Peptides: performance-boosting, anti-ageing drugs or dangerous snake oil?
Once confined to elite labs and obscure bodybuilding forums, these amino acid chains are now flooding wellness spaces, social media feeds and online marketplaces. Although they are marketed as 'next-generation biohacks" and 'research chemicals", many peptides are not approved for human use and lack basic clinical testing.
Still, their popularity is growing – fuelled by testimonials, influencer hype and the seductive promise of turning back time.
But beneath the surface of glossy marketing and fitness fantasies lies a far more sobering truth: many of these substances operate in a medical grey zone, with unknown long-term risks, questionable manufacturing standards, and in some cases, life-threatening side-effects.
Peptides aren't entirely new to medicine. The first peptide drug – insulin – was isolated in 1921 and became commercially available in 1923. Today over 100 peptide medications are approved, including semaglutide – better known as Ozempic and Wegovy.
The 'Wolverine stack' One such compound, first discovered in human gastric juice, that is attracting lots of attention is BPC-157. Early animal studies suggest it may help repair damaged tissue throughout the body.
Researchers tested it on mice, rats, rabbits and dogs without finding serious side-effects. The compound appears to support healing of the tendons, teeth and digestive organs, including the stomach, intestines, liver and pancreas.
Scientists don't yet fully understand how BPC-157 works, but animal studies suggest it triggers several biological processes essential for healing. The compound appears to help cells move to damaged areas and encourages the growth of new blood vessels, bringing nutrients and oxygen to tissues in need of repair.
Another compound gaining attention is TB500. It is a synthetic version of thymosin beta-4, a naturally occurring protein fragment that plays an important role in repairing and regenerating damaged cells and tissues.
It also helps protect cells from further harm by reducing inflammation and defending against microbes. The combination of BPC-157 and TB500 has earned the nickname 'the Wolverine stack", named after the Marvel superhero famous for his rapid healing.
Then there's IGF-1 LR3, a modified version of a natural protein (IGF-1) linked to muscle growth. This synthetic compound was shown to increase muscle mass by 2.5 times in animal studies, though it has never been studied in humans.
The limited human research that does exist for these compounds offers inconclusive results. For example, a study showed that over 90% of patients experienced reduced knee pain after BPC-157 injections. However, the study had no control group and several methodological issues, so the results should be viewed with caution.
Hidden dangers Even though the early results seem exciting, these experimental compounds can be dangerous. Making them involves special chemicals called coupling agents, which can trigger serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis – a life-threatening condition.
The health consequences extend well beyond allergic reactions. Long-term injection of performance-enhancing substances can lead to heart failure that can occur rapidly with little warning, as documented in recent medical case studies of young bodybuilders.
Injection-related injuries pose another significant threat. 'Compartment syndrome" can develop at injection sites in leg muscles, causing numbness, blood clots and muscle spasms that result in permanent loss of function.
In severe cases, skin and underlying tissue can suffer necrosis (tissue death), requiring antibiotics or surgery to treat. More alarming still are reports of users contracting HIV, hepatitis B and C, and serious eye infections from contaminated injections.
These compounds don't just target muscles – they affect the entire body in ways scientists are only beginning to understand. Some interfere with natural insulin production, while others activate biological pathways that healthy cells use for growth and repair.
The concern is that these same pathways are exploited by cancer cells. The VEGF pathway, which promotes blood vessel growth, is active in about half of all human cancers, including melanoma and ovarian cancer. Laboratory studies suggest that thymosin beta-4 may play a role in helping colorectal and pancreatic cancers spread.
While there's no direct evidence linking compounds like BPC-157 or TB500 to cancer, researchers emphasise that the long-term effects remain unknown because these substances have never undergone proper human trials. The World Anti-Doping Agency has banned these compounds, noting they lack approval from any health regulatory authority and are intended only as research tools.
A growing problem Yet their use appears to be spreading rapidly. A 2014 study found that 8.2% of gym members used performance-enhancing drugs. By 2024, a comprehensive review suggested the figure could be as high as 29%. Perhaps most concerning: only 38% of users recognised the health risks involved.
These experimental compounds represent a dangerous gamble with long-term health. Unlike approved drugs, they haven't undergone the rigorous testing required to understand their safety profile in humans. While they may promise enhanced performance and healing, they deliver it at a cost that users may not fully understand until it's too late.
The appeal is understandable – who wouldn't want faster healing and better muscle tone? But the reality is these substances remain experimental for good reason. Until proper human trials are conducted, users are essentially volunteering as test subjects in an uncontrolled experiment with their own bodies. (The Conversation) NSA NSA
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments
First Published:
August 03, 2025, 09:30 IST
News agency-feeds Peptides: performance-boosting, anti-ageing drugs or dangerous snake oil?
