News

8 Oct 2026: US administration reportedly preparing temporary sale of some unapproved peptides

According to a Washington Post report published on 8 Oct 2026, the US administration is drafting a plan that would allow the temporary sale of certain previously restricted peptides by some compounding pharmacies while officials write new rules on the topic. The report is based on two anonymous sources. The plan has not been announced, timing is unclear, and the report says it is not clear which peptides it would cover. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) did not comment. Source: Washington Post, republished by Anchorage Daily News, 8 Oct 2026 (secondary).

What it means: the US rules for pharmacy compounding of peptides may be loosened. What it does not mean: nothing has been decided or announced, FDA's own scientists have said the evidence on effectiveness and safety is insufficient, and this does not change the situation in the EU or Finland. Earlier step: BPC-157: status in the United States.

24 Aug 2026: FDA warning letters to peptide sellers: "research use" is no shield

FDA's drug centre CDER sent warning letters to online peptide sellers on 24 Aug 2026. In one of the letters FDA stated that the seller's retatrutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, tesamorelin and PT-141 products were unapproved drugs even though the labels said "not intended for human or veterinary use". FDA also held that bacteriostatic water sold alongside the peptides is a drug, and cited the site's "peptide calculator" as evidence. Source: FDA warning letter 733652, 24 Aug 2026.

What it means: a "research use" label does not make a product marketed to people legal, in the US either. What it does not mean: a letter is not a court ruling, and it says nothing about product quality. In Finland, Fimea warned in June that "for research use only" means the product is not intended for humans. Background: Bacteriostatic water and mixing.

23 Jul 2026: Retatrutide succeeds in two more phase 3 trials (company release)

Eli Lilly reported topline results from TRIUMPH-2 and TRIUMPH-3. At 80 weeks, mean weight loss reached up to 20.8% in people with type 2 diabetes and 22.6% in people with severe obesity and cardiovascular disease. The most common side effects were diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, decreased appetite and vomiting. Lilly plans to submit for US approval in the first quarter of 2027. Source: Lilly press release, 23 Jul 2026 (republished on Placera.se).

What it means: retatrutide now has several positive phase 3 results and a submission is approaching. What it does not mean: the release figures were the company's own and not yet peer-reviewed, retatrutide is not approved, and "reta" sold online is not the same thing as the drug used in trials. More: Retatrutide (reta): trials, side effects and doses used in studies.

Update 13 Oct 2026: the TRIUMPH-2 results have since been published in peer-reviewed form in The Lancet (online 29 Sep 2026). Source: Bellido et al. 2026, PubMed.

23 Jul 2026: FDA committee recommends allowing BPC-157 compounding

FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee narrowly voted that US compounding pharmacies should be allowed to make BPC-157, KPV, TB-500 and MOTS-c. Source: STAT News, 23 Jul 2026.

What it means: if FDA accepts the recommendation, doctors could prescribe pharmacy-compounded BPC-157. What it does not mean: BPC-157 is not an approved medicine, the vote is not binding on FDA, and it does not change the situation in Finland. STAT reports that most panelists who voted yes have ties to the peptide industry.

Full timeline: BPC-157: status in the United States.

8 Oct 2026: A medicine parcel sent to Finland led to an illegal medicines factory in Greece

Fimea and Finnish Customs (Finland). In November 2025 Finnish Customs noticed irregularities in the documents of a medicine parcel sent from Greece to a private person in Finland, and Fimea contacted the Greek medicines agency. In June 2026 the Greek police and medicines agency uncovered an unauthorised factory built in a pharmacy basement near Athens, and police arrested the pharmacy owner and 13 other people. According to Fimea, the factory's products had been sold, among other routes via websites, to 90 countries, and included medicines used for weight loss and erectile dysfunction as well as doping substances. Some were counterfeits imitating a brand, and some contained an active substance that does not yet have a marketing authorisation. Source: Fimea, press release 8 Oct 2026 (in Finnish).

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The case started with a single parcel sent to Finland. Fimea says there is no guarantee of the safety of products from the illegal medicines trade, and medicines should be obtained from legal pharmacies, online too. More: Are peptides legal in Finland?

