Patient suffers torn oesophagus after using unapproved peptide

A patient has suffered a potentially life-threatening tear in their oesophagus, a tube connecting the mouth to the stomach, after using an unapproved weight-loss peptide. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) revealed the case to the ABC, warning against the use of unapproved peptides. Laboratory testing found the product contained no retatrutide, the drug it was labelled as, but instead contained a high dose of semaglutide, a drug used in weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.

The semaglutide dosage was found to be about eight times higher than the levels in approved semaglutide products. Melbourne gastroenterologist Darcy Holt has treated patients who have experienced adverse effects from using unapproved retatrutide, including a torn oesophagus, which is a medical emergency. Without immediate medical attention, a ruptured oesophagus is almost always fatal.

The TGA has issued a safety advisory, stating that retatrutide is currently undergoing clinical trials and has not been approved by any regulatory body. The TGA chief medical advisor, Robyn Langham, emphasized the risks associated with unapproved peptide products, particularly the lack of knowledge about their contents, potential contaminants, and sterile status.

These risks are especially concerning for injectable products, which can increase the risk of infections and immune responses, including anaphylaxis. Dr Holt noted a significant increase in patients reporting the use of unapproved peptides like retatrutide in the past six months.