Today, Explained Pushing peptides
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Apr 1, 2026 
Lauren Gardner, a Politico reporter on FDA and drug policy, breaks down why regulators tightened peptide access and why RFK Jr. wants that reversed. Ezra Marcus, an investigative reporter for New York Magazine, traces peptides from influencers and wellness clinics to Reddit, Bitcoin, and shipments from China. They explore hype, gray markets, contamination fears, and telehealth’s role in the next boom.
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Ezra Marcus Tried A Med Spa NAD+ Protocol
- Ezra Marcus visited a New York wellness clinic, asked what might boost his afternoon energy, and got sold NAD+ with insulin needles and injection instructions.
- He paid $250 for six weeks, injected it into stomach fat, and said it felt like a mild Adderall or extra-latte day.
The Gray Market Retatrutide Pipeline Was Shockingly Easy
- Ezra Marcus bought unreleased retatrutide through Reddit and Discord from a Chinese supplier who wanted $150 in Bitcoin and shipped it disguised as face masks.
- He lab-tested one vial, found it genuine, then heard factories promise volumes up to a million vials monthly.
FDA Restrictions Helped Push Buyers Offshore
- FDA moved more than a dozen peptides onto a list of bulk drug substances that may pose significant safety risks, often citing too little data rather than proof of harm.
- Lauren Gardner says compounding pharmacies then stopped making them, pushing demand from clinics toward black and gray online markets.