15 Sep 2026: Norway puts BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin on its doping list

Norwegian doping substances regulation, Lovdata (Norway, EEA). Norway's regulation on doping substances was amended on 14 Sep 2026, with the change in force from 15 Sep 2026. The list now includes BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin, among others. Under the Norwegian Medicines Act, acquiring, possessing or using a doping substance without lawful grounds is prohibited and punishable by a fine or up to 6 months in prison. Source: Lovdata, doping substances regulation FOR-1993-04-30-318, amendment in force 15 Sep 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The Norwegian medicines agency DMP already warned on 5 May 2026 that importing injectable peptides into Norway is illegal. Now possessing and using these substances is punishable in Norway too, not only importing and selling them. More: Are peptides legal in Europe? Norway.

3 Sep 2026: Fimea warns about illegal medicines, especially injectables

Fimea (Finland). According to Fimea, unauthorised medicines, especially injectable ones, are increasingly being offered to consumers through illegal sales channels. Besides illegal websites and social media, they may be offered for example alongside beauty treatments. Fimea reminds that injectable medicines are prescription medicines and that medicines should be obtained only from a pharmacy or a legal online pharmacy service. Source: Fimea, press release 3 Sep 2026 (in Finnish).

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The warning is aimed directly at injections offered online and on social media in Finland. A legal Finnish online pharmacy can be checked in Fimea's list. More: Legal status in Finland.

24 Aug 2026: Netherlands orders an online seller to stop selling retatrutide, tirzepatide and semaglutide

IGJ, Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (Netherlands). On 24 Aug 2026 the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) announced that on 18 Aug 2026 it had ordered an online seller to stop immediately the sale and supply of medicines containing retatrutide, tirzepatide and semaglutide. IGJ said it had received several reports of harm after use of retatrutide, and reports of falsified tirzepatide and semaglutide. IGJ notes that retatrutide is an experimental medicine without a marketing authorisation. When the seller kept selling on 20, 21 and 24 August, IGJ imposed an order subject to a penalty on 31 Aug 2026. Source: IGJ, news 24 Aug 2026 and 31 Aug 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: Online sellers operate across borders. According to IGJ, reports of harm from retatrutide have come in before the medicine has any marketing authorisation. More: Retatrutide (reta): trials, side effects and doses used in studies.

29 Jun 2026: Fimea warns: do not use injectable peptides purchased online

Fimea (Finland). Fimea warned that peptides are sold online and on social media with claims about weight control, muscle growth, recovery or slowing ageing, and advised people not to use injectable products on their own. According to Fimea, a product injected through the skin can be a medicine in Finland, and the label "for research use only" means the product is not intended for humans. As examples of product names Fimea mentions BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin. Fimea says injectable products carry a raised risk of serious harm if impurities such as endotoxins have entered them during manufacture. Source: Fimea, press release 29 Jun 2026 (in Finnish).

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: This is the Finnish medicines regulator's own position on peptides sold online. Fimea advises telling a healthcare professional which product was used if symptoms appear. More: Legal status in Finland.

24 Jun 2026: Norwegian customs: over 800 illegal peptide seizures already this year

Tolletaten, customs (Norway, EEA). Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten) said it had made over 800 seizures of illegal peptides in 2026 by 24 June, compared with about 1,040 in the whole of 2025 and about 620 in 2024. Most seizures were peptides used to build muscle, lose weight and tan. According to customs, the parcels are mostly ordered online by private persons, and China stands out as the sender country. Customs warns that products may be stronger than stated or contain something other than what is on the label. Source: Tolletaten, news 24 Jun 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: Norway is an EEA country and Finland's neighbour. According to the Norwegian medicines agency, many other European countries see the same rise in peptide seizures. More: Are peptides legal in Finland?

