Unregulated peptides easily bought online in Australia, investigation finds

A dangerous trade in unregulated, experimental peptides is flourishing in Australia, with substances being readily available for weight loss, muscle gain, and anti-aging purposes. These injectable drugs, which have not been approved for use in the country, carry significant health risks, according to Australia's medicine regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

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Australia Post is Australia's largest drug dealer.

The TGA has warned that unapproved peptides can lead to "serious adverse effects," including liver damage, severe allergic reactions, and inflammation. Despite these warnings, sellers are actively advertising on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace, often using pseudonyms and blank profile pictures to evade detection.

An investigation by ABC Australia highlighted the alarming ease with which these substances can be obtained. Dealers offer potent drugs such as melonatan II, a dangerous tanning peptide, and retatrutide, an experimental weight loss drug linked to liver failure. Some sellers even offer face-to-face meetings or express delivery services, making access even more straightforward.

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People are ordering things off the internet and having them delivered to their houses.

Rebecca Lang, chief executive of the Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies, expressed concern over the trend, stating that "Australia Post is Australia's largest drug dealer" due to the sheer volume of packages entering the country. While Australia Post works with law enforcement to detect illicit items, the scale of online sales presents a significant challenge.

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There is no way in which we're ever going to be able to police our way out of these sorts of things.

Many peptides advertised for sale claim to be for "research use only." However, substances like retatrutide are being widely promoted on social media for their purported weight loss effects, often exceeding those of approved GLP-1 medications. The widespread use of unapproved peptides has already led to serious health complications, with six cases of acute liver injury reported in Victoria among users of retatrutide.

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serious adverse effects