Inside a black market for unapproved peptides worth up to $4 billion
ABC investigation examines influencer promotions, altered lab certificates and videos said to show Chinese factories; coroner says unapproved peptides triggered actor’s death
An ABC News Loop investigation has examined a black market for unapproved peptides that Bloomberg estimates is worth up to $4 billion. Alongside social media promotion, health agencies report escalating use and rising reports of harm, including severe medical complications and death. A coroner found Australian actor Richard Norton’s death was triggered by his injection of unapproved peptides. People involved in the trade say much of its supply originates in China, while NSW emergency department visits linked to unapproved peptides rose from five in July 2025 to almost 220 in September 2026.