18 Jun 2026: Supreme Court of Finland: the list of medicinal substances alone does not decide whether a product is a medicine

Supreme Court of Finland. On 18 Jun 2026 the Supreme Court of Finland issued precedent KKO:2026:47. An online seller had imported and sold, without authorisation, poppers products whose active substances were alkyl nitrites. The court held that the products were medicines under the Medicines Act and that the seller had committed an intentional medicines offence; the lower courts' combined one-year suspended prison sentence stands. The reasoning states that Fimea's list of medicinal substances does not bind legally on whether a product is a medicine; the question is assessed case by case under the Medicines Act and the definition in the EU medicines directive. Source: Supreme Court of Finland, KKO:2026:47, 18 Jun 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The ruling does not concern peptides. It shows how the court applies the definition of a medicine: the products were not marketed as medicines, but they were held to be medicines because of the effect of the substances they contained, and that effect could also be inferred from research on a structurally similar medicinal substance. More: Are peptides legal in Finland?

22 May 2026: EMA committee recommends semaglutide (Wegovy) also as a daily tablet for weight management

EMA (EU). At its May 2026 meeting EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) recommended extending the marketing authorisation of semaglutide (Wegovy) for weight management to add a once-daily oral tablet alongside the weekly injection. EMA says this is the first GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight management developed for oral use. At the same meeting the committee recommended authorisation of two liraglutide products, one for weight management and one for type 2 diabetes. Source: EMA, CHMP meeting highlights 22 May 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: This was a committee recommendation. The marketing authorisation is granted by the European Commission, and an approved product is a prescription medicine used under a doctor's care. More: Semaglutide: what the research shows.

5 May 2026: Norwegian medicines agency warns about injectable peptides

DMP, medicines agency (Norway, EEA). The Norwegian Medical Products Agency (DMP) warned that more and more people order injectable peptides from foreign websites, although the products are not approved medicines and importing them into Norway is illegal. According to DMP, use can cause serious harm such as allergic shock, blood poisoning and hormonal disturbances, and long-term risks are unknown. DMP says criminal organisations typically source the peptides from China and sell them on websites that rely on the label "For Research Use Only". Source: DMP, news 5 May 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The warning matches Fimea's June warning in content, and DMP says many other European countries see the same rise. According to DMP, selling and marketing these products is also banned in Norway, including for influencers even if they are not paid. More: Legal status in Finland.

25 Feb 2026: Europol's Operation SHIELD VI: counterfeit semaglutide products named a health threat

Europol (EU). Authorities from 30 countries, including Finland, took part in the Europol-coordinated Operation SHIELD VI between April and November 2025. The operation led to 3,354 people being prosecuted, 907 investigations, 5 underground labs seized and 66 websites taken down. Seizures included 139,116 illegal packages of medicines and 298,594 packages of doping substances. Europol named the spread of counterfeit semaglutide-based products used as fat-burners as one of the critical public health threats. Source: Europol, press release 25 Feb 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: Finland took part, and the findings concern the same online channels through which weight-loss injections are offered to Finns. Europol says social media and online marketplaces remain central to the trade in counterfeit medicines. More: Semaglutide: what the research shows.

24 Feb 2026: Swedish medicines agency: one in three has seen a fake medicine ad on social media

Läkemedelsverket (Sweden). In a Novus survey commissioned by the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket), 35 percent said they had seen a medicine ad on social media in the past 12 months that they suspected was a scam. Four percent had at some point bought a medicine through a social media ad that turned out to be a scam, and among those scammed, weight-loss products were the most common category. The agency said it had asked Meta during the past year to remove around a hundred scam ads on Facebook and Instagram that misused its name. Source: Läkemedelsverket, press release 24 Feb 2026.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: According to EMA and HMA, fraudulent websites misuse official logos across the EU. Läkemedelsverket says it does not advertise medicines, so any medicine ad carrying its logo is illegal. More: Weight-loss drugs (GLP-1).

3 Sep 2025: EMA and EU medicines agencies warn about illegal GLP-1 medicines online

EMA and HMA (EU). The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) warned of a sharp rise in illegal medicines marketed as GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide. The products are often sold via fraudulent websites and promoted on social media, and are not authorised. According to the authorities, they may not contain the claimed active substance at all and may contain harmful levels of other substances. Authorities have identified hundreds of fake profiles, advertisements and e-commerce listings, many hosted outside the EU. Source: EMA, news 3 Sep 2025.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The warning covers all EU countries, including Finland. A legal online pharmacy can be recognised by the common EU logo that links to a national register. More: Weight-loss drugs (GLP-1).

