NMN Ban Lifted! FDA Makes Major Announcement: Acknowledges Its Historical Marketing Status, Officially Permits Sale as a Dietary Supplement in the U.S.
On September 29, 2025 (U.S. time), the Natural Products Association (NPA) announced eagerly that its lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had finally concluded—the NMN ban was lifted completely, transitioning from a "temporary suspension" to full revocation. As soon as the news broke, the long-quiet NMN market suddenly exploded into excitement, like a carnival for an anti-aging community.
01 What is NMN? Why Does It Captivate People?
Let’s start with NMN (β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide). While it sounds sophisticated, it’s essentially a molecule that can "rejuvenate" cells. Scientists have found that NMN is a precursor to NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)—a key substance in the human body that regulates cellular energy, supports cellular repair, and activates sirtuins (longevity-related proteins). As we age, NAD+ levels decline, leading to the gradual deterioration of bodily functions.
NMN acts like a "rejuvenation shot" for aging cells: it boosts NAD+ levels, which theoretically slows down aging and even reverses some age-related symptoms. How effective is it? In laboratory experiments, Sinclair found that elderly mice given NMN ran faster, had shinier fur, and even developed younger-looking blood vessels. This news immediately ignited humanity’s fantasy of "extending lifespan."
In 2013, Sinclair published a research paper on NMN in Cell magazine, catapulting NMN from a lab curiosity to a sought-after "anti-aging holy grail" among the wealthy, middle class, and even ordinary people.
02 David Sinclair: From Scientist to Anti-Aging Influencer
David Sinclair is no ordinary scientist. Born in Australia in 1969, this Harvard professor has the demeanor of a scholar but the promotional flair of an internet celebrity. NMN wasn’t the first ingredient he popularized—resveratrol came first, though its story didn’t have a happy ending.
Sinclair doesn’t just conduct lab research; he also writes books, hosts podcasts, appears on shows, and even engages directly in science popularization on social media. He successfully turned himself and NMN into major influencers in the anti-aging world.
His book Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To became a bestseller, delving into how to extend lifespan through scientific methods—with NMN featuring prominently. In the book, he describes the remarkable changes in his 80-year-old father after taking NMN.
Sinclair is also a proponent of NMN himself. He has publicly stated that he takes 1 gram of NMN daily, paired with resveratrol (he still defends resveratrol), along with strict diet and exercise habits. The result? Now in his 50s, he looks no different from a man in his 30s—with smooth skin and boundless energy, making him a walking advertisement for NMN. But his ambitions go far beyond promoting NMN.
03 The NMN Controversy: From Fame to Dispute, Sinclair’s Three Regrets
The path to widespread NMN adoption has been fraught with obstacles. While Sinclair elevated NMN to fame, he also became mired in controversies. First, there is no consensus on how effective NMN truly is. While animal experiments yielded impressive results, data from human clinical trials remains insufficiently robust. Some people report feeling more energetic after taking NMN, while others notice no effect at all—there are even voices questioning whether NMN is just an expensive "placebo."
More troublesome was the regulatory issue. In late 2021, MetroBiotech, a biotech company, sent a letter to the FDA, formally requesting that NMN be reclassified from a "dietary supplement" to a "drug." Why? Because MetroBiotech was developing a patented NMN-based drug called MIB-626—a "crystalline" version of NMN with better stability. The drug was already in clinical trials for treating age-related diseases and making smooth progress.
The FDA heeded this request and issued an order in 2022: NMN could no longer be sold as a dietary supplement. This decision threw the U.S. NMN market into chaos—countless businesses and consumers were caught off guard, and platforms like Amazon quickly removed NMN products from their shelves. At the time, NMN was at the height of its popularity, a lucrative segment in the supplement market. The FDA’s sudden ban prompted the NPA to take action: it sued the FDA to challenge the decision.
