MOTS-c Dubai: Research Vial & Evidence Guide
What MOTS-c is, what the mouse and human studies do and do not show, where regulators stand in 2026, and how to check a UAE supplier’s batch report.
Update History ▾
Research-use-only framing applied throughout in line with Remy editorial standards.
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Its effects on metabolism and exercise capacity come from mouse studies, and no peer-reviewed trial giving MOTS-c to people has been published. The human studies measure the body's own MOTS-c levels, which fall with age, are lower in type 2 diabetes, and rise with exercise.[1][2][3] It is not an approved medicine. In July 2026 an FDA advisory committee recommended, 7 to 5 with two abstentions, that US compounding pharmacies be allowed to use it, against FDA reviewers' advice; no rule has followed.[4][5] WADA prohibits it at all times.[6]
In Dubai, MOTS-c is sold mostly as clinic therapy, and online as research material. Remy Research lists the MOTS-C 10mg vial at AED 260 (AED 220 at the 5+ tier) to a ≥99% HPLC line standard, with no batch-specific Janoshik report published yet. Material is supplied for in-vitro laboratory research only — not for human or veterinary use.
What MOTS-c Is
MOTS-c stands for "mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c". It is a 16-residue peptide, Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg (MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR), coded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene rather than in the cell nucleus.[1] PubChem lists it as C101H152N28O22S2, about 2174.6 g/mol, CAS number 1627580-64-6, PubChem CID 146675088.[2]
It was described in 2015 by a University of Southern California group, who reported that it acts mainly on skeletal muscle through the folate cycle and AMPK.[3] The same group later showed that under metabolic stress it moves into the cell nucleus and affects gene expression.[7] The full mechanism review is on the MOTS-c research page, and its relationship to SS-31 is covered in MOTS-c vs SS-31.
FDA's 2026 review called MOTS-c "not well-characterized": it has no standard name, and no impurity, aggregate or endotoxin specifications or certificates were submitted.[4] That is the strongest neutral reason to ask any supplier for batch-level data.
The Evidence, Sorted by Type
| Evidence type | What exists | What it can show |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse studies | Less diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance; better physical capacity in older mice | Hypotheses for human study |
| Human levels | Blood MOTS-c lower with age and in type 2 diabetes; rises with exercise and heat | Association, not effect |
| Genetics | An East Asian mitochondrial variant that alters MOTS-c is linked to type 2 diabetes in men | Association, not effect |
| Human trials | No published trial of MOTS-c; one analog, CB4211, finished phase 1 in 2021 | Nothing yet for MOTS-c |
In mice, MOTS-c prevented diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, and late-life treatment improved physical capacity.[3][8] Human studies measure the body's own MOTS-c. Plasma levels fall with age; levels are lower in people with type 2 diabetes, in a cohort from Doha, Qatar; and they rise after endurance exercise and, in a study by Doha's Aspetar sports hospital with UAE University, after repeated heat exposure.[9][10][11][12] A mitochondrial DNA variant that changes one amino acid in MOTS-c was linked to type 2 diabetes in men across three cohorts.[13] These measurements need care: a doping-control laboratory that built a validated mass-spectrometry test could not confirm the levels reported by commercial ELISA kits.[14]
No peer-reviewed trial giving MOTS-c to people has been published. The closest is CB4211, an analog developed by CohBar, which completed a phase 1 study in 2021; its results appeared only in a company press release.[15][16] CohBar was declared a public shell company and delisted from Nasdaq in late 2023, and no further development of CB4211 was found.[17]
What Has Been Published on Safety
- FDA's 2026 review. FDA found no clinical studies of MOTS-c's safety or effectiveness in humans, nonclinical work limited to cells and rodents, and potential risks in humans that are unknown. It could not rule out immune reactions to impurities or aggregates.[4]
- No human safety dataset. No published case reports or adverse-event series were found. The CB4211 press-release data describe a different molecule.
- Independent reviews. A 2026 review of approved and unapproved peptides found rigorous human safety data scarce for products like MOTS-c, with potential for serious harm.[18]
Regulatory Status in 2026
- United States. Not FDA-approved and not on the 503A Bulks List. It was moved off FDA's Category 2 compounding list in 2026 after its nominations were withdrawn.[19] On July 23, 2026 the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 7 to 5, with two abstentions, to recommend adding it, for obesity and osteoporosis; FDA's reviewers had proposed not adding it. The vote is advisory, and no rule had been published by October 7, 2026.[5][20]
- European Union. No entry in the EU register of centrally authorised medicines.[21]
- United Arab Emirates. We found no UAE registration for MOTS-c as a medicine. This is not a legal opinion; see the Dubai legality brief.
