A coroner has released findings into the death of Australian actor Richard Norton, who died last year after injecting peptides prescribed by his doctor.
It’s believed to be the first death in Australia with a confirmed link to unapproved peptides.
The coroner has now asked the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to consider tougher restrictions, including a possible ban on human use.
Here’s what you need to know.
Peptides
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein.
In simple terms, peptides are smaller versions of proteins that help regulate a range of bodily processes, including tissue growth and repair.
Some peptides occur naturally in the body, including insulin and endorphins.
Synthetic peptides have been used in medicine for around a century, with insulin among the first developed to treat type 1 diabetes.
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are peptides.
Earlier this month, NSW Health said it had seen a sharp rise in emergency department presentations linked to the use of unapproved peptides.
The TGA has repeatedly cautioned consumers about peptides promoted on social media despite not being evaluated for safety, quality or effectiveness.
The regulator says unapproved peptides can carry risks including contamination, incorrect dosing and allergic reactions.
It has also raised concerns that many of the claimed benefits remain unproven.
Unapproved peptides are not always illegal, and doctors can still prescribe some of them through specialised schemes.
Norton
Norton was best known for his work in film as a martial artist, actor and stuntman.
He was 75 at the time of his death.
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In March 2025, Norton’s doctor prescribed him a daily injection of two peptides: CJC1295 and Ipamorelin.
Both are unapproved experimental drugs which are purported to get the body to release more of its own growth hormone.
On 28 March, Norton told a nurse he’d been taking double the prescribed dose.
That night, he injected another dose, went into cardiac arrest, and died on 30 March.
Findings
This week, Victorian coroner David Ryan found Norton’s death was triggered by injecting the peptides.
He said Norton had been taking more than he was prescribed.
The injection caused an anaphylactic reaction, which led to his cardiac arrest.
Asthma and a heart condition were also listed as contributing factors.
It’s believed to be the first death in Australia triggered by unapproved peptide use.
Recommendations
Ryan asked the TGA to review the benefits and safety risks of peptides like the ones Norton took.
He wants it to consider further restrictions, including a possible ban on human use, with exceptions for clinical trials.
Ryan wrote: “It is not clear to me how their safe use can be clinically indicated”.
What’s next?
A spokesperson for the TGA told TDA it is “continuing to assess the risks associated with these products and considering whether further regulatory or other measures may be appropriate”.
Following the coroner’s findings, Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan renewed her call for a parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s online healthcare market.
Norton’s doctor advised the Medical Board of Australia that he will no longer prescribe peptides.
