Key Summary
- MHRA is targeting UK clinics making unauthorized medicinal claims about unregulated peptides.
- The clinics are not permitted to make medicinal claims for peptides, and there is little scientific evidence to support trials.
- If they make medicinal claims, the products will be considered medicines and subject to relevant regulation.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is investigating whether clinics are breaking the law by making claims about the benefits of experimental peptide therapies, The Guardian reports.
In recent years, there has been an increase in interest towards experimental peptides, promoted by influencers and even medics promising everything from anti-ageing to recovery from injury.
The medicines watchdog has said clinics are not permitted to make medicinal claims for peptides, and there is little scientific evidence to support such health and wellness claims.
If they make medicinal claims, the products will be considered medicines and subject to regulation, the MHRA spokesperson said.
During its investigation, The Guardian came across clinics offering a variety of unregulated, experimental peptides and making a host of claims about their benefits on their websites.
MHRA official Lynda Scammell told the daily that they will disregard claims that products are for ‘research purposes’ if it is clear that such claims are being used as an attempt to avoid medicines regulations.
If the promotional material states that the products are “unauthorised medicines” intended for human use, MHRA will take action, she added.