- Sport. Named by WADA under S4.4.1, activators of AMP-activated protein kinase, on the 2026 and 2027 Lists, and prohibited at all times. A validated doping-control test exists.[22][14]
MOTS-c at Remy Research: Dubai Listing Facts
The product pages are the source of truth for price and stock. The table records the catalogue as of October 7, 2026.
| Product | Format and AED tiers | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| 10mg vial | Lyophilised powder, sealed glass vial · AED 260 · 2+ AED 240 · 5+ AED 220 · in stock | ≥99% HPLC line standard; no batch-specific Janoshik report published |
| 20mg pen | Pre-filled pen · AED 450 · 2+ AED 420 · 5+ AED 390 · in stock | ≥99% HPLC line standard; no batch-specific Janoshik report published |
| Genovare 25mg pen | Aqueous pre-filled pen · AED 650 · in stock | Independent testing not supplied |
| SS-31 + MOTS-C pen | Genovare 42mg total (30mg + 12mg) · AED 900 · in stock | Independent testing not supplied |
Remy Research publishes batch-specific Janoshik reports for its Retatrutide products in the lab results library. The MOTS-c line is not yet covered by a published batch report, and this page does not imply otherwise. Delivery terms across the emirates are on the delivery page; SS-31 has its own Dubai guide.
Checking a MOTS-c Supplier in the UAE
Most UAE pages selling MOTS-c quote "99% purity" or "COA available" without a batch number or a named laboratory. Before ordering from any supplier, including this one, check:
- The batch report. A dated certificate for the batch you will receive, from a named lab, with a verification code you can check. The Janoshik verification guide shows how.
- Identity by mass. HPLC purity says how clean a sample is; mass spectrometry confirms it is MOTS-c, at about 2174.6 for the free base. The COA and HPLC guide explains both.
- Endotoxin and peptide content. FDA singled out missing impurity, aggregate and endotoxin data; a good certificate addresses them, and reports net peptide content alongside purity.
- Claims. A research supplier that promises fat loss, energy or longevity, or describes human use, is making claims the evidence cannot support.
- Contact and handling. A fixed product URL, a verifiable contact channel and a stated cold-chain process reduce impersonation risk; see contact verification.
What This Page Does Not Claim
- It does not claim that mouse findings or human association studies show benefit from taking MOTS-c.
- It does not give dosing, preparation or administration information of any kind.
- It does not treat CB4211 data as MOTS-c data.
- It does not claim a published batch report for products that have none.
Our Research Standards
This guide relies on regulator records, FDA's 2026 briefing document and primary literature, each checked on October 7, 2026, and keeps animal, association and trial evidence separate. Listing facts come from the Remy Research catalogue on the same date. No therapeutic, human-use, or veterinary-use claim is made here. Read our editorial policy →
MOTS-c Dubai FAQ
Where can I buy MOTS-c in Dubai?
In Dubai it is offered mostly as clinic therapy and by online research-peptide suppliers. For research material, Remy Research lists a 10mg vial, a 20mg pen and two Genovare pens, supplied for in-vitro laboratory research only and not for human or veterinary use. Whatever the source, ask for a dated, batch-linked certificate with mass-spectrometry identity before ordering.
Is MOTS-c legal in the UAE?
Is MOTS-c FDA-approved?
Is MOTS-c banned in sport?
Has MOTS-c been tested in humans?
No peer-reviewed trial giving MOTS-c to people has been published. Human studies measure the body's own MOTS-c, which is lower with age and in type 2 diabetes and rises with exercise. An analog, CB4211, completed a phase 1 study in 2021, with results only in a press release; its developer was delisted in 2023.[9][10][16]
What should a MOTS-c certificate of analysis show?
A batch number matching the vial, a named laboratory and a date; HPLC purity; mass-spectrometry identity at about 2174.6; and ideally endotoxin and net peptide content. FDA cited missing impurity, aggregate and endotoxin data among its reasons for calling MOTS-c not well characterised.[4]
Is Remy Research MOTS-c third-party tested?
