A 21-year-old fitness influencer in Sydney is promoting retatrutide, a drug still in clinical trials, on TikTok. He claims "This stuff is actually hard to come by in Australia," and provides a link to buy it. He warns, "Obviously, not approved for human use, so do with it as you will." This peptide is yet to be approved anywhere globally. In other videos, he talks about melanotan II, an unapproved tanning peptide linked to serious side effects, cautioning users to "Use at your own risk." The influencer also runs a peptide business, promoting his own retailer. Australia is witnessing a surge in injectable peptides, often experimental and illegal without prescriptions. Advertising these drugs on social media is banned. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has already requested removal of over 13,700 online ads for unapproved wellness products this financial year. The TGA’s spokesperson said, "Prescription medicines and unapproved therapeutic goods cannot be advertised to the public, including via testimonials and endorsements." These peptides are sold through overseas imports or via doctors at wellness clinics who prescribe them under specific legal conditions. Peptides are protein building blocks; examples include insulin and drugs like Ozempic. However, many peptides sold online lack human safety or efficacy proof. Molecular pharmacologist Dr Ian Musgrave warns injecting unapproved peptides is "just punching holes in yourself and wasting money." He notes risks of immune reactions and health harm. Online sellers offer peptides stating "for laboratory use only," but provide detailed dosing advice and customer testimonials. Many selling sites in Australia are run by young men. The TGA classifies many unapproved peptides as illegal to possess without authority. Prof Nial Wheate states, "Anyone who accepts that compound must have a legal reason to have it, and for most people that means you must have a valid prescription." Manufacturer Lilly, making retatrutide, warns against buying black-market versions: "Counterfeit, black-market, and research-use only medicines are untested, unregulated and potentially dangerous." Testing labs have noticed a rapid rise in demand for peptides. Janoshik, a Czech lab, processed thousands of purity tests in 2024 for weight loss peptides like tirzepatide and retatrutide. Despite some accurate purity findings, mislabeling and fake products are common. Griffith University researcher Dr Timothy Piatkowski found many underground steroids and peptides contain dangerous toxins and wrong dosages. Peer educator Sonya Weith highlights risks: "We don’t know the dosage. We don’t know the strength. And we don’t know if there’s anything else in there that could cause harm." Alongside online sales, wellness clinics prescribe peptides like the "Wolverine stack" — a mix of peptides and growth hormone. However, some clinics have been fined for misleading advertising. The TGA says mentioning prices before consultation is likely illegal advertising. Sarah, a mid-50s Australian, uses peptides prescribed by a doctor for fitness recovery. She notes, "It’s getting sensationalised… be wary. I mean, this is something that you’re injecting into your body." The booming peptide market in Australia highlights urgent safety, legal, and health oversight questions as unproven drugs flood social media and grey markets.