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MOTS-c and Tirzepatide Together: What Is Known

MOTS-c and Tirzepatide taken together: what each one is, how each is regulated, and what is known about combining them.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
Mitochondrial-derived peptidePCAC voted 7–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)MOTS-cMitochondrial-derived peptide; human studies found only measured the body's own circulating levels (for example after repeated heat treatment), not administered MOTS-c.[7]GLP-1 & metabolicGLP-1 / GIP dual agonistFDA approved (Mounjaro, Zepbound)TirzepatideFDA-approved dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist; in a large trial, mean weight change at week 72 was -15.0% on 5-mg and -19.5% on 10-mg weekly doses.[20]GLP-1 & metabolic
Interaction notes

Timing, interactions and safety

Evidence for the combination

No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 0 results, 2 Oct 2026).

MOTS-c is not FDA approved, and we have no sourced data on combining it with Tirzepatide.
Each component

Side by side

Showing 12 of 14 fields where the two differ. Category, Evidence strength are the same or both unknown.

FieldMOTS-cTirzepatide
ClassMitochondrial-derived peptideGLP-1 / GIP dual agonist
Also calledmotstirz, tirze, Mounjaro, Zepbound
FDA statusPCAC voted 7–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)FDA approved (Mounjaro, Zepbound)
PCAC vote, Jul 2026PCAC voted 7–5 for the 503A list (Jul 2026); not finalizedNot on the Jul 2026 agenda
WADAProhibited by WADA (S4.4.1)MOTS-c is named in S4.4.1 (metabolic modulators: AMPK activators), prohibited at all times.Not on the WADA Prohibited ListGLP-1 and GIP agonists are not named anywhere on the 2026 list. This one is an approved medicine, so the catch-all S0 (which only covers drugs with no approval anywhere) does not apply to it.
Anti-doping detection
  • A plasma (blood) test for MOTS-c has been validated to WADA standards.PMID 30394592
None reportedanti-doping literature, as of 2 Oct 2026
Half-lifeNo published half-life foundPubMed search, 2 Oct 2026approximately 5 dayssubcutaneous · FDA label (Mounjaro)
Human studies we summarised7 human (4 randomized or controlled) of 15 summarised24 human (22 randomized or controlled) of 30 summarised
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, 120 mg
US searches per month60,500 · +437% searches1,220,000 · +30% searches
Named in FDA warning letters, 2026Not in the letters we trackYes (24 Aug 2026; 31 Mar 2026)

What people search

  • mots c with tirzepatide110/mo
  • mots c and tirzepatide together90/mo
  • mots c and tirzepatide70/mo
  • tirzepatide and mots c50/mo
  • tirzepatide and mots c together30/mo
  • tirzepatide with mots c20/mo

US monthly searches, Google Keyword Planner, Oct 2026. Shown so you can see which questions this page answers.

Sources

  1. 1FDA warning letters to five research-peptide sellersFDA warning letter (NuScience Peptides; 1 of 5) · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2FDA proposes excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide from the 503B bulks listFDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3FDA gives notice that 12 peptides will be removed from Category 2 (nominations withdrawn)FDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Seven FDA warning letters to online sellers of GLP-1 productsFDA warning letter (Gram Peptides; 1 of 7) · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Development of a mass spectrometry based detection method for the mitochondrion-derived peptide MOTS-c in plasma samples for doping control purposes.Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2019PMID 30394592Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Repeated Heat Stress Modulates the Levels of the Mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in Active Men during Calf Muscle Immobilization.Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 2025PMID 40674654Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging · 2022PMID 36490309Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on the mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors.Scientific reports · 2021PMID 34413391Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) (262 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (humans[mh] OR human[tiab] OR participants[tiab] OR patients[tiab] OR volunteers[tiab]) (179 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR "clinical trial"[pt] OR "meta-analysis"[pt] OR "systematic review"[pt]) (5 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (mice[tiab] OR mouse[tiab] OR rat[tiab] OR rats[tiab]) AND (injection[tiab] OR treatment[tiab] OR administration[tiab] OR treated[tiab]) (72 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (3 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15These highlights do not include all the information needed to use MOUNJARO safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for MOUNJARO. MOUNJARO ® (tirzepatide) Injection, for subcutaneous uFDA label (Mounjaro), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Ixekizumab With Tirzepatide Achieved Greater Disease Control Than Ixekizumab Alone in Adults With Psoriatic Arthritis and Overweight or Obesity: Results From a Randomized Clinical Trial.Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026PMID 41903163Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17Psychiatric Safety of Tirzepatide in People With Obesity and No Known Major Psychopathology: A Post Hoc Analysis of SURMOUNT.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 2026PMID 41537305Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  18. 18Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40353578Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  19. 19PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (tirzepatide[tiab] OR Mounjaro[tiab] OR Zepbound[tiab] OR LY3298176[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  20. 20Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2022PMID 35658024Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  21. 21Advisory committee backs 6 of 7 peptides for the 503A listNCPA · 2026ncpa.org

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