The ProPeptide vial and pen are supplied to a ≥99% HPLC line standard, but no batch-specific Janoshik report has been published for them yet. Independent testing has not been supplied for the Genovare pens. Published Janoshik batch reports currently cover the Retatrutide range.
Is MOTS-c the same as SS-31?
No. Both are discussed as mitochondrial peptides, but MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, while SS-31 (elamipretide) is a synthetic four-residue peptide that targets the inner mitochondrial membrane. The MOTS-c vs SS-31 comparison covers the differences.
Sources
- UniProt. A0A0C5B5G6 (MOTSC_HUMAN) — Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c, 16 aa, sequence MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR, encoded by MT-RNR1 (12S rRNA). uniprot.org/uniprotkb/A0A0C5B5G6 ↩
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 146675088, MOTS-c (C101H152N28O22S2, 2174.6 g/mol). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/146675088 ↩
- Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-454. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009 · PMID: 25738459 ↩
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Briefing document on MOTS-c-related bulk drug substances (MOTS-c free base and MOTS-c acetate) for the July 23–24, 2026 Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting. fda.gov/media/193347 ↩
- Jacobus N. FDA panel votes to loosen restrictions for four peptides (MOTS-c recommended 7-5 with two abstentions). Pharmaceutical Executive, July 24, 2026. pharmexec.com ↩
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2027 Prohibited List (valid January 1, 2027), S4.4.1 activators of AMPK — mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c). wada-ama.org ↩
- Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression in response to metabolic stress. Cell Metab. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.008 · PMID: 29983246 ↩
- Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):470. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0 · PMID: 33473109 ↩
- D'Souza RF, Woodhead JST, Hedges CP, et al. Increased expression of the mitochondrial derived peptide, MOTS-c, in skeletal muscle of healthy aging men is associated with myofiber composition. Aging (Albany NY). 2020;12(6):5244-5258. doi: 10.18632/aging.102944 · PMID: 32182209 ↩
- Ramanjaneya M, Bettahi I, Jerobin J, et al. Mitochondrial-derived peptides are down regulated in diabetes subjects. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:331. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00331 · PMID: 31214116 ↩
- von Walden F, Fernandez-Gonzalo R, Norrbom J, et al. Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating levels of mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2021;131(3):1035-1042. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00706.2019 · PMID: 34351816 ↩
- Elhusseiny R, Ihsan M, Labidi M, et al. Repeated heat stress modulates the levels of the mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in active men during calf muscle immobilization. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025;57(12):2764-2774. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003825 · PMID: 40674654 ↩
- Zempo H, Kim SJ, Fuku N, et al. A pro-diabetogenic mtDNA polymorphism in the mitochondrial-derived peptide, MOTS-c. Aging (Albany NY). 2021;13(2):1692-1717. doi: 10.18632/aging.202529 · PMID: 33468709 ↩
- Knoop A, Thomas A, Thevis M. Development of a mass spectrometry based detection method for the mitochondrion-derived peptide MOTS-c in plasma samples for doping control purposes. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2019;33(4):371-380. doi: 10.1002/rcm.8337 · PMID: 30394592 ↩
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03998514 — Phase 1a/1b study of CB4211 in healthy non-obese subjects and subjects with NAFLD (CohBar; completed 2021; no results posted). clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03998514 ↩
- CohBar, Inc. CohBar announces positive topline results from the Phase 1a/1b study of CB4211 (press release), August 10, 2021. globenewswire.com ↩
- CohBar, Inc. Form 8-K (November 27, 2023): Nasdaq public-shell determination and expected trading suspension. SEC EDGAR. sec.gov ↩
- Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and efficacy of approved and unapproved peptide therapies for musculoskeletal injuries and athletic performance. Sports Med. 2026;56(8):1921-1935. doi: 10.1007/s40279-026-02437-0 · PMID: 41966639 ↩
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (MOTs-C listed under nominated but withdrawn). Page modified April 22, 2026. fda.gov ↩
- Liang L. Peptides: US advisory committee recommends six for FDA "compounding list". BMJ. 2026;394:e100422. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2026-100422 · PMID: 42521352 ↩
- European Commission. Union Register of medicinal products for human use — active products (last updated 06/10/2026); no entry for MOTS-c. ec.europa.eu ↩
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List, S4.4.1 activators of AMPK including mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c). wada-ama.org ↩
For current stock and price, use the MOTS-C 10mg vial page. For the full mechanism review, see the MOTS-c research page; for wider sourcing checks, the Dubai research-vial map.