It’s not new that RUO peptide companies are the favorite target of regulators, lawmakers and Pharma. While there has been some criminal activity in the RUO space, it’s seemed till now to be largely related to other darker factual allegations—the sale of controlled substances (e.g., steroids) or even biologicals (e.g., HCG and HGH) and very “over the line” promotion of human use. But the government’s tolerance in the RUO space seems to be thinning by the moment.
Everyone in the industry now knows re the Lilly lawsuits directed a three Texas based RUO companies and one CA based compound pharmacy. There, the primary focus was on the sale of retatrutide. But a new Michigan plea agreement resulting in a judgment on July 23, 2026 and imprisonment of 21 months should have the entire RUO industry readjusting their risk sensors. Why? Because the primary gist of the case involved semaglutide and tirzepatide.
There’s far more to it that that and lots of learn from the case. In USA v. Brandon Piper, the facts born of the filings include—
•Sale of sema, triz and retatrutide
•Claim that the defendant intentionally mislead the government with RUO/NFHC labelling, when he knew purchasers will buying for personal use
•The website promoted the products in a manner clear they were intended for human use (e.g., claims re the products’ impact of human health, side effects)
•Lack of a prescription for the “prescription drugs” sema and tirz
•The site never asking purchasers to verify they would use the products for research
•Operation of an affiliate program where products were promoted and dosing information was provided
•“Coaching” on use of the products
•Insufficient evidence of products being tested
•The website inviting customers to conceal from the checkout page the identity of what they bought
•Lack of registration with the FDA to manufacture and sell drugs
•Labeling “Product of the USA” when the products came from China
The Pipercase is important because it demonstrates the federal government’s resolve to address concerns previously addressed in other cases and in FDA Warning Letters. But it’s value is in the fact that the details in the case are even more illustrative of what the government considered to be a criminal violation and one worthy of prosecution. It’s also very instructive to know that Mr. Piper was no kingpin by anyone’s standards. The government stated he earned a total of about $218,000 through his criminal activity.
Attorney Rick Collins represented Mr. Piper and will be featured soon in an online webinar hosted by the American Peptide Association.
