The UK’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, is now investigating several clinics for making potentially unlawful health claims about unregulated peptide therapies. A Guardian investigation found that clinics advertised experimental peptides like BPC-157, MOTS-C, and Cortexin, touting benefits for anti-ageing, injury recovery, and cognitive function. These claims were made despite limited human clinical evidence and even while labelling the products “research only”.
Under UK law, marketing these substances with medicinal benefits means they are classified as medicines, subject to strict regulation. The MHRA confirmed this, and at least one clinic has since removed such claims from its website. The regulator also pointed out that most peptide therapies lack comprehensive clinical trials. Supporting data often comes from pre-clinical or animal studies, highlighting a significant gap between marketing claims and scientific backing.
This probe reflects growing worries about patient safety and adherence to regulatory standards. The increasing consumer interest in peptides appears to be outpacing scientific evidence and potentially leading some clinics to sidestep existing medicines legislation. For salon and beauty professionals, this serves as a clear signal that making health claims about products, even experimental ones, carries significant regulatory risk.
