Another case of acute liver damage in counterfeit peptide user
Doctors are warning there could be a "contaminated batch" of counterfeit peptides causing hospitalisations in Victoria, after the seventh case of liver toxicity.
A contaminated batch of counterfeit peptides is causing serious liver injuries, with seven patients in Victoria hospitalised due to acute liver toxicity, according to a report. The peptide in question is labelled as "retatrutide," which is being sold on the black market. Doctors are testing the counterfeit peptides linked to the liver failure cases, as unapproved products can pose significant harm.
Retatrutide is a weight loss peptide currently undergoing clinical trials, owned by US-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. Dr. Marie Sinclair, a liver transplant specialist at Victoria, has treated several patients who became seriously ill after taking unapproved retatrutide. She suspects a contaminated batch of counterfeit retatrutide might be the cause, though testing results are pending.
Professor Robyn Langham, the Therapeutic Goods Administration's chief medical advisor, stated that the localized liver issues in Victoria suggest a batch problem and warned that taking counterfeit retatrutide is risky. The TGA has destroyed over 94,500 unapproved peptide products this year, and seized a large quantity of illicit peptide and anabolic steroid products recently.
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