U.S. regulatory status

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)

Also known as TB-500 · Thymosin Beta-4 · TB-4 · Timbetasin · Thymosin Beta-4 fragment

In limboPCAC recommended listing (8-6, Jul 23, 2026) - advisory only; still not on the 503A list

Is TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) legal right now?

TB-500 (a synthetic fragment associated with thymosin beta-4) is not an FDA-approved drug and is not on the Section 503A Bulk Drug Substances List, so pharmacies are not authorized to compound it. On July 23, 2026 the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 8-6, with 1 abstention, to recommend adding it - despite the FDA's own reviewers reporting that they could not identify a single human clinical study of the substance. The vote is advisory and does not bind the FDA. Nothing about TB-500's legal status changed on the day of the vote. Before it could be compounded lawfully the FDA would have to accept the recommendation and complete notice-and-comment rulemaking - a process the agency has not begun and that is generally estimated at 12 to 24 months. Its earlier removal from the interim Category 2 list, in April 2026, likewise did not authorize compounding: it was never in Category 1, the category that does.

In limbo: Nominated or removed from a restricted list but NOT approved - the headline implies a change, but the legal reality did not move.

The committee vote

July 23, 2026 ET

Question put to the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC)“Should TB-500 (free base) be placed on the list? - and, as a separate vote, TB-500 acetate?”

Recommended by the committee

  1. 8 in favour
  2. 6 against
  3. 1 abstained

15 votes recorded. Tally reported by Healio and the FDA Law Blog (Hyman, Phelps & McNamara). The panel was not the same size for every substance - the meeting roster seats temporary voting members for single topics - so the totals legitimately differ between votes - the FDA has not yet published the meeting minutes, so treat the counts as reported rather than official.

What this does not do: an advisory committee recommendation is not an FDA decision and does not bind the agency. TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) is not on the 503A Bulk Drug Substances List, and a pharmacy compounding it today has no more federal authorisation than it did the day before the vote. Only a completed FDA rulemaking can change that.

Where it sits in the process

  1. Nominated (completed)
  2. Under review (advisory committee recommended it - not yet legal)
  3. Rulemaking (upcoming)
  4. Compounding-legal (upcoming)

What changed last

  1. FDA advisory committee (PCAC) voted 8-6, with 1 abstention, to recommend adding TB-500 to the 503A list - despite FDA reviewers reporting they could not identify a single human clinical study. Advisory only: TB-500 is still not on the list and still not legal to compound.

    Not legalizedView on healio.com

  2. Removed from FDA Category 2 after nominations were withdrawn - but it was never in Category 1, so it is still not legal to compound.

    Not legalizedView on orrick.com

  3. Placed on the July 23, 2026 FDA advisory committee agenda for possible inclusion on the 503A list.

    Review scheduledView on federalregister.gov

Status elsewhere

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4): regulatory status by jurisdiction
JurisdictionStatusNote
United States (FDA)In limboNot on the 503A Bulks List. PCAC recommended adding it on Jul 23, 2026 (8-6, 1 abstention); the recommendation is advisory and the FDA has not acted.
Australia (TGA)RestrictedThymosin beta-4 treated as Schedule 4 (prescription-only) under the Poisons Standard.
Sport / anti-doping (WADA)RestrictedProhibited at all times as a growth factor / non-approved substance.

Sources & transparency

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Last verified by a human
Aug 11, 2026 (ET) · how we verify
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