The NMN ban is lifted!
The FDA has made a major announcement: It recognizes its historical sales status and officially allows it to be sold as a dietary supplement in the United States!
On September 29, 2025, in the United States, the Natural Products Association (NPA) couldn't wait to announce that the lawsuit against the FDA had finally come to an end, and the NMN ban was changed from "suspended" to "completely abolished".
As soon as this news was released, the long-silent NMN market instantly exploded, like a wild celebration at an anti-aging alumni reunion.
Behind all this, there is one name that cannot be avoided - David Sinclair, a professor at Harvard Medical School, the godfather of anti-aging in the United States, and known in the industry as the "father of NMN".
This scientific celebrity, with his own efforts, has brought NMN from the laboratory to the world, driving countless people to go crazy and even spend huge sums of money just to "live a few more years".
But dig a little deeper, and you will find that his ambition is not just about promoting supplements - he has personally stepped in to push the FDA to reclassify NMN from a supplement to a drug, with three major grievances and a larger plan behind it.
Today, let's take a close look at the real actions of this anti-aging internet celebrity and how he uses both science and business to ignite this extraordinary battle against the three major curses and change one's destiny.
01
What is NMN? Why can it make people go crazy?
Let's start with NMN (Nicotinamide MonoNucleotide), a rather sophisticated-sounding substance.
In simple terms, it is a molecule that enables cells to "rejuvenate".
Scientists have discovered that NMN is the precursor of NAD+, and NAD+ is a key substance in the human body that controls cellular energy, repair, and longevity proteins.
As one ages, the level of NAD+ decreases, and the body's functions begin to deteriorate.
The emergence of NMN is like giving aging cells a "revitalizing shot", allowing the level of NAD+ to rise.
Theoretically, it can delay aging and even reverse some aging symptoms.
How amazing is this thing? Sinclair conducted experiments on mice in the laboratory and found that older mice that consumed NMN ran faster, had brighter fur, and even their blood vessels became younger.
As soon as this news was released, it immediately ignited the human desire for "immortality".
In 2013, Sinclair published a research paper on NMN in the journal "Cell", instantly elevating this substance to a god-like status.
Since then, NMN has no longer been just a laboratory product; instead, it has become a sought-after "anti-aging elixir" for the wealthy, the middle class, and even ordinary people.
02
David Sinclair:
From scientists to anti-aging influencers
David Sinclair is no ordinary scientist. This Harvard professor, born in Australia in 1969, has the air of an outstanding student, but possesses the promotional talent of a pop star.
NMN was not the first ingredient he brought to public attention; it was resveratrol from white mulberry that did that. However, resveratrol did not lead to a happy ending.
David not only conducts research in the laboratory, but also writes books, creates podcasts, appears on TV shows, and even personally engages in science communication on social media.
He managed to turn himself and NMN into major influencers in the anti-aging field.
His book "Lifespan" has been selling extremely well. It extensively discusses how to extend lifespan through scientific means, and NMN is one of the main topics. In the book, he talks about the remarkable performance of his 80-year-old father after taking NMN.
Sinclair himself is also a fan of NMN. He openly stated that he consumes 1 gram of NMN every day, along with resveratrol (even though he's being stubborn), as well as maintaining strict dietary and exercise habits.
So what happened? At the age of 50, he looks no different from a 30-year-old guy. His skin is smooth and he is full of energy. He is simply a walking billboard. Do you think one could help but be envious? But this guy's ambition goes far beyond just promoting NMN.
03
The controversy surrounding NMN:
From the pedestal to controversy, Sinclair's three grievances
But this guy's ambition goes far beyond just promoting NMN.
The widespread adoption of NMN is not an easy task. While Sinclair elevated NMN to a god-like status, he also got embroiled in numerous controversies.
First of all, there is no consensus on the effectiveness of NMN. Although the animal experiments were impressive, the data from human clinical trials is not robust enough.
- Some people claim that they feel much more energetic after taking NMN,
- while others say they haven't felt anything at all.
There are even voices questioning whether NMN is just an expensive "placebo".
The more troublesome issue is the regulation of NMN.
