The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is investigating whether UK clinics are breaking the law by making claims about the benefits of unregulated, experimental peptide therapies, the Guardian has learned.
Interest in experimental peptides has surged in recent years. These substances, delivered by injection, are promoted by sellers, influencers, and some medics as aiding everything from anti-ageing to injury recovery, despite little scientific evidence supporting such claims in humans.
An MHRA spokesperson stated: “If clinics offering peptide injections make medicinal claims for those treatments, the products will be considered medicines and subject to regulation under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. The MHRA will take action against clinics which are identified as breaching the legal requirements.”
A Guardian investigation found several clinics making potentially unlawful claims. One clinic’s website stated that Cortexin is “used for neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement”, BPC-157 “aids in tissue repair and recovery from injuries”, and Thymosin Alpha “boosts immune function”. After being contacted by the Guardian, the clinic removed these claims.
Another clinic advertised peptides at £350 per month for a single peptide and £450 for two, labelling them as “research only” but providing “results duration” and prices. During a consultation, a clinician recommended BPC-157 for recovery after exercise and MOTS-C for reducing visceral fat, despite acknowledging a lack of clinical trials.
The MHRA confirmed it is investigating whether the claims made by the clinician are medicinal. The clinic said it had “clearly explained that the peptides discussed are not licensed medicines, and that the current evidence base is largely pre-clinical”.
