The surge in unregulated peptide use has sparked discourse on how to tackle misinformation.
Unregulated peptides have caught the eye of the TGA again with a recent warning from the administrator detailing the risks and needed safeguards for the trendy drugs.
Peptides as a collective term also applies to several regulated medicines approved by the TGA, but unapproved peptides were the focus of the latest warning.
Examples of these unapproved peptides include those containing BPC‑157, GHK‑Cu, TB‑500, retatrutide and CJC‑1295, that are often supplied in injectable form.
“The TGA’s warning is an important step in acknowledging the real and emerging harms linked to unapproved peptides, particularly as use accelerates outside clinical oversight,” honorary University of Queensland senior research fellow Dr Timothy Piatkowski told The Medical Republic.
“But we’re still behind the curve.
“What’s needed now is a coordinated public health response that combines regulation with health education, harm reduction and better real-world surveillance of use.”
The reason why these peptides have not met TGA approval is a lack of thorough safety and effectiveness assessments in line with Australian regulations.
This includes how these drugs are manufactured, proven sterility, how they function in the body, full substance listing and the potential side effects.
“The most concerning angle would be the fact that patients are sourcing unregulated, untested compounds over the internet or through other social and gym networks,” RACGP deputy faculty Chair NSW/ACT Dr James Kelly told TMR.
“We have no evidence to suggest or support that any of these compounds do anything and, additionally, they carry with them significant risk.
“There’s a significant public health risk with patients accessing these compounds online,” Dr Kelly said.
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The TGA warning also detailed how under the Personal Importation Scheme these peptides cannot be approved for importation due to a lack of medical authorisation or prescription.
Many of these drugs are listed as for “research use only” which does not grant lawful supply.
“There needs to be far more public messaging around the dangers and risks associated with injecting these medicines,” Dr Kelly told TMR.
“There needs to be some sort of government crackdown to try and reduce the access to these compounds being ordered online.”
A key issue with unapproved peptide use is promotion via social media, which goes against TGA advertisement regulations regardless of whether the peptide product is approved or not.
“There are some really big names in the space, like Joe Rogan [a popular US podcaster] and even [US secretary of health and human services] RFK Jr, who have come out and said they take peptides, with very little evidence to support the use of these compounds with any health benefit,” Dr Kelly told TMR.
“I’m concerned about our ability to project into social media spaces.
“There is definitely a gap and an opportunity by having a voice on TikTok that can counter some of the online influencers and certainly even other overseas government officials that are spruiking the benefits of peptides and their use.”
