Sermo Survey Reveals Widespread Use of Unregulated Peptides Among Patients as Physicians Call for Greater Regulatory Clarity
As healthcare providers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape of metabolic and wellness therapies, a new survey from Sermo highlights growing concerns among physicians about the increasing use of non-FDA-regulated peptides by patients. The findings arrive at a pivotal moment, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) preparing to convene an advisory committee meeting in July to discuss the future regulatory framework for peptide-based therapies.
The latest installment of the Sermo Barometer, which surveyed more than 500 physicians across the United States, reveals that nearly half of healthcare providers have encountered patients using non-FDA-approved peptides within the past year. The survey underscores a widening gap between patient enthusiasm for emerging therapies and the medical community’s concerns regarding safety, efficacy, and regulatory oversight.
Unregulated Peptide Use Becoming Increasingly Common
According to the survey, 48% of physicians reported that patients disclosed using non-FDA-approved peptides during the previous 12 months. These products are often obtained through channels that operate outside traditional healthcare systems, including medical spas, online vendors marketing products for research purposes, and compounding pharmacies.
Patients are turning to peptides for a variety of reasons, many of which align with broader wellness and longevity trends. Weight management remains the leading motivation, with 69% of physicians indicating that patients seek peptide therapies for weight loss. Anti-aging benefits were cited by 57% of respondents, while 55% reported patients using peptides for muscle growth and performance enhancement. Additionally, 41% said patients were interested in peptides as part of longevity and healthy aging strategies.
The growing popularity of these therapies reflects a larger shift in consumer health behavior, where patients increasingly seek proactive solutions aimed at optimizing health, appearance, and quality of life. However, many physicians remain concerned that demand is outpacing scientific evidence and regulatory safeguards.
Dr. Ashish Rana, an Internal Medicine Specialist and member of Sermo’s Medical Advisory Board, described the current landscape as highly unpredictable.
“Patient peptide use feels like the wild west right now,” Dr. Rana noted. “Influencers are promoting a steady stream of unregulated therapies online, and patients are arriving at appointments asking about peptides for which there is limited safety data, uncertain efficacy, and little regulatory oversight.”
Physicians Express Significant Safety Concerns
The survey revealed that many healthcare professionals are uneasy about the manner in which patients access and use investigational peptide therapies.
Approximately 66% of respondents said they are either moderately or very concerned about patients obtaining peptides outside established clinical pathways. Many physicians worry that patients may be self-prescribing treatments without a full understanding of potential risks, side effects, dosing considerations, or interactions with existing medical conditions and medications.
As peptide therapies become more visible online, physicians are increasingly confronted with questions about products that have not undergone rigorous FDA review. The challenge, many report, lies not only in assessing the clinical validity of these treatments but also in helping patients distinguish between evidence-based therapies and products marketed with limited scientific support.
The survey findings suggest that physicians view regulatory oversight as a critical component of patient safety. Rather than advocating for reduced regulation, many respondents expressed support for clearer pathways that would allow healthcare professionals to better evaluate and counsel patients regarding emerging peptide therapies.
Demand for FDA Guidance Continues to Grow
The FDA’s upcoming advisory committee meeting on peptide regulation is expected to attract significant attention from both industry stakeholders and healthcare providers.
According to the survey, 81% of physicians consider a clear FDA approval and review pathway to be either essential or very important when discussing emerging therapies with patients. This overwhelming majority highlights the role that regulatory guidance plays in helping clinicians make informed recommendations and maintain confidence in treatment options.
Physicians indicated that the absence of standardized oversight creates uncertainty for both providers and patients. Without clear regulatory benchmarks, clinicians may struggle to evaluate product quality, manufacturing standards, and long-term safety profiles.
When asked about potential concerns if access to peptide therapies expands, physicians identified several key challenges. The most commonly cited issue was the risk of patients directing their own treatment decisions without adequate medical supervision, selected by 33% of respondents. Another 30% pointed to difficulties in monitoring safety outcomes and managing side effects as a major concern.
