What MOTS-c is
MOTS-c is a peptide of 16 amino acids. The name is short for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c. FDA's review gives the formula of the free base as C101H152N28O22S2, with a molecular weight of 2,174.6 g/mol, and describes it as a white to off-white lyophilized powder.
Where it stands with the FDA
MOTS-c isn't approved by the FDA, and the agency says it isn't a component of any FDA-approved drug. It was nominated for compounding, the nomination was withdrawn, and FDA reviewed it on its own initiative.
The nomination listed insulin resistance, obesity, osteoporosis, vascular calcification, muscle and fat metabolism, and longevity. FDA says it found no clinical studies of MOTS-c for those uses, and concluded that the criteria weigh against putting it on the list of substances pharmacies may compound with.
FDA took the question to its Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee on July 23, 2026. Its meeting page had no minutes posted as of October 2026, so this page doesn't report a vote.
The strength in the record
The nomination described 5 mg and 10 mg lyophilized vials for injection under the skin. It didn't say how much liquid to mix them with, and FDA's review points that gap out. So the vial sizes come from the record, and the water is whatever you choose.
| Vial | Water | Concentration | 10 units hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 1 mL | 5 mg/mL | 500 mcg |
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 250 mcg |
| 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL | 1 mg |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 500 mcg |
More water spreads the same MOTS-c over more units. Less water packs it into fewer.
Storing MOTS-c
FDA's review says lyophilized MOTS-c is expected to be stable stored below -20°C, dry and away from light. That describes the powder, not a mixed vial.
There's no approved label for MOTS-c, so nothing official says how long a mixed vial keeps.
MOTS-c dosage calculator questions
How do I turn a MOTS-c dose into syringe units?
Divide the dose by the concentration to get millilitres, then multiply by 100. A 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL is 5 mg/mL, so one unit on an insulin syringe holds 50 mcg and ten units hold 500 mcg.
How much bacteriostatic water goes in a 10 mg vial of MOTS-c?
There's no single right amount. The water only sets the concentration, and the amount of MOTS-c in the vial stays the same. With 10 mg, 1 mL makes 10 mg/mL, 2 mL makes 5 mg/mL and 3 mL makes 3.333 mg/mL. Choose the amount that puts your dose somewhere between about 10 and 40 units, where it's easiest to read.
Is MOTS-c approved by the FDA?
No. FDA says MOTS-c isn't a component of any FDA-approved drug. It reviewed MOTS-c for use in compounded drugs and concluded the criteria weigh against it, then took it to an advisory committee on July 23, 2026.
Does this page tell me how much MOTS-c to take?
No. There's no FDA-approved MOTS-c product, and FDA says it found no clinical studies of MOTS-c for the uses it was nominated for, so there's no approved dose to point to. The dose box starts empty for that reason.
More peptide calculators by name
The same instrument, set up one peptide at a time. For any other vial, use the peptide reconstitution calculator.