Social media peddling of ‘peptides’ has drawn concern from health experts over the usage of the unregulated substances.
The ‘Make America Healthy Again’ wave is lapping at Australia’s shores again, with peptide usage increasing faster than regulators are able to track it.
In the US, the term ‘peptide’ has been misappropriated to mean an injectable drug used for either health or cosmetic reasons which are sold via an online grey market that labels them as “for research use only”.
It has now made the jump to Australia, as social media influencers increasingly shill health advice that contradicts medical regulations and advice.
“The recent rise in synthetic peptide use reflects a broader shift we are seeing toward self-directed health optimisation, often driven by online communities,” honorary University of Queensland senior research fellow Dr Timothy Piatkowski told The Medical Republic.
“While some of these substances are being framed as low-risk or ‘wellness’ adjacent, the reality is that many remain largely unregulated and are being used without medical oversight.
“At the moment, healthcare systems are not across it, particularly in terms of clinician awareness, health guidance, and how to engage people who do not necessarily identify as ‘patients’ but are still taking on real risks.”
TGA rules prohibit the advertisement of any medical substance, whether regulated or not, with the regulator having requested the removal of over 13,700 online ads in 2024-25.
One of the more popular peptides making the rounds on social media is retatrutide, a GLP-1 RA currently undergoing clinical trials in Australia. It has not yet been approved for any legal sale or for human use.
Online forums dedicated to GLP-1s have generated discussion about the distribution of retatrutide, with sellers on anonymous online messaging platform Telegram advertising ten vials of the drug for $240 AUD, per the Guardian Australia.
The RACGP is aware of retatrutide’s notoriety with RACGP NSW&ACT Deputy Chair Dr James Kelly detailing how the substance is “already circulating through online sellers, social media and gym networks despite still undergoing trials.”
“People may genuinely believe they’re accessing a next-generation medicine when in reality they may be injecting a black-market product with no reliable quality control whatsoever,” Dr Kelly told NewsGP.
“This is illegal marketing of illegal products to vulnerable young people, and we have to hold the social media companies to account for permitting this on their platforms.”
Peptides are just the latest ‘wellness’ trend to take hold on social media.
Related
Substances used for tanning such as ‘melanotan’ have already come under TGA scrutiny, with the administrator issuing a warning against the substance in January 2025.
“Promoters of these tanning products often claim they are safe and natural,” the TGA said.
“They are far from safe.
“It is well known that melanotan can cause serious side effects and should only be used under medical supervision.”
