Peptides<\/a> are strings of molecules called amino acids that act as chemical messengers in the body, and are involved in a range of functions like hormone activity, digestion, immune defence, and tissue growth. The peptides in retatrutide mimic hunger hormones.<\/p>\n Despite being unapproved, the drug has been widely promoted on social media and promoted for sale on the hidden market, with names including retatrutide, Reta, R-10 and R-20, and they often come in unmarked vials.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email<\/a><\/p>\n The TGA was alerted after someone experienced such severe and uncontrollable vomiting \u2013 after taking what they believed was retatrutide \u2013 that they tore their oesophagus, which can be life-threatening. They required treatment in hospital.<\/p>\n The TGA obtained a sample of the product and found it contained a different peptide that also targets hunger, called semaglutide, and no retatrutide.<\/p>\n The amount of semaglutide detected was approximately eight times higher than levels found in approved semaglutide products assessed by the TGA.<\/p>\n The TGA\u2019s chief medical adviser, Prof Robyn Langham, said products being sold online may be fake or counterfeit and could contain ingredients that pose serious risks to health.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | When needed<\/p>\n Sign up to Breaking News Australia<\/p>\n Get the most important news as it breaks<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest risks with unapproved peptide products are not knowing what is in the vial, how much of or even what substance it contains, whether it is sterile, or whether it contains other contaminants or toxins,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThese risks are particularly concerning for injectable products, where contaminated or non-sterile manufacturing can increase the risk of infection and harmful immune responses including anaphylaxis.\u201d<\/p>\n People who self-inject face additional risks such as incorrect dosing, unsafe injection technique and serious adverse reactions, Langham said.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789358893_560_2998.jpg\")
<\/p>\n