Utah: physician indicted over non-FDA-approved peptides from China

Key facts:

• On April 1, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted a Utah osteopathic physician who owned a wellness clinic.
• He allegedly sold non-FDA-approved peptides imported from China to more than 200 patients between February 2024 and April 2025.
• Named substances include tirzepatide, semaglutide, BPC-157, TB-500, and NAD+.
• He faces eight counts involving misbranded drugs. The case was investigated by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.

What is the case?

On April 1, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah announced a federal indictment of a licensed osteopathic physician who owned a wellness clinic in Utah. You can read the Department of Justice press release.

What is he alleged to have done?

Between about February 2024 and April 2025, the physician allegedly used an intermediary to obtain discounted, non-FDA-approved peptides from a supplier believed to be in China, then sold them to more than 200 patients. The peptides allegedly arrived in unlabeled vials, and he allegedly added labels that did not identify the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, which is what makes a drug misbranded under federal law. He is also alleged to have skipped comprehensive medical histories and provided syringes for self-injection without monitoring protocols. He faces eight counts.

What it means for your med spa

Imported or research-grade peptides are a live federal enforcement target, and holding a medical license is no shield. Verify the source, FDA status, and lawful pathway for every peptide or GLP-1 product before it reaches a patient. Make sure labels carry the required source information, and document patient evaluation, prescribing, and dispensing.

FAQs

What makes a drug misbranded?

Among other things, a label that fails to identify the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, or that is false or misleading.

Which peptides were named in the indictment?

Tirzepatide, semaglutide, BPC-157, TB-500, and NAD+, among others.

Fresh Clinics helps med spa owners build compliant sourcing and documentation into how they operate. Learn more about Fresh Clinics membership.