Peptide injections have become one of the loudest trends in the field of wellness: they are promoted on social media as a remedy for wrinkles, injuries, fatigue, excess weight, and age-related changes. But researchers warn: the popularity of such drugs has significantly outpaced science, writes Nature. Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Some of them have indeed become important medications: insulin and GLP-1 drugs for treating diabetes and weight loss are classified as peptides. However, the wellness industry often promotes other compounds – for example, BPC-157, MOTS-c, and TB-500. Many of them are sold with the label "for research purposes only" because they are not approved for human use. "This is a completely unregulated industry," says emergency physician Vikas Patel. Interest in peptides has surged: according to Nature, the number of Google search queries increased from about 1.3 million per month in 2024 to around 8 million per month in 2026. One reason scientists see for this is social media, where peptides are described almost as miraculous remedies. But there is still little clinical data. For example, MOTS-c showed promising results in experiments on mice and in a small study involving people with obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, further trials were halted due to a lack of funding. The situation with BPC-157 is even weaker: specialists found only three pilot studies involving a total of 30 people. There are no long-term safety data. A separate risk is the quality of the products. In one preprint, researchers analyzed about 6,000 peptide samples from 203 companies. More than 40% did not meet basic standards for purity and dosage. Some samples contained endotoxins – markers of bacterial contamination. Scientists do not deny the potential of peptides. Almost 100 peptide drugs have already been approved by the FDA, and about 150 more are undergoing clinical trials. But this does not mean that any peptides from the internet are safe or effective.