More than 100 people arrived for the California Peptide Club, an invite-only gathering to discuss the substances that have become synonymous with self-optimization. Attendees included several clinicians who prescribe peptides, a peptide manufacturer, the founder of a longevity DAO, a Stanford researcher, and dozens of people who identified as "peptide curious," searching for either the resources or confidence to build their own "stacks." Another 300 had been waitlisted. "Creating the allure of