lookindex

MOTS-c

Also known as Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c

Sold as exercise in a vial. FDA could not find a single human safety study, and the US rule change in October 2026 is about supply, not proof.

Information only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change anything.

What people claim

  • Exercise in a vial
  • Burns fat and fixes insulin resistance
  • Natural, because the body makes it

What the evidence shows

  • FDA's 2026 review found no clinical studies and no human exposure data for MOTS-c.[1]
  • Exercise raises the body's own MOTS-c levels. That does not show that injecting it has the same effects.[2]
  • Fat loss and blood sugar claims come from animal and lab studies.[1][2]

Known risks

  • FDA says potential safety risks in humans are unknown, and flags possible immune reactions.[1]
  • People who buy it online report fast heart rate or palpitations, injection site irritation, insomnia, immune reactions and fever.[2]
  • TGA says it has not evaluated these products and that supplying unapproved peptides is unlawful.[4]

Reported side effects

Moderated user reports are not open yet, so nothing is shown here. They will be labelled as unverified personal accounts.

Legal status

A summary, not legal advice. Rules change, and sport bans are separate.

United States

Unapproved, compounding tolerated

An interim HHS policy from 28 Oct 2026 lets licensed compounding pharmacies supply it on a patient-specific prescription. It is not FDA approval.[3]

United Kingdom

Unlicensed

No MHRA-licensed medicine contains it.

Australia

Not approved

TGA says importing, advertising or supplying unapproved peptides is unlawful.[4]

European Union

Not authorised

No authorised medicine. National rules on possession and import differ.

Sources

  1. 1.FDA evaluation of MOTS-c bulk drug substances (Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee briefing)US FDA, 2026
  2. 2.What is the MOTS-c peptide?US Anti-Doping Agency
  3. 3.HHS interim enforcement discretion policy for six peptides (legal summary)Holland & Knight, Nov 2026
  4. 4.Importing, compounding and supplying unapproved peptide productsTGA Australia

Profile last checked 7 Nov 2026.