Intro
In this special episode of White Coat Black Sheep, Dr. Civelli isn't hosting, she's the guest speaker. She joined Empire Medical Training's live peptide webinar alongside Dr. Chris Crowley, Empire's Chief Medical Officer, with founder Dr. Steven Cosentino opening the session. Together they break down what peptides actually are, which ones are FDA approved versus banned versus somewhere in between, and the legal, insurance, and advertising realities that come with offering peptide therapy in a practice.
Topics Covered
- What a peptide is, structurally and functionally
- The four major peptide categories in demand right now: healing (BPC-157, TB-500), weight loss (GLP-1s), cognitive/longevity, and skin
- The angiogenesis and undiagnosed cancer risk question with BPC-157
- Why her malpractice insurance premium doubled after disclosing peptide prescribing
- The real meaning behind peptides being called banned, and the difference between FDA approved, removed from the prohibited list, and still prohibited
- The FDA's April 2026 removal of six peptides from the prohibited category and what still has to happen before they're fully approved
- Whether compounded medications are still considered unsafe, and how to vet a compounding pharmacy
- Two real legal cases involving unapproved peptide distribution and their consequences
- Building effective, synergistic peptide stacks without overwhelming a patient
- How to find and work with a healthcare attorney who helps you find compliant paths forward instead of just saying no
- FDA rules around advertising peptide therapy without making unsubstantiated claims
- How peptide regulation differs by state, with Florida cited as more peptide friendly than much of the Southeast
- The legal exposure of mid-level providers selling peptides without proper physician oversight
Mentioned in Episode
- BPC-157 and TB-500, together known as the Wolverine Stack
- GLP-1 peptides: Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide
- Cognitive and longevity peptides, including Semax, Selank, and Epithalon
- GHK-Cu, a copper peptide used for skin
- The FDA's April 2026 removal of six peptides from its prohibited compounding category
- USP 797, the federal compounding law
- Byrd Adatto, a healthcare and med spa focused law firm
- Compounding pharmacy partners referenced: Empower Pharmacy, Olympia, and Anazao Health
- Journal of Peptide Science and Peptides as ongoing research resources
- Empire Medical Training's peptide certification course pathway
Services: HRT, Peptides, Health Optimization, Botox, IV Hydration, Functional Medicine, Dermatology, Aesthetics, Regenerative Medicine, Hair Loss Treatments, Psychiatry, Clinical Trials
What is White Coat Black Sheep?
Hosted by Dr. Val Civelli, White Coat Black Sheep explores physiology, functional medicine, and the medical questions most people are told not to ask.
This is where evidence meets curiosity, where dogma gets uncomfortable, and where real world medicine takes priority over headlines.
From understanding your lab work to debunking hormone myths, medication misconceptions, and optimization strategies, this podcast helps you understand what is actually happening inside your body.
If you care about health and think there might be a better way to practice medicine, you’re in the right place.