MOTS-c
Also known as: Mitochondrial ORF of the twelve S rRNA type-c, MOTSc, MOTS-c peptide
MOTS-c is a small peptide made up of 16 amino acids. It is encoded within a region of the mitochondrial genome (the 12S rRNA gene) and was first described by researchers in 2015. The body produces MOTS-c naturally, and it is classified as one of the mitochondrial-derived peptides.
How it works
Research in cells and animals suggests that MOTS-c can move to the cell nucleus under metabolic stress and influence gene activity, and that it interacts with the AMPK pathway, a regulator of cellular energy balance. Because of this signaling role, laboratory studies describe it as an "exercise-mimetic" candidate. These mechanisms are drawn from preclinical models, and how they translate to humans has not been established.
Researched uses
- Studied for insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in animal models
- Studied for effects on obesity and diet-induced weight gain in rodents
- Studied for skeletal muscle and mitochondrial function
- Studied for markers of metabolic and age-related decline in preclinical research
- Studied indirectly through the analog CB4211 for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in an early-phase human trial
MOTS-c is not FDA-approved for any use, and there is no approved brand product. It has no active Investigational New Drug application, and no completed Phase 2 or Phase 3 human efficacy trials exist in the published literature. A related analog, CB4211, was tested by CohBar in an early-phase human trial and its development was later discontinued. At the July 2026 Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting, the FDA proposed that MOTS-c not be added to the 503A Bulks List used for pharmacy compounding, citing insufficient human evidence and potential immunogenicity risk. It was removed from the interim "Category 2" list in April 2026. As a result, MOTS-c does not have an established legal compounding pathway. Material sold online is generally labeled "for research use only," is not a licensed medicine, and falls outside the regulated pharmacy system. MOTS-c is also on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.
MOTS-c providers compared
Providers that have passed our rubric review are listed first, then ordered by the total cost of a 3-month protocol. We average every cost to a standard 3-month protocol, which our medical advisors consider the best basis for comparing cost and value, and the headline figure folds in any one-time consult or provider-review fee plus three months of membership. Use the calculator below to adjust the length and see the same total broken out.
| Provider | Sourcing | What's included | Verified | Visit provider | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RxPepsDirectVerified MOTS-C | 503A pharmacy | $279 for 3 months (est.) ≈3 vials · $80/vial incl. $39 consult | Consult fee extra · no membership | Jul 8, 2026 vial price | View |
Live VitalVerified MOTS-c Free live doctor consult | 503A pharmacy | $449 for 3 months | No consult fee · no membership · shipping included | Jul 6, 2026 | View |
Valhalla VitalityVerified MOTS-c Therapy | 503A pharmacy | $623 for 3 months (est.) ≈3 vials · $207.58/vial | No consult fee · no membership | Jul 9, 2026 vial price | View |
Ellie MDVerified MOTS-c Injection | 503A pharmacy | $624 for 3 months $208 per month | No consult fee · no membership · shipping included | Jul 7, 2026 | View |
We average every cost to a standard 3-month protocol, which our medical advisors consider the best window for comparing cost and value. Monthly plans are multiplied by 3 and 3-month programs are taken as billed; each provider's own sticker price and cadence are shown underneath.
The headline figure is the total 3-month cost: the medication plus any one-time consult or provider-review fee (for example RxPepsDirect's $39) and three months of any membership fee. Where a fee is not published we fold in what is known and flag that other fees may apply.
Per-vial providers are averaged to a 3-month protocol at roughly one vial per month (3 vials), marked "est.", with the per-vial price shown underneath. Actual vial count depends on your dose and protocol.
Prices are gathered from each provider's public pages. The "Verified" date is when we last checked the provider's sticker price; for per-vial providers it is the vial price that was verified, not the averaged 3-month total.
Value check: total cost of therapy
This is the real value comparison. A sticker price hides consult and membership fees, so this adds everything up for a full protocol of MOTS-c and ranks by true total cost. We default to a 3-month protocol, the window our medical advisors consider best for judging value.
Per-vial providers are estimated at about one vial per month (3 vials for 3 months), plus any one-time consult. Actual vial count depends on your dose and protocol, so the real cost may run higher or lower.
Safety notes
The human safety profile of MOTS-c is not established, because published data comes almost entirely from cell and animal studies rather than controlled human trials. The FDA has noted that injected peptides such as MOTS-c may carry immunogenicity risk from aggregate formation and manufacturing impurities. Products sold as "research use only" are not made to pharmaceutical standards, so identity, purity, sterility, and dose can vary and are not verified by any regulator.
In the news
- Inside the booming, gray-market world of injectable peptides The Hill
Reporting on the gray market for research-use-only injectable peptides sold outside the licensed pharmacy system, and the associated health concerns.
MOTS-c questions
How much does MOTS-c cost?
Across the licensed providers tracked here, a full 3-month protocol of MOTS-c totals $279 to $624, depending on the provider, dose, and what is included. We average every cost to a standard 3-month protocol, which our medical advisors consider the best basis for comparing cost and value, and the total folds in any one-time consult or provider-review fee and three months of membership. Each price shows the date the provider's sticker price was verified.
Is MOTS-c an approved medication?
No. MOTS-c is not approved by the FDA for any medical use. It is an investigational compound studied mainly in laboratory and animal research, and human trial data is very limited.
Can I get MOTS-c from a compounding pharmacy?
There is no established legal compounding pathway for MOTS-c. In 2026 the FDA proposed not to add it to the list of bulk substances eligible for pharmacy compounding. Products marketed online are typically sold as research chemicals and are outside the regulated pharmacy system.
What does the research actually show about MOTS-c?
Most findings come from cells and rodents and point to a role in metabolism and mitochondrial function. Whether any of these effects occur in people at a meaningful level has not been demonstrated in completed controlled human trials, so the evidence remains preliminary.
Related reading
- How to Get Peptides Safely and LegallyHow to get peptides through the legal, licensed pathway: prescriptions, 503A/503B pharmacies, honest evidence, and how to avoid the research-use-only gray market.
- Peptides Studied for Energy and PerformanceAn independent look at CJC-1295, ipamorelin, and MOTS-c for energy and performance: what the research shows, safety and legality, and how to find licensed care.
- Peptides Studied for Longevity and Anti-AgingAn independent look at peptides studied for longevity (GHK-Cu, epithalon, MOTS-c, humanin), what the research shows, and how to find safe, legal care.
- Peptides and GLP-1s for Weight ManagementAn independent look at GLP-1s and peptides for weight management: what the research shows, honest limits, safety, legality, and finding licensed care.
- Peptide Access in 2026: What's Legal, What's RestrictedAn independent look at peptide access in 2026: which compounds are legal, which are restricted, what the evidence shows, and how to find licensed treatment.