Coroner recommends review of unapproved peptides after actor's death

Key facts

• Actor Richard Norton died in March 2025 after injecting unapproved peptides.
• Coroner David Ryan recommended the TGA review the safety and therapeutic benefits of peptides.
• The coroner suggested reclassifying peptides to experimental use only.
• Norton was prescribed CJC1295 and Ipamorelin by Dr Jerzy Muchnicki.
• Norton admitted to administering double the prescribed doses of the peptides.
• An expert found insufficient evidence that CJC1295 or Ipamorelin is safe or effective for human use.

Victorian Coroner David Ryan recommended the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review the safety and therapeutic benefits of unapproved peptides following the March 2025 death of actor Richard Norton. Norton, 75, suffered a cardiac arrest after injecting CJC1295 and Ipamorelin, which had been prescribed by Dr Jerzy Muchnicki. The coroner noted that Norton had admitted to administering double the prescribed doses. An independent expert found insufficient evidence that the peptides are safe or effective for human use. The Medical Board of Australia required Dr Muchnicki to undergo training for clinical record keeping.