Is CGRP legal in the United States?

An endogenous 37 residue neuropeptide the human body makes, and one of the best validated drug targets in neurology: four approved antibodies and a class of oral gepants work by blocking it. Given to humans in controlled experiments, CGRP itself induced migraine-like attacks in 10 of 13 patients against none on placebo.

CGRP is on this site for a reason that inverts the usual one. It is not a compound anybody should consider taking.

Mechanism: Demonstrated, and demonstrated in both directions, which is unusual. CGRP is released from trigeminal sensory neurons and acts at a receptor complex of calcitonin receptor-like receptor with receptor activity-modifying protein 1, producing potent vasodilation and pain signalling relevant to migraine.

Regulatory history: CGRP itself is an endogenous peptide and is not a medicine, so it has no FDA status. Multiple drugs targeting it are FDA-approved: the monoclonal antibodies erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab and eptinezumab, and the oral receptor antagonists known as gepants, including ubrogepant, rimegepant, atogepant and zavegepant. Those approvals belong to those molecules and describe blocking CGRP, not administering it.

Approves prescription drugs by indication and polices unapproved products, including peptides sold online. Compounding pharmacies may prepare some compounds under a prescription when the FDA places them on a permitted bulk-substances category.

The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of U.S. Food and Drug Administration listings for CGRP at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.