The NPA is no small player; more importantly, it had previously sued the FDA over the ban on another supplement, NAC (N-acetylcysteine), and won—successfully lifting the NAC ban. This time, it was well-versed in the process. The NPA first secured a temporary suspension of the NMN ban, then engaged in a two-year legal battle. Finally, a few days ago, the NPA won the case, and the NMN ban was completely revoked. While NMN had been available for sale under the temporary suspension, the removal of psychological and legal barriers was still a cause for celebration in the industry.
What does this have to do with David Sinclair’s "three regrets"? As many might guess, David Sinclair is the man behind MetroBiotech—the company conducting NMN clinical trials and pushing to have NMN recognized as an FDA-approved drug. To cut to the chase, here are Sinclair’s three regrets:
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First regret: Resveratrol’s failed legacyResveratrol, his first claim to fame, had a perfect start—it was hailed as the "longevity factor in red wine," romantic and easy to remember. However, after selling the rights to pharmaceutical giant GSK at a high price, its clinical trials ended in major disappointment. This became an indelible stain on Sinclair’s career.
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Second regret: Missing out on NMN’s profitsHe discovered NMN, another super hit, which had an even more stunning debut and made him the highest-profile "anti-aging guru." But due to lagging business strategy, he gained little financially from NMN beyond fame. Thanks to China’s industrial capabilities, NMN products quickly matured and became widespread—and Sinclair had neither patents nor his own products. He could only watch as NMN supplements raked in huge profits, leaving him deeply frustrated. However, if his MIB-626 (NMN) were classified as a drug, it would enjoy new drug patent protection, blocking all competitors in the supplement market. Once MetroBiotech’s drug launched, it could monopolize the high-end market exclusively and be sold at exorbitant prices.
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Third regret: Silencing his criticsAnyone who knows David Sinclair knows he is a controversial figure. He even once said, "If you’re not controversial, you’re not changing the world." On one hand, he is truly a prodigy capable of altering the course of human aging; on the other hand, he has publicly fallen out with his mentor, criticized [his mentor’s views], and founded multiple commercial companies—blending the roles of scientist and shrewd businessman. He is well aware of others’ negative opinions about him, so his ultimate goal is to empower humanity to redefine lifespan, defy fate, and rewrite destiny—thereby silencing all his critics.
04 Sinclair’s Ambition: Changing Human Destiny?
At its core, David Sinclair’s story is that of a scientist trying to challenge human destiny. He has publicly stated: "Aging is a disease, and we have the ability to cure it." Does that sound arrogant? Sinclair isn’t just grandstanding—he has founded multiple biotech companies focused on anti-aging drug research and development, raising hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. His ultimate goal is to enable humans to live to 120, or even 150 years old—not in a sickly state, but in a healthy, youthful one.
The NMN controversy is just the tip of the iceberg of Sinclair’s ambition. NMN is no longer his research focus; instead, he is targeting more cutting-edge technologies, such as epigenetic gene editing, stem cell Yamanaka factor therapy, and even AI-assisted anti-aging drug design. His epigenetic editing technology has already restored sight to blind animals. If this technology succeeds, Sinclair may truly become the pioneer of the "era of longevity"—rather than the half-serious, half-joking "anti-aging guru" he is now.
05 Conclusion: Frenzy and Sobriety in Anti-Aging
The lifting of the NMN ban has given Sinclair and his followers a new topic of discussion—the supplement market has revived, and MetroBiotech can continue its drug development. However, with countless new technologies and products emerging constantly, NMN is no longer the protagonist in anti-aging.
Behind this frenzy, we must think calmly: While the dream of anti-aging is appealing, the truth of science often lags behind promotion. Sinclair’s ambition may change human destiny, but it could also be just another carnival of capital and science—especially since he personally pushed for the ban to protect his own company’s drug, adding a layer of complexity to the situation.
Would you be willing to become a participant in these new "fate-defying" scientific experiments? Or do you think Sinclair’s moves are those of a genius or a schemer? Feel free to leave a comment below, and let’s discuss this "game of defying fate and rewriting destiny" together!