MOTS-c Peptide
MOTS-c peptide therapy uses a lab-made version of a peptide your mitochondria make naturally, studied for its role in cellular energy and healthy aging, prescribed only when a licensed provider determines it is appropriate.
Studied for how cells produce and use energy
Researched for its links to exercise and muscle
Explored for its role in healthy aging
Investigated for effects on metabolic balance
* Price reflects the semi-annual plan. Monthly plan: $199.00/month. Quarterly plan: $179.10/month.
How It Works
MOTS-c peptide therapy is based on research into a small peptide made by mitochondria, the parts of your cells that produce energy. In animal and lab studies, MOTS-c helped muscle cells respond to insulin and use fuel more efficiently, partly by activating AMPK, a cellular energy sensor. Natural MOTS-c levels rise with exercise in humans and appear to decline with age. Treatment studies so far have been in animals, so your provider can help you weigh what is known.
Discovery & Testing Background
MOTS-c was discovered in 2015 by researchers at the University of Southern California, who found it encoded in the DNA of mitochondria rather than in the cell's nucleus. Their early studies in mice linked it to healthier metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Later research showed that exercise raises MOTS-c levels in human muscle and blood, and that older mice given MOTS-c showed better physical capacity. A closely related compound has been tested in early human trials, but MOTS-c itself has not completed published human trials.
What Is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is a lab-made version of a 16-amino-acid peptide that the body makes naturally in its mitochondria. Its name stands for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c, which describes where its genetic code is found.
MOTS-c is not an FDA-approved drug. It is available only as a compounded medication, prescribed by a licensed provider and prepared by a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy for an individual patient.
Key Takeaways
Made by Mitochondria
Linked to Exercise
Studied for Healthy Aging
Physician-Guided Access
Safety & Side Effects
MOTS-c is not approved by the FDA. In October 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim enforcement policy that sets specific quality and safety conditions for compounding MOTS-c while the FDA completes its formal review. This policy is not an FDA approval.
Because MOTS-c is studied for its effects on blood sugar, people with diabetes or who take glucose-lowering medication should discuss it with their provider first. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should avoid it, and competitive athletes should confirm its status under anti-doping rules. A licensed provider reviews your health history before any prescription is written, and you can reach a provider at any time with questions.
Quality & Specifications
The pharmacies AIRA works with are licensed in Texas and follow Texas State Board of Pharmacy rules for sterile compounding.
Molecular Profile
FORMULA
WEIGHT
CAS
SEQUENCE
Physical Properties
FORM
SOLUBILITY
STABILITY
STORAGE
See the Science
The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Promotes Metabolic Homeostasis and Reduces Obesity and Insulin Resistance2015 · Preclinical study
MOTS-c Is an Exercise-Induced Mitochondrial-Encoded Regulator of Age-Dependent Physical Decline and Muscle Homeostasis2021 · Human and animal study
MOTS-c, the Most Recent Mitochondrial Derived Peptide in Human Aging and Age-Related Diseases2022 · Review
Why AIRA for MOTS-c?
AIRA connects you with licensed providers who review your health history and goals before deciding whether MOTS-c is appropriate. If it is prescribed, your medication is prepared by an independent, state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacy and shipped discreetly to your door. You can message a provider at any time with questions and track your prescriptions and progress from one dashboard.
Chat with a provider 24/7
Trusted pharmacy
Manage goals in one place
Fast, discreet shipping
Explore MOTS-c with a licensed provider.
Complete a short online health questionnaire. A licensed provider will review it and determine whether MOTS-c is appropriate for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Is MOTS-c FDA-approved?
MOTS-c has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It can only be prescribed through licensed clinicians where state law allows, and it is available only as a compounded medication prepared for an individual patient.
Has MOTS-c been studied in humans?
Not yet in completed published trials. Studies have measured natural MOTS-c levels in people, finding they rise with exercise, and a closely related compound has been tested in early human trials. Treatment research on MOTS-c itself has been in animals and cells.
What is MOTS-c being studied for?
MOTS-c is being studied for its role in cellular energy, metabolic balance, and physical function with age. In animal research, it improved insulin sensitivity and physical capacity in older mice. These findings have not yet been confirmed in human trials.
What side effects have been reported with MOTS-c?
Reported side effects have generally been mild, most often redness or discomfort at the injection site. Because MOTS-c has not completed human trials, its full side effect profile is not yet known. Use should be guided by a licensed provider who can help monitor how you respond.
Who should avoid MOTS-c?
Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should not use MOTS-c. People with diabetes, those taking glucose-lowering medication, and competitive athletes subject to anti-doping rules should discuss it with their provider first.
How is MOTS-c administered?
AIRA's MOTS-c is prescribed as a subcutaneous injection, meaning a small injection just under the skin. Your provider and your pharmacy label will explain how to use it.
Do I need a prescription for MOTS-c?
Yes. MOTS-c is available only with a prescription from a licensed provider, written for you as an individual patient.
How does AIRA's online process work?
You complete an online health questionnaire, and a licensed provider reviews it to decide whether treatment is appropriate. If your state requires a live consultation, one is arranged before any prescription is written. If approved, an independent 503A compounding pharmacy prepares your medication and ships it to you.
How is the quality of MOTS-c verified?
The active ingredient must come from an FDA-registered manufacturer and arrive with a certificate of analysis documenting its identity, purity, potency, and contaminant testing. The compounding pharmacy then prepares your medication under Texas State Board of Pharmacy sterile compounding rules.
Can MOTS-c peptide therapy be combined with other treatments?
Some patients use MOTS-c alongside other single-ingredient treatments, such as NAD+, with each prescribed separately. Whether combining treatments makes sense for you is a decision for your provider, based on your health history and goals.
