraindicated for GLP-1 receptor agonists per FDA labeling
• Pregnancy — GLP-1 receptor agonists require discontinuation before conception; reproductive safety not established for GH-axis peptides
• Active or history of hormone-sensitive malignancy — GH-axis peptides carry theoretical concern regarding proliferative signaling
• Active pancreatitis — reported in association with GLP-1 receptor agonists; history of severe pancreatitis warrants caution

For compound-specific side effect profiles, see the individual compound pages linked above.

What to Test Before Starting Peptides for Fat Loss

Regardless of which compound you and your provider discuss, baseline biomarker testing establishes a measurable starting point. Without it, there is no objective way to assess whether a compound is producing the expected physiological changes — or whether those changes are beneficial.

• Fasting insulin: The most sensitive early marker of insulin resistance, before HbA1c becomes abnormal. Testing fasting insulin before starting establishes the insulin-resistance severity that GLP-1 receptor agonists directly address. Reference ranges vary by lab — your provider will interpret your result in context.
• HbA1c: A 90-day average of blood glucose that characterizes longer-term insulin regulation. HbA1c testing is relevant both as an eligibility marker for FDA-approved GLP-1 indications and as a response metric during therapy.
• Fasting glucose: Reflects current glycemic state. A fasting glucose level provides the acute snapshot alongside HbA1c's longer view.
• Triglycerides: A sensitive marker of fat metabolism and cardiovascular metabolic risk. Triglyceride levels respond to GLP-1 therapies, making them a useful response biomarker as well as a baseline safety indicator.
• TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone reflects overall thyroid function. TSH testing is relevant because thyroid dysfunction independently affects metabolic rate and body weight, and hypothyroidism can blunt response to any fat-loss intervention.
• IGF-1: The primary downstream marker of GH axis activity. Testing IGF-1 is particularly relevant if GH-axis peptides are being considered, and provides a baseline for interpreting changes in GH-axis function during therapy.
• hs-CRP: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein reflects systemic low-grade inflammation, which is elevated in visceral adiposity and is independently associated with metabolic dysfunction. GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy has been associated with reductions in hs-CRP in clinical studies, though magnitude and clinical significance vary by population and duration of therapy. Your provider can interpret any changes in context.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel: Provides liver and kidney function baseline (ALT, AST, creatinine, BUN), critical for safety monitoring given GLP-1 effects on hepatic fat and the need for renal function assessment during any peptide therapy.

Fasting insulin, HbA1c, triglycerides, TSH, and a metabolic weight-loss biomarker panel establish the baseline data that makes changes during fat-loss peptide therapy interpretable. Testing at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months gives the data a timeline to interpret.

How to Access These Peptides Safely

With the exception of topical cosmetic compounds, all peptides discussed in this article require a prescription. The access pathway depends on whether the compound is FDA-approved or compounded.

FDA-approved compounds (semaglutide as Wegovy or Ozempic, tirzepatide as Zepbound or Mounjaro, liraglutide as Saxenda or Victoza) are available through licensed providers including licensed telehealth providers. Superpower members can discuss eligibility for FDA-approved GLP-1/GIP therapy with a provider through the platform; eligibility is not guaranteed and is determined individually by the prescribing provider. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) requires a prescription for the FDA-approved biologic formulation — it cannot be compounded. CJC-1295 is classified by FDA as a Category 2 bulk drug substance; compounding from bulk CJC-1295 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion, and there is no routinely available lawful US compounding pathway for CJC-1295 for fat loss. AOD-9604 and MOTS-c are not legally available by prescription in the United States.

A provider evaluation for any of these compounds typically involves baseline lab work, a review of health history and medications, and assessment of eligibility criteria for FDA-approved indications where they apply. Self-directed use without a provider creates risk: dosing uncertainty is real, contamination is documented in unregulated sources, and there is no ability to assess a baseline or monitor physiological changes without lab access. Products sold online as research chemicals or gray-market injectables operate outside FDA manufacturing oversight and lack pharmaceutical-grade purity guarantees.

