Health Canada permanently bans Quebec company from selling unauthorized injectable peptides

Health Canada says a court has approved the agency's request to permanently ban a Quebec-based online store from selling unauthorized injectable peptides in the country.

The Superior Court of Québec granted a permanent injunction against Canlab Research on the latest enforcement action against the wellness trend. For years, Health Canada has been warning consumers not to buy unauthorized injectable peptides from the company, saying it promoted unproven health claims on various websites. A temporary injunction was issued in 2024.

Under the permanent injunction granted in June, Canlab cannot "manufacture, test, distribute or sell unauthorized injectable peptides, nor can it assist others in doing the same." The company also cannot advertise or help others advertise these products on any social media platform or website accessible to Canadians. Canlab's website now redirects to a legal notice dated April 2025 stating the company is complying with court directives and "remains committed to transparency, regulatory compliance, and the continued trust of our global customer base."

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that perform essential functions in the human body. They have become trendy in recent years, promoted as a health hack with promises of anti-aging, weight loss, injury recovery and better sleep. Health Canada notes there are authorized injectable peptides regulated as prescription drugs in Canada that are safe and effective, such as insulin and GLP-1s.

However, the agency released a public advisory in April warning that unauthorized injectable peptides can be dangerous and cause "hormonal imbalance, mood swings, blood sugar imbalance, liver or kidney damage, blood clots, and growth of cancerous tumours." The advisory encourages Canadians to only buy prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies and to check for a drug's eight-digit drug identification number to ensure it's legal.