Howard Sklamberg Discusses FDA Oversight of Peptides on NPR
Howard Sklamberg, Arnold & Porter Life Sciences & Healthcare Regulatory partner and former Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recently spoke with NPR’s Short Wave to discuss the regulatory challenges surrounding the expanding market for peptide products.
The hosts explained that while peptides hold scientific promise, many products marketed for anti-aging, recovery, and performance enhancement have not undergone the rigorous clinical testing required for FDA approval.
Howard cautioned that the broad availability of compounded and unapproved peptides could discourage investment in the clinical trials needed to develop approved therapies, while also posing a public health threat. “The FDA is always pulled between a public health impulse and a more libertarian impulse,” he said, noting that the FDA's regulatory framework is intended to protect patients while ensuring innovation is supported by reliable scientific evidence.
