Bill would examine peptides to treat pain, other disorders in veterans - stripes.com

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Mace, R.-S.C., has introduced a bill to study peptides as a potential treatment for veterans with chronic pain, injuries, and mental health conditions connected to their military service.

The PEPTIDES for Veterans Act would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct an 18-month study to better understand the “safety and efficacy” of peptides for improving physical and mental health in veterans with service-connected illnesses and injuries.

The legislation would require the VA first to conduct a review of current regulations on peptides, which are compounds composed of amino acids.

Within six months after the bill becomes law, the VA would have to submit a report to Congress detailing its official definitions for both “peptide” and “peptide-based therapy.”

Some peptides, such as insulin and GLP-1 drugs, are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. But many other popular peptides that are sold online have not undergone clinical studies, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

“The VA shouldn’t bury promising advancements in bureaucracy simply because they’re new. Study it. Test it. Follow the evidence. If it works, veterans deserve access. Washington’s red tape should never stand between a veteran and their chance to heal,” Mace said when she introduced the legislation.

The bill then authorizes a five-year pilot with veterans, provided that the initial findings from the 18-month study are positive.

“The legislation directs the VA to launch a pilot program for veterans who voluntarily elect to participate, to evaluate real-world outcomes and assess potential for large-scale implementation across VA medical facilities,” according to the bill.

The VA currently covers GLP-1 drugs for veterans with certain medical conditions, including for obesity with heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea.

The VA also is investigating new uses for authorized peptide-based medications. The agency launched a large study in July that looks at semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug, to treat alcohol addiction in veterans. Semaglutide helps control blood sugar and reduces appetite.

Veterans in that study will receive injections of semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — or a placebo for 24 weeks. Researchers will track changes in alcohol consumption, overall health and quality of life.

The PEPTIDES for Veterans Act is drawing interest outside Congress from leaders and businesses in the wellness industry.

They include bestselling author Jay Campbell, who promotes peptides for enhancing health and longevity.

“First, peptides are not snake oil or a fringe wellness trend. Peptide therapy is a serious area of biomedical research finally getting the institutional attention it deserves,” said Campbell, co-founder of BioLongevity Labs, which manufactures “research-grade” peptides.

“Veterans are some of the most pragmatic, self-directed health consumers in this country.

“Many are already researching and using compounds like this on their own, right now, looking to solve problems that the conventional [health care] system hasn’t solved for them,” Campbell said. “That’s the reality of chronic pain and trauma care in this country today.”

Peptides also have been endorsed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has described himself as a “big fan” and a peptide user.

“This is not just ‘Making America Healthy Again’ in action,” Mace said, in a reference to the MAHA movement popularized by Kennedy. “It is making our veterans healthy again, cutting through outdated bureaucracy and giving our veterans access to real, evidence-based options for healing.”

Organizations advocating for veterans said they have not yet reviewed the bill.

The bill was referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee for health.

“This bill is interesting because, at least in theory, it directs the VA to conduct an in-depth clinical study on peptide efficacy, independent of a commercial profit motive,” Campbell said. “This could conceivably lead to research driven by health outcomes for veterans rather than a need to protect market share or pricing models.”