Understanding Your Baseline

With compounds ranging from Phase III-tested FDA-approved medications to failed human trials and animal-only research, the most useful starting point is not identifying a compound but understanding what your own metabolic biology actually shows. Baseline biomarker data transforms the conversation with your provider from speculation about which peptide might work to an interpretation of what your labs reveal about the mechanism that matters most for your specific metabolic state.

That principle — test first, then decide — is central to Superpower's approach to preventive health. Whether the conversation with your provider leads to an FDA-approved GLP-1 agonist, a GHRH-axis peptide, or a structured lifestyle intervention, the starting point is the same: knowing where your metabolic biomarkers stand.

Important Safety Information

Semaglutide is an FDA-approved prescription medication available as Wegovy (weight management) and Ozempic (type 2 diabetes). Compounded semaglutide is not the FDA-approved product and is not considered equivalent to Wegovy or Ozempic; safety and efficacy of compounded formulations have not been established by the FDA. Contraindications: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma; multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2; known hypersensitivity to semaglutide. Warnings: thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents (human relevance unknown); pancreatitis; hypoglycemia (in combination with insulin or sulfonylureas); acute kidney injury; serious hypersensitivity reactions; diabetic retinopathy complications; heart rate increase; suicidal ideation. Common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness. Not for use in type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Discontinue at least 2 months before planned pregnancy.

Tirzepatide is an FDA-approved prescription medication available as Zepbound (weight management) and Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes). Compounded tirzepatide is not the FDA-approved product and is not considered equivalent to Zepbound or Mounjaro; safety and efficacy of compounded formulations have not been established by the FDA. Tirzepatide has been removed from FDA's drug shortage list; routine 503A/503B compounding of tirzepatide copies is no longer permitted under the shortage exemption, and compounded tirzepatide is only available where a prescriber documents a patient-specific clinical difference under FDA's "essentially a copy" framework. Contraindications: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma; multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2; known hypersensitivity. Warnings: thyroid C-cell tumors (rodent data); pancreatitis; hypoglycemia; acute kidney injury; hypersensitivity; diabetic retinopathy; heart rate increase. Common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, injection-site reactions.

Liraglutide is an FDA-approved prescription medication available as Saxenda (weight management) and Victoza (type 2 diabetes). Contraindications and warnings are similar in class to semaglutide above. Full FDA-approved prescribing information at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.

Tesamorelin is FDA-approved as Egrifta for the treatment of lipodystrophy in patients with HIV. Uses outside the approved indication, including those discussed on this page, are off-label. Tesamorelin transitioned to biologic status under the BPCIA's March 2020 "deemed to be a license" provision and cannot be lawfully produced through pharmacy compounding under Section 503A. Only the FDA-approved product, Egrifta, is legally available in the United States. Off-label prescribing of the approved product is permitted under the practice of medicine but has not been evaluated or endorsed by the FDA.

CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any indication. FDA classifies CJC-1295 as a Category 2 bulk drug substance (significant safety concerns identified); compounding from bulk CJC-1295 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion under Section 503A and is increasingly the subject of FDA and state board enforcement action. Safety, efficacy, appropriate dosing, and long-term effects have not been established through adequate and well-controlled clinical trials for fat loss. Superpower does not currently offer or facilitate access to CJC-1295.

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any indication. As of April 2026, it is classified as an FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance; compounding from bulk AOD-9604 is not covered by FDA's enforcement discretion under Section 503A. The pivotal Phase 2b human obesity trial did not meet its primary endpoint; development was terminated in 2007. Superpower does not offer or facilitate access to AOD-9604.

MOTS-c is not approved by the FDA for any medical use. Research has been limited to laboratory and animal studies. Its safety, efficacy, appropriate dosing, and long-term effects in humans have not been established. MOTS-c is not prescribed, compounded, or dispensed through Superpower. This section is provided for educational purposes only.

Full FDA-approved prescribing information at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.

Disclaimer: This article discusses multiple peptide compounds with different regulatory statuses. Some compounds are FDA-approved for specific indications; others are available through compounding; some are not approved for human use. Superpower Health facilitates access to some but not all compounds discussed through licensed healthcare providers. This educational content is editorially independent.