What is MOTS-c?

The short answer

MOTS-c is a small peptide made from a gene found in the tiny power plants of cells.

  • What it is

    Mitochondria-encoded peptide acting as a metabolic (AMPK) signal.

  • What people look into

    Weight, aging

Get updates on MOTS-c

What it is

Type
Mitochondrial-derived peptide (16-aa)
Also known as
motc, mots c peptide, mitochondrial peptide
How it works
Mitochondria-encoded peptide acting as a metabolic (AMPK) signal.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved · advisory vote July 2026 · no FDA decision How we label status

As of October 4, 2026, MOTS-c is not FDA-approved. On July 23, 2026, FDA's compounding advisory committee voted to recommend adding it to the 503A bulks list; FDA staff had recommended against it. FDA has not proposed that change.

See MOTS-c in the Index →

Federal (FDA)
Not FDA-approved
503A compounding
No category since 2026-04-22 (nomination withdrawn); PCAC recommended 2026-07-23/24; no proposed rule as of 2026-10-04 (as of October 4, 2026)
PCAC history
2026-07-23: recommended 7-5-2 (free base and acetate; uses reviewed: obesity, osteoporosis; count as read into FDA's meeting recording; written minutes not posted as of 2026-10-04); FDA staff: against
WADA 2026
S4.4.1

Timeline

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Timeline table
DateWhat happenedSource
Federal Register notice of an FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting lists MOTS-c among bulk drug substances under consideration for the 503A bulks list.Federal Register, event of April 16, 2026, on federalregister.gov
FDA presentations for the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting cover MOTS-c as a bulk drug substance under consideration for the 503A bulks list.FDA, event of July 23, 2026, on fda.gov

References

Sources as of October 4, 2026

  1. FDA: www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar/july-23-24-2026-meeting-pharmacy-compounding-advisory-committee-07232026
  2. FDA: www.fda.gov/media/193347/download
  3. FDA: www.fda.gov/media/193342/download
  4. Federal Register: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/16/2026-07361/pharmacy-compounding-advisory-committee-notice-of-meeting-establishment-of-a-public-docket-request
  5. FDA: www.fda.gov/media/94155/download
  6. FDA: www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
  7. WADA: www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf
  8. YouTube: youtube.com/live/DhDC0DAYdBI