Australia’s chief coroner has called on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to review the use of unapproved peptide drugs after 75‑year‑old film‑industry veteran Richard Norton died from cardiac arrest in March 2025.
Norton, a well‑known fight choreographer, stuntman and martial‑arts practitioner, collapsed shortly after injecting a prescribed but unregistered combination of the peptides CJC1295 and ipamorelin.
The coroner’s report confirmed that the substances were not approved for medical use in Australia, despite being prescribed to Norton. Both CJC1295 and ipamorelin are classified as peptide hormones that have not undergone the TGA’s safety and efficacy assessment.
Following the findings, the coroner urged the TGA to conduct a comprehensive review of such unapproved peptides, warning that the current regulatory gap could expose other patients to similar health risks.
The TGA is the federal agency responsible for regulating therapeutic goods, including medicines and medical devices, to ensure they meet Australian safety standards. The coroner’s recommendation may prompt stricter controls or bans on the prescription and distribution of unapproved peptide therapies.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