6 Jun 2025: EMA: eye condition NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide

EMA (EU). EMA's safety committee PRAC concluded its review of semaglutide medicines (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy) and recommended adding the optic nerve condition NAION to their side effects with the frequency "very rare", meaning it may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people. NAION can cause loss of vision. PRAC says patients who experience a sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight during treatment should contact their doctor without delay, and if NAION is confirmed, semaglutide treatment should be stopped. Source: EMA, PRAC meeting highlights 6 Jun 2025.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The side effect goes into semaglutide's official product information across the EU, Finland included. Semaglutide sold illegally online is used without medical follow-up. More: Semaglutide: what the research shows.

12 Jul 2024: EMA: tell the doctor about a GLP-1 medicine before anaesthesia or deep sedation

EMA (EU). EMA's safety committee PRAC recommended new measures to minimise the risk of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia in patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists who undergo procedures under general anaesthesia or deep sedation. GLP-1 medicines slow down emptying of the stomach. PRAC could not establish a causal association, but the product information will be updated with a warning that patients should inform the doctor if they take these medicines and are scheduled for surgery under anaesthesia or deep sedation. Source: EMA, PRAC meeting highlights 12 Jul 2024.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The advice applies to everyone using GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide. A doctor can take the risk into account only if they know about the use. More: Weight-loss drugs (GLP-1).

12 Apr 2024: EMA: evidence does not support a link between GLP-1 medicines and suicidal thoughts

EMA (EU). EMA's safety committee PRAC concluded that the available evidence does not support a causal association between GLP-1 receptor agonists (dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, lixisenatide and semaglutide) and suicidal and self-injurious thoughts and actions. The review started in July 2023 after case reports and covered among other things clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance and two studies based on large electronic health record databases. PRAC says no update to the product information is warranted, but the marketing authorisation holders will continue to monitor these events closely. Source: EMA, PRAC meeting highlights 12 Apr 2024.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: The assessment concerns approved GLP-1 medicines, which are also used in Finland. It says nothing about the safety of products sold online. More: Weight-loss drugs (GLP-1).

18 Oct 2023: EMA warned about falsified semaglutide pens (Ozempic) at EU wholesalers

EMA (EU). EMA reported that pre-filled pens falsely labelled as semaglutide (Ozempic, 1 mg) had been identified at wholesalers in the EU and the UK. The pens, with German-language labels, originated from wholesalers in Austria and Germany, and were caught when the pack serial numbers showed as inactive in the EU medicines verification system. EMA said there was no evidence that falsified pens had been dispensed to patients from legal pharmacies and no reports of harm. Source: EMA, news 18 Oct 2023.

Why it matters to a reader in Finland: In the legal supply chain the fakes were exposed by the EU pack serial number system, and EMA said there was no evidence they had been dispensed to patients from legal pharmacies. EMA advised returning a suspicious pen to the pharmacy immediately. More: Semaglutide: what the research shows.

10 Sep 2026: WADA approves the 2027 Prohibited List, GLP-1 drugs still permitted

WADA's executive committee approved the 2027 Prohibited List on 10 Sep 2026; it takes effect on 1 Jan 2027. According to WADA, the status of GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide is unchanged for 2027 because its expert group found the evidence not yet sufficient for inclusion. Examples were also added to classes including non-approved substances (S0) and hormone and metabolic modulators. WADA published the list on 21 Sep 2026. Source: WADA, press release 21 Sep 2026.

What it means: athletes should read WADA's summary of changes before the new year. What it does not mean: GLP-1 drugs being permitted in sport does not make unapproved peptides permitted. On the 2026 list BPC-157 is in class S0, and growth hormone releasing peptides and TB-500 are in class S2. Background: Legal status in Finland.