Kennedy on Rogan: ‘I’m a big fan of peptides’

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, released February 27, 2026, to signal that federal restrictions on some peptides could ease. NPR aired the audio a month later:

“I mean, I’m a big fan of peptides. I’ve used them myself.”

“My hope is that they’re going to get moved to a place where people have access from ethical suppliers.”

NPR reported that Kennedy told listeners to expect an announcement on about 14 peptides “within a couple of weeks.” When NPR’s story ran on March 26, no announcement had come.

The argument

NPR summarized the case Kennedy and peptide advocates make as one about prohibition. Restrictions on pharmacy compounding, they argue, push people toward unregulated suppliers, often overseas, whose products may be adulterated. Scott Brunner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, told NPR that “the black market and the gray market are running amok.”

FDA staff scientists have taken a different view. In 2023 the agency placed many of these peptides in Category 2 over immunogenicity, impurity and data concerns (explainer). In July 2026, FDA’s briefing documents recommended against adding any of the seven peptides then under review to the bulks list (report).

What changed after

• April 15: FDA announced 12 peptides would leave Category 2 because nominations were withdrawn. Kennedy wrote on X that the action “begins to restore regulated access,” as reported by Scientific American (report).
• July 23-24: Advisers recommended six of seven peptides for the 503A bulks list.
• October 14: An interim access policy reached OMB review (report).

None of these steps approved a peptide as a drug or changed the legal status of research-use-only products sold online.