Woman Suffers Liver Failure After Using Black Market Weight Loss Peptide

A woman who injected a black market peptide she believed to be retatrutide, a powerful weight loss drug still undergoing clinical trials, suffered acute liver failure within days, according to reports.

Megan Hancocks, 32, told Australia’s ABC News that she decided to try the unapproved peptide after seeing positive results shared online by other users. She acquired the substance from a clinician during a beauty appointment, opting for a version from a Chinese manufacturer available for cash.

Hancocks administered her first dose on December 24 and a second on December 28. Within a week, she was hospitalized with severe jaundice, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal swelling, and fatigue. She remained in the hospital for approximately one month, during which time her condition improved enough to avoid a liver transplant.

Six months after her initial hospitalization, Hancocks has experienced multiple subsequent hospitalizations and continues to take medication for liver repair. The side effects of her ordeal have included weight gain, hair loss, and skin sores, significantly impacting her ability to work and her overall well-being. She has since moved in with her mother.

Retatrutide, often referred to as "reta" in online communities, has generated significant buzz for its potential effectiveness in weight loss, reportedly surpassing that of existing drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. The actual drug, still in clinical trials in the U.S., targets three receptors—GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon—whereas dual agonists target two and drugs like Ozempic target one.

Clinical trial data suggests retatrutide can lead to substantial weight loss, with participants in one study shedding an average of 44.3 to 47.4 pounds. This has led to a demand for any available form of the drug, including those sold online as "research-grade" chemicals that bypass U.S. regulations by stating they are not for human consumption.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings about retatrutide and other unapproved GLP-1 medications, cautioning that these substances do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or quality before being marketed. The agency highlights the risks associated with such unapproved versions.

Prior to Hancocks' experience, at least two deaths in the U.S. have been linked to bootleg versions of unapproved weight loss drugs, with reported causes including cardiac arrest, severe dehydration, and malnutrition.