Peptide’s Interview with Dr. Chan (South China Morning Post)

In the latest South China Morning Post press feature at Lifeclinic, Dr. Chan addresses growing public interest in longevity biohacking—particularly the trend of peptide stacking. As more biohackers discuss peptides as a potential tool for improving health span, many are left with pressing questions about how peptides may support the body’s ability to recover, repair, and rebuild at the cellular level—especially in comparison to regenerative approaches such as stem cell therapy. The article also explores the most important concerns from readers: whether peptide use is truly safe, what benefits people may expect, and what risks or limitations may come with it.

During the interview, Dr. Chan explains in clear terms how peptides work, the pros and cons of using peptide therapy, and the specific groups of individuals who should not use peptides. He also outlines what patients and clients should prepare before starting treatment, helping readers better understand what to consider, what to ask, and how to make informed decisions about this fast-growing longevity topic.

What is peptide stacking? Biohackers jump on risky trend cheaper than stem cell therapy

Taking multiple synthetic peptides to target goals like weight loss, muscle growth and injury recovery is not without its risks, experts say

Jennifer Lynn knows she is a “guinea pig”. The 43-year-old former ice hockey player turned athletic coach, who is based in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been “stacking” synthetic peptides for the last year. It is a trend that some see as the future of medicine, but others view as a reckless gamble.

“I know a lot of people who are sceptical and who are not willing to be guinea pigs,” she says.

“While I never push peptides on my clients, I will tell people about my experiences if they ask. Personally, I feel good on it, strong and well-recovered. If I stop taking it, I notice.”

Lynn is no casual user; she is a high-performance athlete, working with a coach herself four to five days a week. Her routine involves hurdles, explosive sprints and “jump training” exercises, designed to increase muscle power, speed and strength. Rapid muscle recovery is crucial for her.

What is peptide stacking?

Peptides are short chains of two or more amino acids – the building blocks of proteins – linked by peptide bonds. They are not exotic chemicals; they are signalling molecules that your body already produces naturally.

Insulin, oxytocin and growth hormones are all peptides that tell your cells how to act, whether to repair a tear, produce collagen or regulate your metabolism.

Jennifer Lynn has been “stacking” synthetic peptides for the last year. Photo: Jennifer Lynn

“Peptide stacking” is the practice of taking different synthetic molecules together – either orally or by injection – to amplify their effects. That could be to help with insomnia, injury recovery, weight loss, muscle growth and more.

For example, semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), is a well-known synthetic peptide approved by the US Food and Drug Administration used in newer weight-loss drugs. It is often “stacked” with another peptide known as CJC-1295/Ipamorelin – which has not yet been approved – to lose weight while preserving and building muscle.

Wellness influencers, biohackers and even political figures like US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jnr are driving the trend.

“I’m a big fan of peptides,” Kennedy told podcaster Joe Rogan. “I’ve used them myself and with really good effect on a couple of injuries.”

Risky business

A significant health warning dampens the enthusiasm. Peptides promote growth and repair, but can also have serious unwanted consequences.

“Certain peptides that promote new vessel formation might help cancer cells to spread,” says Dr Stephen Chan, a medical doctor and co-founder of LifeClinic, a longevity and anti-ageing clinic in Hong Kong’s Central neighbourhood.

“Other peptides might suppress the inflammatory signals that [keep] cancer cells from growing.”

For this reason, Chan warns that anyone with an increased risk of cancer should never inject peptides without supervision and should first have rigorous screening.

“The risk is just not worth it,” he says.

Dr Stephen Chan warns that anyone with an increased risk of cancer should never inject peptides without supervision and should first undergo rigorous screening. Photo: Dr Stephen Chan

Powerful tools when properly administered

Despite the risks, users like Lynn report that the results are often transformative. She relies on what is known as the “Wolverine Stack”, named after the Marvel superhero with near-instant self-healing powers.

It combines two peptides: one known for healing-promoting effects and another that is anti-inflammatory. Used together, they may speed up the body’s natural repair response to address chronic pain from inflamed tendons, joints and muscles.

Chan, who has helped many patients in Hong Kong navigate these protocols, admits he was “stacking” before it even had a name.

