September 8, 2026: Researchers say evidence that peptides are effective “is just not there” - safemedicines.org

September 8, 2026: Researchers say evidence that peptides are effective “is just not there”

Major Stories

A UCLA Health review of 565 studies on six popular unapproved peptides— BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, MK-677, ipamorelin and GHK-Cu—found little evidence that they provide meaningful benefits. Researchers say more than two-thirds of the studies were conducted only in animals, while the limited human research was generally low-quality. They flagged potential safety concerns, including a trial of MK-677 that was stopped because of the risk of congestive heart failure, and warned that unapproved products are unregulated and may contain undisclosed or dangerous substances. They concluded that marketing claims about peptides are far ahead of the science.

Summary of peptides, their claims, and evidence for clinician and patient counseling. (Table: UCLA Health review)

Domestic

Blockchain analytics company TRM Labs released research that bolsters recent research from Chainalysis, which found that China-based chemical companies that produced fentanyl precursors have turned to the peptide business. TRM’s analysis of hidden website pages and financial transactions suggested that these companies are continuing to sell fentanyl precursors to drug cartels, while also adopting peptides, according to Axios.

The Guardian says that physicians see promise in Eli Lilly’s experimental weight loss drug retatrutide, but warn that patients should not obtain it through unregulated sources while it remains unapproved. The drug does not have an established supply chain, so any version of the drug taken outside an Eli Lilly program is considered a black market drug. A plastic surgeon told the outlet that those who are “doing [retatrutide] off the black market” should talk to their doctor about their use of the drug, but says “who knows what… they are taking.” Despite the lack of a supply chain, he says he is personally taking retatrutide obtained through a compounding pharmacy, which Eli Lilly says is illegal.

This comes as John Hertig, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Collaborative for Evidence-Based Medicines, argues that state boards of pharmacy play a vital role in regulating the spread of the drug. In addition to investigating and taking legal action against illegal sellers, Hertig says boards should issue public warnings and collaborate with other stakeholders, such as boards of medicine and nursing, state attorneys general, and law enforcement.

Rebecca Fadanelli, a Massachusetts med spa owner who performed thousands of cosmetic injections with counterfeit products, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Prosecutors say Fadanelli imported Botox and fillers from China and Brazil, and falsely claimed she was a licensed nurse. Multiple clients were hospitalized because of conditions like facial paralysis and infections from Fadanelli’s treatments. She made nearly $1 million from the scheme, which she was ordered to pay in restitution. Read court documents from the case in our prosecution document library.

An Indian chemical company executive received a 54-month prison sentence for smuggling and distributing fentanyl precursor chemicals knowing they would be used to manufacture fentanyl. The products, which were sent to the US and Mexico, were labeled as Vitamin C or antacids to avoid detection by customs officers.

Two Florida brothers were arrested and charged with allegedly distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills on the darknet that contained potent synthetic opioids, including nitazines that can be as potent as or more potent than fentanyl. The investigation began after a fatal overdose in Virginia.

Pill Presses

An Alabama man was sentenced to 60 months in prison and five years of supervised release after authorities seized a pill press, fentanyl pills, and oxycodone pills in his house.

PSM’s latest Pill Press Update finds that illicit pill presses remain a nationwide threat, with seizures reported in 13 states between February and July 2026 and equipment continuing to appear on third-party marketplaces. The report also highlights major enforcement cases, including counterfeit pill operations tied to deaths, and lists federal legislation aimed at strengthening oversight and penalties for illicit pill press activity.

PSM in the news

The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit examined growing concerns over unapproved and compounded GLP-1 drugs, including reports of patients becoming seriously ill or hospitalized after taking them. PSM Executive Director Shabbir Imber Safdar spoke about broader patient-safety risks, noting that we have tracked 50 state pharmacy board actions against unsafe compounders and 160 FDA warning letters to telehealth companies and compounders, while calling for stronger enforcement.

Washington-based KING 5 investigators examined how telehealth company Mochi Health continued working with compounding pharmacies despite repeated regulatory violations and reports of serious patient harm linked to compounded GLP-1 drugs. Safdar highlighted concerns that telehealth companies can simply drop unsafe pharmacies and move to new suppliers without facing meaningful consequences. PSM identified 55 FDA warning letters to GLP-1 compounders in the first half of 2026.

Regulators protecting patients in the news

The FDA announced a recall of three lots of Epinephrine Injection multi-dose vials after customers complained about cracked and leaking vials that could no longer be considered sterile. On investigation, the firm also found nylon, cellulosic, acrylic, polyethylene, and glass particulates in the products. The affected lot numbers are 25128L1C0, 25280L1C0, and 26108L1C0.

The agency also announced the recall of an unapproved weight-loss product, Lipfit Extreme 2.0 Fat Burner, for undeclared fluoxetine, an antidepressant, and undeclared 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), a toxic substance often used as a pesticide, dye, wood preservative, and herbicide. The FDA warned that the tablets may cause cardiac arrest, seizures, or death.

Label of recalled epinephrine injection. (Photo: FDA)

The FDA issued five warning letters to peptide sellers with websites listing retatrutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, elamipretide, and tesamorelin, and bacteriostatic water to reconstitute powder drugs. Some companies sold research-use drugs; all were cited for selling unapproved drugs.

The FDA warned an Indian API manufacturer after it found widespread insanitary conditions and the use of nondedicated equipment to manufacture APIs such as sildenafil citrate and tadalafil. The company recalled all APIs distributed in the U.S. Another Indian facility was warned for data integrity and sterility-control problems.

A German manufacturer received an FDA warning letter after it failed to adequately investigate a pattern of leaking bags of peritoneal dialysis solution, despite receiving 35 complaints involving ~156 bags from multiple batches. The company did not recall the affected products until after a 2026 FDA inspection, despite the risk of serious infections to patients.

The FDA found that a Maryland company that made drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol kits did not adequately investigate a sterility failure and repeated fungal recoveries in areas used to manufacture sterile injectables.

A Colorado repackager producing ophthalmic drug products for a co-located med spa was warned for using inappropriate sterile manufacturing facilities and controls. FDA determined that its “PReye Vitamin SEE” eye drops were an unapproved new drug. The company subsequently recalled the product and ceased its manufacture and distribution.

International

UK doctors warn of retatrutide’s potentially severe side effects. Indian authorities are investigating misbranded rabies vaccines. Vietnamese authorities warn of potentially counterfeit hepatitis B medication.

Doctors in the UK are warning the public about the concerning side effects of retatrutide, an experimental weight loss drug, as an illicit supply has exploded in the country. One doctor said that young, fit patients are coming into hospitals, some with kidney failure. A 20-year-old gym-goer, who ordered “retatrutide” from a Chinese supplier and accidentally took eight times the recommended dose, told the BBC the nausea and diarrhea were "horrendous," and said, “My body felt so under pressure, I was so bloated.”

Indian authorities announced the seizure of misbranded Abhayrab rabies vaccines with the batch number KE25012 in Delhi. Samples of the vaccine failed the government’s potency test, while regulators suspect that the case could be part of a wider investigation into repackaged medicines.

Authorities in Vietnam are warning of potentially counterfeit hepatitis B medications after a patient noticed packaging differences. The Getino-B Tablets 300mg with batch number 664F44 are being investigated, and regulators are asking pharmacies to investigate their inventory of the drug.

Packaging of potentially counterfeit hepatitis B medication. (Photo: Vietnamese Department of Health)