Last revision · Apr 2026

History of peptide research: a 100-year scientific timeline

Peptides are not new. Peptide-based medicine has 100+ years of clinical history, with the first peptide drug — insulin — saving lives since 1923. Today, more than 80 peptide drugs are FDA-approved and 150+ more are in trials.

Years of research

100+

FDA approvals

80+

In clinical trials

150+

First drug (1923)

Insulin

§ 01

What peptides actually are

Short chains of amino acids — typically 2 to 50 amino acids linked together. Beyond ~50, it's a protein. Your body produces thousands of peptides naturally — hormones (insulin, glucagon, oxytocin), neurotransmitters (endorphins), signaling molecules (growth factors, cytokines), antimicrobial agents (defensins).

§ 02

The complete peptide research timeline

ERA · 1920s · The Insulin Revolution

1921
Banting and Best isolate insulin from canine pancreatic extracts at the University of Toronto — first peptide hormone ever isolated.
1922
Leonard Thompson, age 14, becomes the first human to receive insulin injections. Blood sugar normalizes. Era of peptide medicine begins.
1923
Eli Lilly begins commercial production. Banting and Macleod receive the Nobel Prize.

ERA · 1930s – 1950s · Mapping the Peptide Landscape

1932
Oxytocin identified as a peptide hormone responsible for uterine contractions and milk ejection.
1953
du Vigneaud synthesizes oxytocin in the lab — first peptide hormone ever synthesized. Nobel Prize 1955.
1953
Sanger determines complete amino acid sequence of insulin. Nobel Prize 1958.
1954
Synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) enters clinical use for labor induction. Still used today.

ERA · 1960s – 1970s · The GLP-1 Story Begins

1964
Researchers observe oral glucose produces stronger insulin response than IV — the "incretin effect."
1970s
GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) identified.
1979
GLP-1 identified when researchers sequence the proglucagon gene.
1987
Holst lab demonstrates GLP-1 potently stimulates insulin secretion in humans — foundational for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Retatrutide.

ERA · 1980s – 1990s · BPC-157 and the Healing Peptides

1980s
University of Zagreb begins investigating Body Protection Compound (BPC) from human gastric juice.
1991
First published BPC-157 study demonstrates wound healing acceleration in rats.
1993 – 99
Multiple studies show BPC-157 accelerates healing of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and GI tract in animals.

ERA · 2000s · GLP-1 Drugs Enter the Market

2005
Exenatide (Byetta) — first GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved. Derived from Gila monster saliva.
2010
Liraglutide (Victoza) approved. Once-daily injection.
2014
Liraglutide (Saxenda) — first GLP-1 approved specifically for weight loss.
2017
Semaglutide (Ozempic) approved for diabetes. Once-weekly.

ERA · 2020s · The GLP-1 Revolution

2021
Semaglutide (Wegovy) approved for chronic weight management. STEP trials show 15% average weight loss.
2022
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) approved as first dual GLP-1 / GIP agonist. 22.5% weight loss.
2023
Retatrutide Phase 2 results published. Triple agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon). 28.7% body weight loss — highest ever recorded.
2024
Retatrutide enters Phase 3 trials.

§ 03

80+ FDA-approved peptide drugs

Category	Examples	Years
Diabetes / Metabolism	Insulin, Exenatide, Liraglutide, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide	1923 – 2022
Hormonal	Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Goserelin, Leuprolide	1954 – 1990s
Cardiovascular	Nesiritide, Eptifibatide	1998 – 2001
Oncology	Octreotide, Lanreotide, Degarelix	1988 – 2008
Immune / Inflammatory	Cyclosporine, Enfuvirtide	1983 – 2003
Bone / Metabolic	Teriparatide, Abaloparatide	2002 – 2017
GI / Other	Linaclotide, Plecanatide	2012 – 2017

§ 04

Research vs FDA-approved: the distinction

FDA-approved peptides have completed expensive Phase 3 trials and obtained marketing authorization. Research peptides may have decades of animal data and Phase 1 / 2 human data but never completed Phase 3 — usually because no pharmaceutical company found it commercially viable to fund the final stage.

BPC-157 has 100+ published animal studies showing safety and efficacy. It is not FDA-approved because no patent holder paid for Phase 3 trials. That is a regulatory and commercial situation, not a scientific verdict.

§ 05

Why sourcing is the real concern

The 100-year history makes clear: the molecules themselves are well-understood. Where modern peptide users get burned is supplier quality — counterfeits, underdosed product, contamination, broken cold-chain. See /coa and the buying guide for evaluation criteria.