Peptide boom has states scrambling to protect consumers, Post investigation finds - The Washington Post

• New York City health officials are currently investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has resulted in multiple deaths and dozens of illnesses. • Medical professionals are issuing guidance to the public on specific preventative measures to reduce the risk of exposure to the bacteria.

• Ipsen announced that its drug Bylvay failed to meet the primary objective in a late-stage clinical trial for biliary atresia, a rare liver disease in infants. • The study failed to demonstrate that Bylvay improved native liver survival rates when compared to a placebo.

• An FDA advisory committee voted to expand access to four peptides, including KPV, despite the agency's warnings regarding a lack of clinical evidence for their efficacy. • The FDA specifically noted that there is no human clinical data to support using KPV for wound healing or inflammatory conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and ulcerative colitis.

• A multistate outbreak of Cyclospora has been linked to the consumption of iceberg lettuce across nine U.S. states. • Health officials are tracking cyclosporiasis cases and urging affected individuals to report symptoms to their local health departments.

• Merck has received FDA approval for Lipfendra, the first oral pill in the PCSK9 inhibitor class of cholesterol-lowering medications. • Unlike traditional PCSK9 inhibitors that require injections, Lipfendra is a macrocyclic peptide specifically designed for oral administration.

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new outbreak of cyclosporiasis that has sickened at least 72 people. • The agency posted the update to its official website late Wednesday, though it has not yet identified the specific location of the outbreak.

• An FDA advisory panel narrowly voted to recommend allowing compounding pharmacies to produce BPC-157 and KPV, two popular but unproven peptides. • The decision follows advocacy from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who pushed for increased access to these substances despite their lack of formal FDA approval.

• An FDA advisory panel began a two-day meeting on Thursday to review more than six types of peptides currently used in wellness trends. • These substances are under scrutiny because there is little scientific evidence to prove they are safe or effective for human use.

• An FDA advisory panel is meeting this week to determine if compounding pharmacies should be permitted to offer seven synthetic peptides. • The panel must weigh whether regulated compounding pharmacies provide a safer alternative to the "gray-market" versions currently used by enthusiasts.

• Health officials have launched an investigation into a second cyclosporiasis outbreak as cases of the diarrhea-causing illness continue to rise. • Authorities are currently working to identify the specific food source, though historical outbreaks have been linked to imported produce like raspberries, cilantro, and basil from Latin America.

• Recent outbreaks of measles in the US, Cyclosporiasis, and Ebola in Africa are spreading at unprecedented levels, exposing critical vulnerabilities in global public health infrastructure. • The resurgence of measles in the US has reached record levels, primarily driven by vaccine hesitancy and declining vaccination rates that have eroded herd immunity.