What are peptides and how are they used in medicine?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as signalling molecules in the body. Some peptides are approved medicines in Europe, while others are marketed without regulatory authorisation. In this episode, we explain what peptides are, how they work, and how safety is assessed.

In this episode, we cover:

• What peptides are (biologically active protein fragments made of amino acids)

• How peptides differ from full proteins

• Examples of approved peptide medicines (insulin, GLP-1 receptor agonists)

• How peptides interact with receptors and influence hormones

• Common claims in “anti-ageing” and performance markets

• Risks of unregulated peptide products

• EU prescription and regulatory requirements

• Situations where prescription requests may be declined

Doctors assess diagnosis, hormone levels (if relevant), metabolic profile, cardiovascular risk, and evidence-based indications before prescribing peptide-based medicines. Many products sold online are not approved therapies and cannot be prescribed via telemedicine. Some cases require blood tests or specialist referral.

This episode reflects how emerging and hormone-related treatments are reviewed within structured medical assessment in European telemedicine at Mobi Doctor.

Read the full medical guide here:

https://www.mobidoctor.eu/blog/what-are-peptides