Peptide user tore oesophagus after using counterfeit product, Australian regulator warns

A patient in Australia suffered a torn esophagus due to severe vomiting after taking a counterfeit weight loss product they believed was retatrutide. The Australian regulator (TGA) found the product contained a dangerously high dose of semaglutide instead, prompting a warning about unapproved and fake products.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the serious health risks associated with purchasing unapproved and counterfeit drugs, especially those promoted on social media, and the critical importance of regulatory oversight in protecting public health.
The TGA says it obtained a sample of the product used by the patient, which contained a different peptide that also targets hunger, called semaglutide, and no retatrutide. The TGA says it obtained a sample of the product used by the patient, which contained a different peptide that also targets hunger, called semaglutide, and no retatrutide. Health Peptide user tore oesophagus after using counterfeit product, Australian regulator warns TGA issues alert after person was hospitalised after believing they were taking experimental weight loss drug retatrutide
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Prefer the Guardian on Google A patient who tore their oesophagus after taking a counterfeit version of an experimental weight loss drug has prompted Australia’s medicines regulator to warn of serious risks of such products.
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