A BRIEF HISTORY OF PEPTIDES 

1921 – Discovery of Insulin

Peptides entered modern medicine with the discovery of insulin, the first therapeutic peptide. This breakthrough transformed diabetes care and set the foundation for peptide-based drug development. It was a defining moment that illustrated how peptides interact with the body in precise and powerful ways.

1923 – Insulin Becomes Widely Used in the U.S.

By 1923, insulin was widely available across the United States. As one of the earliest examples of a biologic therapy, its adoption solidified peptides as a legitimate, scalable tool in clinical medicine—offering relief and stability to millions of patients.

1950s–1970s – Rapid Growth in Peptide Research

Over the following decades, scientific advancements enabled researchers to isolate and synthesize other functional peptides like oxytocin, vasopressin, and growth hormone-releasing factors. These discoveries expanded the medical understanding of how peptides could regulate mood, stress, fertility, metabolism, and more.

During this time, peptides also became a core component of medical protocols in Eastern Europe and Russia, where many of the modern-day peptides have been used in clinical settings for decades. Physicians in those regions began using specific peptides to support tissue regeneration, immune modulation, and brain health—laying the groundwork for the clinical models now seen in many integrative longevity practices worldwide.

2000s – FDA Approves Dozens of Peptide-Based Drugs (including GLP-1s)

In recent years, peptide therapies have gained broad clinical recognition for their safety and selectivity. More than 80 FDA-approved peptide drugs now exist, many of which target cancer, metabolic disorders, hormone imbalances, and immune dysfunction.

• 2005: FDA approval of the first GLP-1 agonist for type 2 diabetes.

• 2014: Saxenda becomes the first GLP-1 approved specifically for weight loss.

• 2017: Ozempic, a Semaglutide, is approved for type 2 diabetes.

• 2021: Wegovy, a higher dose of Semaglutide, is approved for chronic weight management. 

  Today – Integrative Medicine & Longevity Clinics

  Today, peptide protocols are used in progressive healthcare around the world, especially in functional medicine and longevity practices. Clinicians are using peptides to address cognitive clarity, weight management, immune resilience, recovery, and aging—tailored to the unique needs of each patient.