The death of Australian actor and stuntman Richard Norton has prompted calls for a regulatory review of unapproved peptide therapies. Norton, 75, experienced cardiac arrest in March 2025 after injecting peptides that were prescribed to him but not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Norton, known for his work as a fight choreographer and martial artist alongside notable figures such as Chuck Norris, and for serving as a bodyguard to David Bowie, had sought peptide treatment from Dr. Jerzy Muchnicki. According to findings released by Victorian coroner David Ryan, Norton was prescribed the peptides CJC1295 and ipamorelin, both unapproved substances, after discussing the experimental nature and associated risks of the treatment with the doctor.
The coroner’s report detailed that Norton had previously been prescribed peptides for fatigue, shoulder pain, and muscle loss by another practitioner. Prior to starting treatment with Muchnicki, Norton underwent blood tests to establish baseline health parameters and assess potential contraindications. After signing an informed consent form outlining possible benefits and risks, including anaphylaxis, Norton began peptide injections on March 19.
One week into the therapy, Norton reported improvement in symptoms. However, two days after expressing this progress, he revealed to a nurse that he had been administering double the prescribed dose of both peptides. The nurse advised him to return to the prescribed dosage the following week. On the same day, Muchnicki prescribed two additional peptides aimed at further improving function and reducing pain.
Hours later, Norton experienced symptoms including feeling hot and flushed shortly before losing consciousness. He died at the Alfred hospital on March 30, 2025.
The Medical Board of Australia investigated Dr. Muchnicki, with an independent expert concluding there was insufficient evidence supporting the safety, efficacy, or benefit of CJC1295 and ipamorelin for human use. The expert also criticized Muchnicki’s clinical notes as inadequate and below expected professional standards. Muchnicki acknowledged these shortcomings, accepted responsibility, and expressed remorse for the impact on Norton and his family. While regulatory action was not deemed necessary, the board required Muchnicki to undertake one-on-one clinical record-keeping and management training and committed to ceasing peptide prescriptions absent robust clinical evidence.
Following the case, coroner David Ryan recommended that the TGA conduct a comprehensive review into the therapeutic benefits and safety risks of such peptides. Ryan suggested the possibility of reclassifying peptides from Schedule 4, which permits prescription by medical practitioners, to Schedule 10, restricting use solely to clinical trials or experimental contexts. “It is not clear to me how their safe use can be clinically indicated given the acknowledged uncertainties as to their therapeutic benefit and their risks,” the coroner stated.
The TGA has issued warnings about the dangers of importing and using unapproved peptides, which are often marketed online for purposes such as weight loss, muscle growth, anti-ageing, recovery, and performance enhancement. This incident has intensified scrutiny over the use of these substances within Australia’s medical framework.