The chief executive of pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has warned that the growing use of unregulated, so-called “black market” peptides promoted online could pose serious health risks, saying people are “gambling” with their bodies by using untested products.
Mike Doustdar made the comments in an interview with Yahoo Finance, where he discussed the rising popularity of peptide-based treatments being sold and promoted outside formal medical channels, often through influencers on social media.
Rising concern over unregulated peptides
Peptides have become widely discussed in the wellness and weight-loss space in recent years, with some products linked to drugs used in diabetes and obesity treatment. However, Doustdar said many of the peptides being shared online have not gone through proper clinical testing.
He warned that unlike approved medicines, many of these substances have not been tested in human trials and may only have limited animal data.
“There are so many of these peptides out there that are not tested,” he said, adding that at best they may only have been studied in animals, not in people.
He stressed that medicines can carry serious risks if misused, and said regulation is essential because drugs can have life-threatening side effects.
“Not like a fake handbag”
Doustdar drew a sharp contrast between unregulated medicines and counterfeit consumer goods, saying health products should not be treated lightly.
“This is not like going and buying a fake Gucci bag,” he said. “It has serious consequences.”
He added that while the idea of buying or using unapproved peptides may be influenced by online creators, consumers should consider both benefits and risks before using them.
Influence of social media
The CEO also pointed to the role of influencers in promoting peptide use, saying people are often exposed to positive claims without equal attention to potential dangers.
He urged the public to think more carefully about whether the potential benefits outweigh the unknown risks.
“I want people to think a little bit more, not just about the benefits,” he said, “but also the risks and outweigh the risks versus the benefits.”
Insulin, Wegovy and regulated peptides
Doustdar highlighted that Novo Nordisk has long been involved in peptide-based medicines, including insulin, which has been used for more than a century. He also referenced newer treatments such as GLP-1 drugs used in obesity care.
He said the company’s approved medicines go through strict regulatory systems, including clinical trials and approval processes, which unregulated products do not.
Novo Nordisk is also developing oral peptide-based treatments, which he said are designed to meet safety and efficacy standards required by regulators such as the US Food and Drug Administration.
Call for regulation, not rejection
While warning against unsafe use, Doustdar said he is not opposed to future research into peptides. He suggested that if there is demand and potential benefit, these compounds should be properly tested and brought through formal approval systems.
“If there’s a market for it, if there’s a need, let’s test them, let’s file them, let’s put the safe version out there,” he said.
However, he warned that until such testing is done, using unregulated peptides remains a risk.
“Why would you take such a big gamble and bet with your body, with your health?” he said.
Background
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that occur naturally in the body and can also be manufactured for medical use. While some peptide-based drugs are widely approved and used, a growing number of unregulated versions are being sold online, often with claims related to anti-ageing, muscle growth, or weight loss.
Health authorities in several countries have previously warned about the risks of buying injectable or compounded peptide products from unverified sources.
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