BSR Intelligence Peptide Industry Briefing (Mid-May 2026): Compounded Semaglutide Shipments Down 90% YoY, Tirzepatide Down 34%; Counterfeit Purity 5-75%, Lead Levels 10x Safety Limits
UK-based BSR — Biotech Scientific Research — published a peptide industry briefing covering March through early-May 2026 with concrete supply-chain and quality-control data points. Compounded semaglutide shipment volumes are down 90% year-over-year and tirzepatide down 34% as the FDA-declared shortage resolution shifts demand back to branded supply; the April 30 proposal to exclude both drugs from the 503B bulks list continues to compress the compounded segment with comments closing June 29. On the quality side, the briefing cites the 2018 falsification analysis showing research-peptide purity ranging from 5% to 75% with lead concentrations 10x safety limits, plus current evidence of fake Certificates of Analysis from Chinese-sourced products that don't match actual contents. The 'CORE PEPTIDES' scam was flagged January 2026 with documented $500 losses via Cash App and no recourse. 455+ FDA adverse-event reports for compounded semaglutide alone trace back to dosing errors from patients self-administering incorrect doses from multidose vials.