“I discovered that many peptides worked really well together and synergistically,” he says. “I’ve seen first-hand how, when used properly, they can be very powerful tools in helping to turn around difficult-to-treat conditions.”

He identifies two other popular combinations. The Glow Stack adds a copper peptide to the Wolverine base, meant to stimulate collagen production alongside healing to improve skin quality and repair tissue damage.

The Klow Stack incorporates a peptide that may reduce inflammation in the gut, which Chan says is useful for patients with “leaky gut” or chronic digestive issues.

‘Poor man’s stem cell therapy’

Cost is a primary driver of the peptide trend. Chan refers to peptide stacking as “a poor man’s stem cell therapy”. Both treatments can aid growth and regeneration and help modulate the immune system, but the difference in price is huge.

“Stacking” synthetic peptides is a trend that some see as the future of medicine, but others view as a reckless gamble. Photo: Shutterstock

Widely practised in hubs like Switzerland, Panama and South Korea, stem cell therapy can cost from US$5,000 to US$50,000. In contrast, a Wolverine Stack might cost between US$300 and US$600 for a month’s worth of peptides.

For Lynn, the reality of stacking is meticulous, often exhausting maintenance. She injects herself subcutaneously after reconstituting the peptides with sterile water. She follows a cycle of five days on and two days off for six weeks before taking a two-week “cycling off” break.

“There are a lot of rules,” she says, noting that many peptides must be taken on an empty stomach. She admits the process can be taxing and that she often feels “like a pincushion every morning”.

In the dark in the ‘grey zone’

Lynn only knows how to do all this through her own research. “The sites I buy from don’t give you any information,” she says.

Like many, she buys from online platforms in the US that carry disclaimers stating the products are for “research purposes only”. This leaves users to rely on Reddit threads, online chat groups or “doctor friends” for advice on what to take, how and when.

Much of what we know about peptides comes from cell or animal studies – usually on mice – as well as anecdotal reports, and bodybuilding or biohacking communities, not from large-scale randomised controlled trials.

Lynn works out four or five times a week, so rapid muscle recovery is essential. Photo: Jennifer Lynn

In Hong Kong, the legality and regulation of these substances remain a grey zone. Most synthetic peptides used in stacking are treated as unregistered pharmaceutical products, and the government has recently stepped up enforcement against their illegal online sales and importation.

Why you shouldn’t experiment on yourself

Tricia Yap, a strength and functional medicine coach and founder of the Limitless gym in Hong Kong, is a vocal critic of the DIY approach.

“If a peptide is not coming from a licensed compounding pharmacy or regulated clinical channel, you have no real idea what you’re putting into your body,” she says.

“Purity, dosing accuracy and contamination are not small variables. People think they’re running a protocol. In reality, they’re running a gamble.”

Many “biohackers”, she says, are layering variables on top of variables without understanding the long-term consequences. She believes the trend is being dangerously pushed by social media influencers who lack the medical history of their followers.

“Influencers don’t have your biology,” Yap warns. “Some are monetising attention, not outcomes.”

Strength and functional medicine coach Tricia Yap says: “If a peptide is not coming from a licensed compounding pharmacy or regulated clinical channel, you have no real idea what you’re putting into your body.” Photo: Tricia Yap

Dr Chan agrees that the “experiment on yourself” model is fraught with danger. He prefers to use peptides judiciously for short, targeted periods – such as to treat a frozen shoulder or tennis elbow – rather than as a permanent lifestyle choice.

“Like anything that promotes growth, affects our immune system or changes the expression of our genes, it is really too early to tell what the long-term consequences of using them for extended periods are,” he says.

For athletes like Lynn, the trade-off seems worthwhile. She claims using a stack to promote fat loss and release growth hormones results in “insanely good” sleep, while other stacks enhance focus and reduce anxiety.

As the science catches up to the hype, the message from professionals is clear: these molecules may hold the key to healing, but using them without proper medical monitoring is a big risk.

Yap, who is considering stem cell therapy on a knee injury, believes foremost in the power of fundamental health, such as sleep, nutrition, training and managing stress.

“If all that is still not working, run blood work and track biomarkers,” she says.

“Only then, under proper medical supervision, do you consider whether peptides have a role. Not the other way around.”