September 16, 2026: Third Texas peptide compounder hit with recall
Major Stories
The FDA has announced a third recall of compounded glutathione from Texas compounding pharmacies due to elevated endotoxin levels. Centric Compounding received nine reports of adverse events related to the injections. The FDA says endotoxin exposure could cause “inflammatory reactions, anaphylactic shock, and death.” Glutathione, which claims to support immunity, fatigue, and general wellness, is often taken by the immunocompromised or chronically ill, whose bodies are less able to defend against endotoxins.
In August, the FDA announced that at least 30 patients reported side effects from compounded glutathione following recalls from Victory Medical Center Pharmacy and Optimal Balance Pharmacy, both for elevated endotoxin levels. The agency said that both facilities obtained their glutathione, which was labeled as dietary supplement grade, from the same manufacturer. The agency also reminded compounders that supplement-grade raw ingredients were not appropriate to make injectable drugs.
Domestic
Mississippi state boards issue statement on peptides as NPR reports on the rise of injecting copper peptides, despite lack of data supporting safety.
Read the Mississippi boards' joint statement here.
Mississippi’s Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, and State Board of Medical Licensure issued a joint statement warning healthcare providers against using non-FDA-approved, “research-grade” peptides. The boards said these products have not been evaluated for safety, efficacy, manufacturing quality, or consistency and stated that providers may not compound, recommend, or dispense them to patients. They also emphasized that patient consent or “waivers” do not relieve providers of their legal and professional obligations.
NPR reported on the rising popularity of GHK-Cu, a copper peptide popular in skincare and wellness circles, that is increasingly used as an injection despite a lack of published human studies showing the practice is safe or effective. Dermatologists and researchers interviewed by the outlet cautioned against injecting the peptide, citing concerns about unregulated online products, uncertain dosage, and potential risks including elevated copper levels, immune reactions, and liver problems.
Pill Presses
A Mississippi man was convicted of crimes related to a multi-state methamphetamine pill trafficking operation. During their investigation, authorities found a pill press at a co-conspirator's property, which made the pills the defendant distributed to other states. He is the 14th defendant to be convicted in connection with the case.
PSM in the news
PSM's Executive Director Shabbir Imber Safdar appeared on Phoenix, Arizona-based Fox 10 and Columbia, Missouri-based ABC 17 to discuss the risks behind unapproved peptides, including retatrutide, and the dangers that compounded drugs can carry. Medical Daily also quoted Safdar in its coverage of increasing reports of adverse events associated with compounded weight loss drugs.
International
Australian patients continue to be harmed by “retatrutide.” U.K. authorities freeze bank accounts tied to illegal weight loss drugs. Ukrainian authorities continue to investigate counterfeit tirzepatide.
An Australian patient was hospitalized after a drug claiming to be retatrutide caused a torn esophagus from uncontrollable vomiting. Testing revealed the vial the patient injected contained no retatrutide, but rather an “exceptionally high” dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. A doctor quoted in ABC said the injury is “almost universally fatal.” This comes as Australia’s health regulator has reported at least seven cases of acute liver injury as a result of medications claiming to be retatrutide.
More than £200,000 from three bank accounts tied to Alluvi Healthcare have been frozen after a legal request from the U.K’.s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The move is part of an agency investigation that led to massive seizures of illegal weight-loss drugs across four raids. A MHRA representative told the BBC that it was the first time “he had seen suspected criminals ‘creating their own brand’ rather than producing counterfeit versions of existing brands.”
Read TGA's warning here.
Ukrainian authorities have authorized over 250 searches as part of an investigation into the illegal manufacturing and sale of counterfeit Biopatid, a weight-loss drug made with tirzepatide. Regulators banned one batch of the drug, which claimed to be manufactured by Unikka Pharma Ltda, in January 2026. PSM identified this manufacturer as a suspicious actor attempting to import tirzepatide into the US in our July 2025 freight fraud report.
Authorities in India uncovered a scheme that they believe supplied fake or repackaged drugs to more than 90 hospitals and clinics. A pharmacy owner has been arrested for allegedly using the pharmacy to store and distribute medicines.