US plans to ease peptide rules raise safety concerns in New Zealand

The Trump administration is drafting rules that would allow some compounding pharmacies to dispense peptide compounds that have not undergone full safety testing, according to sources cited by a major newspaper. FDA scientists have expressed concerns because the peptides have not been evaluated in FDA-approved clinical trials. Peter Shepherd, a professor of cellular signalling at the University of Auckland, warned that the policy could give a false impression of safety to New Zealanders and lead to serious health harms.

He noted the lack of data on many of these peptides and the growing use of them for cosmetic rather than medical reasons. Shepherd also cautioned that adverse incidents could undermine ongoing research and delay the approval of potentially beneficial drugs. In response to rising imports, New Zealand’s regulator Medsafe issued an alert warning that claims of being "clinically proven" or "approved" do not guarantee safety or legality.