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
Novo Nordisk CEO warns of layoffs as Wegovy challenge heats up
Synopsis Novo Nordisk warned of ongoing competition from copycat versions of its obesity drug Wegovy and signaled possible layoffs due to slowing sales growth, especially in the U.S. The Danish drugmaker, which lost $95 billion in market value after cutting full-year forecasts, said over one million Americans still use compounded GLP-1 drugs despite a U.S. ban. Reuters Novo Nordisk expects continued competition from copycat versions of its blockbuster Wegovy obesity drug this year and could face layoffs as it battles rising pressure from main U.S. rival Eli Lilly, the Danish drugmaker warned on Wednesday. Novo, which became Europe's most valuable company worth $650 billion last year on booming sales of Wegovy, is facing a pivotal moment as the medicine loses market share and sees sales growth slow, especially in the United States. It has warned of far slower growth this year - in part due to compounders who have been allowed to make copycat medicines based on the same ingredients as Wegovy due to shortages. Novo cut its full-year sales and profit forecasts last week, wiping $95 billion off its market value since. The shares were down 3.4% at 1350 GMT. The slide is a huge and abrupt turnaround for the firm that has been one of the world's hottest investment stories, which led to a rapid expansion of manufacturing and sales capacity. Now the firm is eyeing potential cost-cutting measures. "We probably won't be able to avoid layoffs," outgoing CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen told Danish broadcaster DR. "When you have to adjust a company, there are some areas where you have to have fewer people, some (areas) where you have to be smaller." He added, though, that any decision on layoffs would be in the hands of the incoming CEO, company veteran Maziar Mike Doustdar, who takes over on Thursday. On a media call, Jorgensen said the market for copycat versions of Wegovy's class of drugs - known as GLP-1 receptor agonists - was of "equal size to our business" and compounded versions of Wegovy were sold at a "much lower price point". In May, the company said it expected many of the roughly one million U.S. patients using compounded GLP-1 drugs to switch to branded treatments after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration ban on compounded copies of Wegovy took effect on May 22, and it expected compounding to wind down in the third quarter. However, finance chief Karsten Munk Knudsen said on Wednesday that more than one million U.S. patients were still using compounded GLP-1s and that Novo's lowered outlook has "not assumed a reduction in compounding" this year. "The obesity market is volatile," Knudsen told analysts when asked under what circumstances the company could see negative growth in the last six months of the year. The low end of Novo's new full-year guidance range would be for "unforeseen events", such as stronger pricing pressure in the U.S. than forecast, he said. The lower end of the range would imply sales around 150 billion Danish crowns ($23 billion) in the second half of 2025, compared with 157 billion in the same period last year. ENCOURAGING PRESCRIPTION DATA Knudsen reiterated that the company was pursuing multiple strategies, including lawsuits against compounding pharmacies, to halt unlawful mass compounding. Jorgensen said the company was encouraged by the latest U.S. prescription data for Wegovy. While the drug was overtaken earlier this year by rival Lilly's Zepbound in terms of U.S. prescriptions, that lead has narrowed in the past month. Second-quarter sales of Wegovy rose by 36% in the U.S. and more than quadrupled in markets outside the U.S. compared to a year ago, Novo said. While Wegovy's U.S. pricing held steady in the quarter, the company expected deeper erosion in the key U.S. market in the second half, due to a greater portion of sales expected from the direct-to-consumer or cash-pay channel, as well as higher rebates and discounts to insurers, Knudsen said. He said Novo was expanding its U.S. direct-to-consumer platform, NovoCare, launched in March, and may need to pursue similar "cash sales" directly to patients, outside of insurance channels, in some markets outside the United States. COST CUTS The company reiterated its full-year earnings expectations on Wednesday after last week's profit warning. Jorgensen said Novo was acting to "ensure efficiencies in our cost base" as the company announced it would terminate eight R&D projects. "There seems to be a larger R&D clean-out than usual, but we do not know if this reflects a strategic re-assessment or just a coincidence," Jefferies analysts said in a note. Investors have questioned whether Novo can stay competitive in the booming weight-loss drug market. Several equity analysts have cut their price targets and recommendation on the stock since last week. Shares in Novo plunged 30% last week - their worst weekly performance in over two decades. Sales rose 18% in the second quarter to 76.86 billion Danish crowns, below analysts' initial expectations.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Novo Nordisk CEO warns of layoffs as Wegovy challenge heats up
Novo Nordisk expects continued competition from copycat versions of its blockbuster Wegovy obesity drug this year and could face layoffs as it battles rising pressure from main U.S. rival Eli Lilly , the Danish drugmaker warned on Wednesday. Novo, which became Europe's most valuable company worth $650 billion last year on booming sales of Wegovy, is facing a pivotal moment as the medicine loses market share and sees sales growth slow, especially in the United States. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program It has warned of far slower growth this year - in part due to compounders who have been allowed to make copycat medicines based on the same ingredients as Wegovy due to shortages. Novo cut its full-year sales and profit forecasts last week, wiping $95 billion off its market value since. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Affordable Pre-Owned Jewelry in Great Condition in Malaysia Rings | Search Ads Search Now Undo The shares were down 3.4% at 1350 GMT. The slide is a huge and abrupt turnaround for the firm that has been one of the world's hottest investment stories, which led to a rapid expansion of manufacturing and sales capacity. Now the firm is eyeing potential cost-cutting measures. Live Events "We probably won't be able to avoid layoffs," outgoing CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen told Danish broadcaster DR. "When you have to adjust a company, there are some areas where you have to have fewer people, some (areas) where you have to be smaller." He added, though, that any decision on layoffs would be in the hands of the incoming CEO, company veteran Maziar Mike Doustdar, who takes over on Thursday. On a media call, Jorgensen said the market for copycat versions of Wegovy's class of drugs - known as GLP-1 receptor agonists - was of "equal size to our business" and compounded versions of Wegovy were sold at a "much lower price point". In May, the company said it expected many of the roughly one million U.S. patients using compounded GLP-1 drugs to switch to branded treatments after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration ban on compounded copies of Wegovy took effect on May 22, and it expected compounding to wind down in the third quarter. However, finance chief Karsten Munk Knudsen said on Wednesday that more than one million U.S. patients were still using compounded GLP-1s and that Novo's lowered outlook has "not assumed a reduction in compounding" this year. "The obesity market is volatile," Knudsen told analysts when asked under what circumstances the company could see negative growth in the last six months of the year. The low end of Novo's new full-year guidance range would be for "unforeseen events", such as stronger pricing pressure in the U.S. than forecast, he said. The lower end of the range would imply sales around 150 billion Danish crowns ($23 billion) in the second half of 2025, compared with 157 billion in the same period last year. ENCOURAGING PRESCRIPTION DATA Knudsen reiterated that the company was pursuing multiple strategies, including lawsuits against compounding pharmacies, to halt unlawful mass compounding. Jorgensen said the company was encouraged by the latest U.S. prescription data for Wegovy. While the drug was overtaken earlier this year by rival Lilly's Zepbound in terms of U.S. prescriptions, that lead has narrowed in the past month. Second-quarter sales of Wegovy rose by 36% in the U.S. and more than quadrupled in markets outside the U.S. compared to a year ago, Novo said. While Wegovy's U.S. pricing held steady in the quarter, the company expected deeper erosion in the key U.S. market in the second half, due to a greater portion of sales expected from the direct-to-consumer or cash-pay channel, as well as higher rebates and discounts to insurers, Knudsen said. He said Novo was expanding its U.S. direct-to-consumer platform, NovoCare, launched in March, and may need to pursue similar "cash sales" directly to patients, outside of insurance channels, in some markets outside the United States. COST CUTS The company reiterated its full-year earnings expectations on Wednesday after last week's profit warning. Jorgensen said Novo was acting to "ensure efficiencies in our cost base" as the company announced it would terminate eight R&D projects. "There seems to be a larger R&D clean-out than usual, but we do not know if this reflects a strategic re-assessment or just a coincidence," Jefferies analysts said in a note. Investors have questioned whether Novo can stay competitive in the booming weight-loss drug market. Several equity analysts have cut their price targets and recommendation on the stock since last week. Shares in Novo plunged 30% last week - their worst weekly performance in over two decades. Sales rose 18% in the second quarter to 76.86 billion Danish crowns, below analysts' initial expectations.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Australias Great Barrier Reef suffers most widespread coral bleaching on record
Sydney [Australia], August 6 (ANI): The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record as ocean temperatures soared in 2024, Al Jazeera reported, citing a new Australian government to Al Jazeera, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said on Wednesday that it surveyed the health of the reefs between August 2024 and May 2025 and found the 'most spatially extensive" bleaching since records began in 1986, which was 'predominantly driven by climate change-induced heat stress".Scientists also found that coral cover declined by almost one-third, down to just 26.9 per cent, in the southernmost third of the reef, as the southern reefs experienced their highest recorded levels of heat stress. 'The declines in the north and south were the largest in a single year since monitoring began 39 years ago," the study's authors wrote in The Conversation, Al Jazeera as the world's largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef spans 2,300 kilometres and houses a rich array of biodiversity. AIMS CEO Professor Selina Stead said that 'mass bleaching events are becoming more intense and are occurring with more frequency". She added, 'The future of the world's coral reefs relies on strong greenhouse gas emissions reduction."Stead further noted that managing local pressures and helping the reefs to 'adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change" was also important, Al Jazeera to UNESCO, which has classified the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site, the ecosystem is home to the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish, 4,000 types of mollusc, 240 species of birds, as well as species such as the dugong and the large green United Nations experts say the Great Barrier Reef should be included among the World Heritage Sites classified as 'in danger", the Australian government has lobbied to keep it off the endangered list, fearing it could affect the billions of dollars in tourism revenue it generates annually, Al Jazeera a report released last week, Australia's Climate Change Authority said that opportunities to protect the Great Barrier Reef from climate change include major fossil-fuel exporting countries adopting low- and zero-emission alternatives and stronger action on climate pollutants, such as methane, which 'contribute most to near-term climate warming".However, Australia remains a major exporter of fossil authority's report also noted that some 93 per cent of the excess heat in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the world's oceans, and that 2024 ocean temperatures surpassed the previous record set in 2023, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