These findings suggest that while physicians recognize the potential therapeutic promise of peptide-based treatments, they also believe that broader access should be accompanied by robust safeguards, evidence generation, and clinical oversight.
Social Media Emerges as a Powerful Influence
One of the most striking findings from the survey involves the role of social media in shaping patient perceptions of peptide therapies.
According to the data, 84% of physicians reported that patients frequently cite social media platforms, podcasts, influencers, online forums, or other digital content sources when discussing peptides. More than half of respondents—52%—said these conversations occur frequently or almost always during patient interactions.
This trend highlights a growing challenge for healthcare providers. As health information becomes increasingly decentralized, patients often arrive at appointments with preconceived beliefs about emerging treatments. In many cases, those beliefs are shaped by marketing content, anecdotal success stories, or influencer endorsements rather than peer-reviewed clinical evidence.
Physicians report that these dynamics are fundamentally changing patient-provider interactions.
Approximately one-third of respondents identified unrealistic patient expectations as the most significant challenge associated with peptide-related discussions. Patients may expect dramatic weight loss, anti-aging benefits, or enhanced physical performance based on claims they have encountered online.
Meanwhile, 21% of physicians reported feeling pressure from patients to recommend therapies that have not received FDA approval. This can place providers in difficult positions as they attempt to balance patient interest with evidence-based medical practice.
Many physicians noted that clinical visits increasingly involve correcting misinformation, discussing potential risks, and setting realistic expectations regarding treatment outcomes.
Growing Anticipation for GLP-3 Therapies
While concerns surrounding unregulated peptides remain significant, physicians are also closely watching the development of next-generation metabolic therapies.
The survey found strong anticipation for GLP-3 and triple-agonist medications, including investigational therapies such as retatrutide. These agents are widely viewed as the next major advancement in metabolic medicine following the remarkable success of GLP-1 drugs over the past several years.
Among physicians whose specialties are most relevant to metabolic disease management, 69% expect substantial patient demand once GLP-3 therapies receive regulatory approval. Notably, 24% reported that patients are already asking about these treatments despite their investigational status.
The enthusiasm reflects the transformative impact that GLP-1 medications have had on obesity management, diabetes care, and public awareness of metabolic health. As these therapies gained popularity, they reshaped patient expectations and generated unprecedented interest in pharmaceutical approaches to weight management.
Healthcare providers believe GLP-3 therapies may enter a market that is already primed for adoption. Patients are more informed about metabolic treatments than ever before, but much of that information continues to come from social media and online communities rather than traditional healthcare channels.
As a result, physicians anticipate that future conversations surrounding GLP-3 therapies will likely mirror many of the challenges currently associated with peptides more broadly, including heightened patient demand, widespread online discussion, and the need for evidence-based education.
Survey Methodology
The findings are based on Sermo’s 45th Barometer survey, conducted between May 8 and May 12, 2026. The survey included 507 U.S.-based healthcare providers representing a broad range of specialties, including cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, internal medicine, neurology, and orthopedic surgery.
The results provide a snapshot of physician perspectives at a time when peptide therapies, metabolic medicine, and wellness-focused interventions are rapidly evolving. As regulators, clinicians, and industry stakeholders prepare for future developments, the survey highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging peptide-based treatments.
Ultimately, the findings suggest that physicians are not opposed to innovation. Rather, they are calling for greater transparency, stronger regulatory frameworks, and clearer scientific evidence to ensure that patient interest in novel therapies is matched by confidence in their safety and effectiveness.
About Sermo
Sermo is a fast, frictionless physician engagement platform, providing the healthcare industry with real-time business insights and authentic physician touch points through our global community of 1M+ healthcare professionals and state-of-the-art technology. For over 20 years, Sermo has been turning physician experience, expertise, and observations into actionable insights that benefit pharmaceutical companies, healthcare partners, and the medical community at large.
