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Coroner calls for TGA to review unapproved peptides after death of Australian actor

By · Via The Guardian · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Richard Norton died in March 2025 after administering double his prescribed doses of CJC1295 and ipamorelin, which he had obtained from Dr Jerzy Muchnicki to treat muscle loss, fatigue, and shoulder pain. Hours after the injection, the 75-year-old experienced flushing, collapsed, and later died at the Alfred Hospital. Following the incident, the Medical Board of Australia found that the physician's record keeping fell substantially below standards and mandated corrective one-on-one training. The findings highlight wider warnings from authorities regarding unapproved peptides frequently promoted online for anti-ageing and recovery.

Key points

  • Regulatory authorities are being urged to prohibit general prescription access to unappro…: Regulatory authorities are being urged to prohibit general prescription access to unapproved peptides following a fatal cardiac arrest.
  • Medical practitioners risk disciplinary education when prescribing experimental wellness…: Medical practitioners risk disciplinary education when prescribing experimental wellness substances without maintaining proper clinical records.
  • Federal health agencies continue to warn the public against unapproved peptides marketed…: Federal health agencies continue to warn the public against unapproved peptides marketed online for muscle growth and anti-ageing.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The death of an Australian actor after injecting unapproved peptides could result in tougher restrictions on the substances.

Richard Norton, 75, an experienced film industry fight choreographer, stuntman and martial artist, went into cardiac arrest in March 2025 after injecting a prescribed but unapproved peptide.

Tributes poured in for the beloved actor who worked alongside stars such as Chuck Norris and served as a bodyguard for music legends including David Bowie.

Victorian coroner David Ryan found Norton suffered a cardiac arrest after injecting the unapproved products CJC1295 and ipamorelin, which had been prescribed to him by a doctor.

In findings handed down on Wednesday, Ryan recommended the Therapeutic Goods Administration review the therapeutic benefits and safety risks of the peptides.

That review should consider shifting peptides from schedule 4 prescription-only drugs to schedule 10, allowing them only for clinical trials or other experimental use.

“I am not satisfied that it is appropriate for them to be available to be prescribed by medical practitioners,” the coroner said.

“It is not clear to me how their safe use can be clinically indicated…

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