Unapproved weight-loss peptide sold online contains filler and bacteria, tests reveal
Investigators bought two samples of the experimental obesity drug marketed as Reta and found they contained no peptide, only filler and bacterial contamination.
An online purchase of the experimental obesity treatment Reta, promoted by a nurse-practitioner clinic and a Florida gym, arrived without any required health evaluation. A second vial bought at a Brooklyn bodega was labeled for research use only. Testing by University of Iowa scientists confirmed that neither sample matched the peptide under study by Eli Lilly; one consisted of phenylacetic acid, a common fragrance filler, while the other harbored multiple bacterial colonies.
Medical experts said users are essentially self-experimenting with unsafe substances that could cause infections. The case underscores the growing ease of accessing black-market drugs and the regulatory challenges it poses. Eli Lilly warned that single-sample testing does not guarantee safety, and authorities have yet to curb the illicit trade.
Why it matters
Consumers can obtain unsafe, unapproved weight-loss drugs online, risking infection and unknown health effects.
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