Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned against the use of injectable peptides sold online in Singapore for weight loss and muscle gain without medical supervision.

• Regulatory position: Peptides must be prescribed. HSA stated that these peptides are not registered in Singapore and are illegal to sell. HSA has worked with online platforms to remove non-compliant listings of unregistered peptide injectables.
• Enforcement data: In 2024, 82 non-compliant listings of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs were removed from e-commerce platforms. Since 2022, HSA has investigated 16 unauthorised sales or illegal advertisements of GLP-1 drugs.
• Health risks: Doctors said that buying such products online carries risks, including hormonal side effects, damage to organs and metabolism, unintended side effects and longer-term health consequences that are not yet fully understood. Several peptides are still undergoing clinical trials.

This summary is based on a report published by Channel NewsAsia.