- Grey-market injectable peptides (e.g., BPC-157, GHK-Cu) are unregulated substances bought online from overseas dealers, often labeled 'for research purposes only' as a legal loophole.
- They are popular among biohackers, tech workers, and athletes for claimed benefits like injury recovery, performance enhancement, weight loss, and anti-aging, despite lacking FDA approval and reliable safety data.
- Peptides are short amino acid chains involved in bodily functions; some are synthetic versions of natural proteins, but evidence of therapeutic benefits in humans is insufficient, with pharmaceutical companies not investing in R&D.
- Risks include allergic reactions, unintended activation of harmful pathways, potential acceleration of undiagnosed cancers, acromegaly, injection-site issues, sepsis, and adverse effects from added chemical components.