At the end of 2021, a biotech company named MetroBiotech sent a letter to the FDA, explicitly requesting that NMN be removed from its status as a dietary supplement and be regulated as a "drug".
Why? Because MetroBiotech is developing a patented NMN drug called MIB-626, which is their "crystalline" version of NMN. It has better stability and is being used in clinical trials for treating age-related diseases, and the progress is smooth.
Upon hearing this, the FDA issued a direct order in 2022: NMN can no longer be sold as a supplement!
This move sent shockwaves through the NMN market in the US. Countless merchants and consumers were left bewildered. Platforms like Amazon promptly removed the products from their shelves. At that time, NMN was at its peak and was a major profit center in the supplement industry.
When the FDA said it was banned, it was immediately implemented, and the American Nutritional Products Association (NPA) was the first to protest, launching a lawsuit against the FDA.
The NPA organization is quite influential. What's more, they had previously gone to court against the FDA regarding another supplement, NAC, and won the case, successfully lifting the ban on NAC.
This time, they seem to be very familiar with the process. As expected, the NPA first applied for a suspension of the NMN ban, then engaged in a drawn-out battle for over two years.
Until the other day, the NPA finally won the case, and the NMN ban was completely abolished.
Although NMN could still be sold after the suspension order, at least the psychological and legal obstacles were removed. It's definitely worth a toast in the industry~
So, how does this relate to David Sinclair's three grievances? Many people might have guessed that the person behind MetroBiotech, which was conducting clinical trials with NMN and attempting to turn NMN into a FDA-approved drug, was actually David Sinclair.
Straight to the point, David Sinclair's three grievances are:
- His first successful work - White Lignans - had a perfect start. It was the longevity factor in red wine, romantic and easy to remember. However, after being sold at a high price to GSK Pharmaceuticals, the clinical trials ended in great disappointment, becoming a lingering stain on David Sinclair's career.
- Another super hit product - NMN - was discovered. It had an even more stunning start, making David Sinclair the most valuable guru in the field of anti-aging. However, due to lagging business strategies, apart from his fame, David Sinclair didn't make much money from NMN. This was because the NMN products rapidly matured and became widespread (thanks to China's industrialization capabilities). David Sinclair had neither patents nor products, and thus was left feeling psychologically unbalanced as he watched NMN health supplements make huge profits. But if his MIB-626 (NMN) were designated as a drug, it would enjoy the patent protection of a new drug, and all competitors in the supplement market would be excluded. Once MetroBiotech's medicine was launched, it could exclusively monopolize the high-end market and sell at a sky-high price.
- All those who know David Sinclair are aware that he is a controversial figure. He even once said, "If you are not controversial, then you are not changing the world." On the one hand, he is indeed a genius with extraordinary abilities to change the path of human aging. But on the other hand, he openly opposed his teacher and set up several commercial companies. He is both a scientist and a snobbish businessman. He is also well aware of how others perceive him, so what he wants to do is to give humans the ability to redefine their lifespan and change their fates against the odds, in order to refute all those who have attacked him.
04
Sinclair's ambition:
To change the course of human history?
The story of David Sinclair is essentially that of a scientist who is attempting to challenge the destiny of humanity.
He once said in public, "Aging is a disease, and we have the ability to cure it."
Does this sound a bit crazy? But Sinclair is not just talking. He has founded several biotech companies, specializing in the research and development of anti-aging drugs, and has raised tens of millions of dollars in financing.
His ultimate goal is to enable humans to live to the age of 120 or even 150, not to live in a sickly state, but to live healthily and young.
This NMN controversy merely represents the tip of the iceberg of David Sinclair's grand ambitions.
NMN is no longer the focus of his research; instead, he has shifted his attention to more cutting-edge technologies, such as gene editing in epigenetics, Yamanaka factor therapy for stem cells, and even artificial intelligence-assisted anti-aging drug design.
His epigenetic editing technology has already enabled blind animals to regain their sight. If this works out, Sinclair might truly become the pioneer of the "longevity era," rather than the half-serious, half-joking "anti-aging pope" he is now.
Source - Time Travelers