Which peptides are FDA approved, and for what conditions?

Below is an overview of FDA approved peptides and their primary indications. If you have symptoms or concerns, you might consider a free, online symptom check, using the doctor approved Ubie Symptom Checker. Always speak to a doctor about anything that could be life-threatening or serious.

1. Endocrine and Metabolic Peptides

Peptide hormones play a vital role in regulating metabolism, blood sugar, and fluid balance.

• Insulins (various analogs)
  – Insulin lispro, aspart, glulisine, glargine, degludec, detemir
  – Indication: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  – Action: Rapid- or long-acting blood sugar control

• Pramlintide (Symlin®)
  – Amylin analog
  – Indication: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, adjunct to insulin
  – Action: Slows gastric emptying, reduces post-prandial glucose

• Exenatide, Liraglutide, Dulaglutide, Semaglutide, Lixisenatide
  – GLP-1 receptor agonists
  – Indication: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; some also approved for weight management (e.g., semaglutide)
  – Action: Stimulate insulin release, reduce appetite

• Desmopressin (DDAVP®)
  – Vasopressin analog
  – Indication: Central diabetes insipidus, nocturnal enuresis, von Willebrand disease, mild hemophilia A
  – Action: Promotes water reabsorption in kidneys, increases clotting factor release

• Teriparatide (Forteo®) and Abaloparatide (Tymlos®)
  – PTH (parathyroid hormone) analogs
  – Indication: Osteoporosis in high-risk patients
  – Action: Stimulate bone formation

• Calcitonin salmon (Miacalcin®)
  – Calcitonin analog
  – Indication: Osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone
  – Action: Inhibits bone resorption

• Teduglutide (Gattex®)
  – GLP-2 analog
  – Indication: Short bowel syndrome
  – Action: Enhances intestinal absorption and mucosal growth

2. Growth and Development Peptides

Therapies for growth disorders and HIV-related muscle wasting.

• Somatropin (Genotropin®, Humatrope®, others)
  – Recombinant human growth hormone
  – Indication: Pediatric growth hormone deficiency, adult GH deficiency, Turn­er syndrome, chronic kidney disease, Prader-Willi syndrome
  – Action: Stimulates growth, metabolism

• Tesamorelin (Egrifta®)
  – Growth hormone-releasing factor analog
  – Indication: HIV-associated lipodystrophy
  – Action: Reduces abdominal fat

3. Gastroenterology Peptides

Targeting bowel motility, secretion, and pain.

• Linaclotide (Linzess®) and Plecanatide (Trulance®)
  – Guanylate cyclase-C agonists
  – Indication: Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), chronic idiopathic constipation
  – Action: Increases fluid secretion in the intestine, accelerates transit

• Nesiritide (Natrecor®)
  – B-type natriuretic peptide analog
  – Indication: Acute decompensated heart failure (limited use due to mixed outcomes)
  – Action: Vasodilation, diuresis

4. Neurology and Pain Management

Peptides that modulate pain signals or act on CNS receptors.

• Ziconotide (Prialt®)
  – N-type calcium channel blocker derived from cone snail toxin
  – Indication: Severe chronic pain in patients intolerant of or refractory to other treatments
  – Action: Blocks pain signal transmission in spinal cord

• Octreotide (Sandostatin®), Lanreotide (Somatuline®), Pasireotide (Signifor®)
  – Somatostatin analogs
  – Indication: Acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, Cushing’s disease (pasireotide)
  – Action: Inhibit hormone secretion (GH, ACTH, serotonin)

5. Cardiovascular and Hematology Peptides

Anticoagulants and agents for clotting disorders.

• Bivalirudin (Angiomax®)
  – Direct thrombin inhibitor (peptidic)
  – Indication: Percutaneous coronary intervention
  – Action: Prevents clot formation by inhibiting thrombin

• Eptifibatide (Integrilin®)
  – Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (cyclic heptapeptide)
  – Indication: Acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention
  – Action: Inhibits platelet aggregation

• Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon®)
  – HIV fusion inhibitor (36-amino-acid peptide)
  – Indication: HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced patients
  – Action: Blocks viral entry into CD4 cells

• Daptomycin (Cubicin®)
  – Cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic
  – Indication: Complicated skin infections, bacteremia, endocarditis (Staphylococcus aureus)
  – Action: Disrupts bacterial cell membrane

6. Reproductive and Urologic Peptides

Hormone analogs for fertility and sexual health.

• Leuprolide (Lupron®), Goserelin (Zoladex®), Triptorelin (Trelstar®), Histrelin (Vantas®)
  – GnRH agonists
  – Indication: Prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, precocious puberty
  – Action: Suppress gonadal steroid production after initial stimulation

• Degarelix (Firmagon®), Relugolix (Orgovyx®)
  – GnRH antagonists
  – Indication: Advanced prostate cancer
  – Action: Immediately blocks gonadotropin release, lowers testosterone

• Bremelanotide (Vyleesi®)
  – Melanocortin receptor agonist
  – Indication: Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women
  – Action: Modulates pathways in the brain related to sexual response

7. Miscellaneous Peptides

Various other applications in rare diseases or acute care.

• Cosyntropin (Cortrosyn®)
  – Synthetic ACTH analog (first 24 amino acids)
  – Indication: Diagnostic test for adrenal insufficiency; off-label for infantile spasms
  – Action: Stimulates cortisol release

• Afamelanotide (Scenesse®)
  – α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone analog
  – Indication: Erythropoietic protoporphyria
  – Action: Increases melanin, reduces light sensitivity

• Carbetocin (lonactin®)
  – Oxytocin analog
  – Indication: Prevention of uterine atony after cesarean delivery
  – Action: Stimulates uterine contractions

Key Takeaways

• “fda approved peptides” span a broad range of conditions—from diabetes and osteoporosis to cancer, rare genetic disorders, pain and more.
• Many work by mimicking or modulating natural hormones, enzymes or signaling molecules.
• Side effects and monitoring vary widely; these are prescription-only therapies.

If you’re experiencing new or worsening symptoms, it can help to do a free, online symptom check, using the doctor approved Ubie Symptom Checker. Always discuss any possible treatment or serious concern with your healthcare provider, especially if symptoms are severe or life-threatening.