Get the Straight DOPE - Issue #3

Welcome back to the third edition of DOPE, the Finnrick newsletter, where peptides are tested and feelings are hurt. We don't gatekeep, we just data-shame.

The Newcomers

AstroPeptidesUSA has made a strong debut with their BPC-157 earning an A rating and their Ipamorelin scoring an impressive A as well. Their products showed consistent purity above 99% and quantities within 10% of labeled amounts.

Nuscience has also entered our ratings with strong showings across their product line. Their Melanotan II and Semaglutide both earned A ratings with excellent purity profiles.

PlatinumCryo's Retatrutide earned a solid B rating, showing consistent quality across multiple tests. However, their Melanotan II showed concerning inconsistency with one vial containing 8.76mg (-12.4%) and another containing 12.14mg (+21.4%) despite identical labeling, earning a D rating.

Why Accuracy Matters More Than Generosity

Some celebrate overfilled vials as "getting more for your money," but this ignores a critical safety concern: dosing precision.

When a vendor ships a vial containing substantially more or less than the labeled amount, it creates serious risks for users who calculate dosages based on the labeled content. Precise dosing is critical for both efficacy and safety, particularly for potent compounds like GLP-1 agonists.

And while under-filling is certainly a commercial problem, over-filling puts users at more serious risk. Neither is welcome.

That's why our rating methodology prioritizes accuracy. Vendors with labeling within ±10% of tested quantity score higher than those with larger discrepancies, whether over- or underfilled. We also value proper labeling attached directly to the vial rather than on separate materials that can become separated from the product, or online mentions that help during purchase, but will likely be forgotten at the time of use.

For more details on how we focus on safety when rating products and vendors, check out our testing methodology.

Quantity Accuracy Champions vs. Wildcards

Vendors with the most consistent vs. most variable quantity accuracy:

Identity Crisis:
When Peptides Aren't What They Claim

Our testing uncovered several concerning cases of misidentified peptides:

• Peptides For Sale - BPC-157 fails identification, and seems to be Ipamorelin instead, earning them an E rating. Their CJC-1295 with DAC also contained Ipamorelin with a terminal glycine modification: also an E.
• Peptide Gurus - Retatrutide is acutally Tesamorelin? That's an E rating.
• Coastal Peptides - a bad batch of Semaglutide was identified as Tirzepatide by multiple labs. However, their most recent test shows the correct product with acceptable purity: let's hope their rating continues to improve.

We're not just being sassy: misidentified peptides pose a serious and obvious risk to the public, and these findings underscore the importance of Finnrick testing to drive safety in this market.

Sovereign Health News

• Oral GLP-1 Race Heats Up: Novo Nordisk is seeking FDA approval for an oral semaglutide formulation for obesity treatment. This strategic move could revolutionize accessibility by eliminating the need for injections, potentially expanding the already booming GLP-1 market.
• GLP-1 Sexual Dysfunction Risk: A recent FDA Adverse Event Reporting System study reveals potential links between GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide and sexual dysfunction. While statistically significant, researchers emphasize that overall patient risk remains low and should be monitored but not cause for alarm.
• Pfizer Abandons Oral GLP-1 Candidate: Pfizer has discontinued development of its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist danuglipron after a liver enzyme anomaly in a single clinical trial participant. This reshuffles the competitive landscape in the obesity treatment market, and highlights the long road between initial promising studies and successful market entry.
• Compounded GLP-1 Legal Battles: Wired reports on the escalating legal battles between compounding pharmacies and the FDA over GLP-1 medications. Ozempic and Wegovy shortages made it possible for patients to access compounded alternatives, but this option is now being restricted.

Help Us Expand Our Testing

We need your help to analyze more samples. If you have peptide you'd like tested, GHK-Cu or another compound from our database, please mail us a sample. Your contributions help build a safer peptide marketplace for everyone.