The Explosive Rise of Unapproved Peptide Injections | WSJ

TL;DR

Unapproved synthetic peptides are surging in popularity as people self-inject gray-market compounds for muscle, skin, and tanning benefits despite unknown safety risks.

Key Points

• 1.Unapproved peptides are being self-injected at home after Ozempic's success sparked wider interest. Inspired by GLP-1 drug results, people are buying research-only peptides online without prescriptions, stacking multiple compounds per vial, at costs ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars.
• 2.The gray market operates entirely on trust with serious health risks. Influencers share supplier links and coupon codes, dosing is anecdotal, and peptides like MT-2 — used for tanning — have been linked to enlarged moles and increased melanoma risk.
• 3.The FDA is convening an advisory panel in July to potentially restore access to ~14 peptides restricted in 2023. Advocates argue regulated availability would reduce gray-market dangers, but even if approved, these peptides remain far less studied than standard FDA-approved drugs.