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Pizzalawyer ago

I should do research before I make an uninformed comment but I have a vague recollection of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel as being internationally renowned for organ transplants while Southeast Asia is known for sex change operations and Latin America for facial transformation. This medical tourism business vis-a-vis organ transplants needs alot of study.

jangles ago

Analysis of illegal peptide biopharmaceuticals frequently encountered by controlling agencies___Celine Vanhee et al. archive

The most often detected illegal peptides were potential dopingagents, including the growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC1295, sermorelin, Ipamorelin), AOD9604 and the wound healing peptide Thymosin β4. Furthermore also the skin tanning agent Melanotan II and the potential geroprotective and anti-cancer peptide Epitalon were detected.

Recent advances in genomics, proteomics, recombinant expression technologies and peptide synthesis have led to an increased development of protein and peptide therapeutics. Unfortunately the uprising of these kinds of active pharmaceutical ingredients also goes hand in hand with an increase in the number of incidents with SFFC pharmaceuticals, including stolen and substandard proteins and peptides.


Operation resistance: A snapshot of falsified antibiotics and biopharmaceutical injectables in Europe Authors Bastiaan J. Venhuis archive

Falsified biopharmaceutical injectables are frequently seized as unlabelled glass vials for injection with coloured caps shipped in small, unmarked boxes (Figure 1). Characteristically, these vials contain a white to yellowish lyophilized sugar with a peptide or a protein. Most peptides appear to be doping agents but some are used for skin tanning or libido enhancement. Users dissolve and inject the vial contents without proper instructions and without knowing what they are injecting.

Three countries reported biopharmaceutical injectables. Laboratory assessments were reported for 4 of the 5 included shipments. In each case, one or two vials had been analyzed. The analyzed vials contained human growth hormone (HGH), sermorelin, and melanotan II. One lot did not contain any active ingredient. All included shipments came without any labelling or documentation. Since sterility tests were not conducted by the seizing laboratories, the microbiological quality of these products is unknown. HGH and sermorelin – a growth hormone releasing hormone analogue – are both used as doping agents. Melanotan II is known to stimulate the melanocytes and is used for sun-free skin tanning. Medical literature and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) report several serious cases of health damage caused by melanotan II in the UK.