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Regulator: Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, Ministry of Health)

GLP-1 drugs and peptides in New Zealand

In New Zealand, a government agency called Medsafe decides which medicines can be sold. Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved for weight loss, but the government does not pay for them, so patients pay the full price. Peptides sold online as 'research chemicals' are illegal to import or sell, and Medsafe says it seizes them.

Last verified 2026-09-29 · how we verify

Official regulator site

GLP-1 medicines

Marketed with Medsafe consent and data sheets: Wegovy (semaglutide; first approved 20 March 2025; weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction), Mounjaro (tirzepatide; first approved 22 December 2025; type 2 diabetes, weight management and obstructive sleep apnoea), Victoza (liraglutide, 2010), Saxenda (liraglutide, 2016) and Trulicity (dulaglutide, 2021). Ozempic (semaglutide) has had consent since 16 March 2023, but Medsafe's product records list it as 'not available', which means the company has told Medsafe it does not market it or supply it on request; it has no data sheet in Medsafe's index. Three generic weight-management liraglutide products (Benedo, Liraglutide RBX and Liraglutide SUN) received consent in August 2025 but are also listed as not available, and three further generic liraglutide applications were still being evaluated in September 2026. Byetta and Bydureon (exenatide) were approved in 2007 and 2016, but both approvals have lapsed. No oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) product record was found. Funding: Pharmac funds Trulicity and Victoza for type 2 diabetes with Special Authority criteria. Wegovy for weight loss was added to the Options for Investment list after an advisory group rated it high priority in December 2025, and Pharmac says it cannot say when or if it will be funded. Pharmac has no weight-loss application for Mounjaro, and a type 2 diabetes application is being assessed. Pharmac's December 2025 advisory record also notes an Ozempic application for type 2 diabetes that its pharmacology committee rated high priority in November 2025. Anyone prescribed Wegovy or Mounjaro pays the private price, which Pharmac does not control. For athletes, WADA's 2026 monitoring programme covers semaglutide and tirzepatide. No Medsafe statement specific to compounded GLP-1 products was found.

Peptides

Unapproved peptides such as BPC-157 have no marketing consent in New Zealand. Medsafe's classification database lists many peptide groups as prescription medicines, including BPC-157 and its analogues, kisspeptins, thymic peptide hormones, growth hormone releasing peptides, mitochondria-derived peptides and pineal gland peptides. Medsafe's consumer advisory of 21 May 2026 names BPC-157, CJC-1295, GHRP-6, ipamorelin, kisspeptin, melanotan II, retatrutide, TB-500 and thymosin, and lists 'sealank' and 'seamax', which appear to be misspellings of Selank and Semax. It says it is illegal to import, supply, possess or procure prescription medicines unless authorised, that products sold outside the regulated system are illegal however they are labelled, and that 'for research purposes only' wording has no legal effect. It also says all clinical trials of new medicines need Medsafe and ethics committee approval and that Medsafe has approved no trials of these products. Personal importation is only possible with a reasonable excuse from a New Zealand authorised prescriber. An authorised prescriber may obtain an unapproved medicine for a known patient, and a pharmacist may compound for a particular person on prescription, but Medsafe says products not prescribed by a doctor or sourced from a pharmacy are illegal. In sport, Sport Integrity Commission New Zealand applies the WADA Prohibited List, which has a category for peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics (S2); athletes are strictly liable and should check each substance on Global DRO.

Advertising rules

It is lawful in New Zealand to advertise consented prescription medicines to the public, one of very few high-income countries where this is allowed. Medsafe's advertising guideline (Part 7) requires public ads for prescription medicines to carry the words 'Prescription Medicine', the active ingredient, the intended purpose, a statement that the medicine has risks and benefits, where to find more information, and the advertiser's name and address. The availability of a medicine without consent cannot be advertised (Medicines Act 1981, s 20(2)(c)). Medsafe's weight-loss product guidance says any product claimed or implied to cause weight loss must have consent as a medicine, and that testimonials and before-and-after photos are not permitted in advertising for weight-loss products, whether or not they have consent. The Medicines Amendment Act 2025 lets unapproved medicines be promoted at medical conferences to health practitioners, with 30 working days' notice to the Director-General of Health. The Advertising Standards Authority's Therapeutic and Health Advertising Code applies to new ads from 1 April 2026 and to all ads from 1 July 2026. In August 2026 the ASA recorded a settled complaint (26/128) about a Wegovy billboard, in which Novo Nordisk agreed to change the font size and layout of the mandatory information. In October 2025 the government said it would keep direct-to-consumer advertising under the planned Medical Products Bill, with a power to restrict advertising of particular products such as weight-loss medicines; the Bill's current status was not verified.

Every molecule in New Zealand

MoleculeStatusWhat it meansVerified
AmycretinNot approvedAmycretin is an investigational medicine with no Medsafe consent in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
AOD-9604Not approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains AOD-9604; it is classed as a prescription medicineDetails →source2026-09-29
BPC-157ProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe names BPC-157 as an illegal unapproved peptide and says it seizes itDetails →source2026-09-29
Bremelanotide (PT-141)Not approvedNo bremelanotide product is approved by Medsafe; melanocortin-type peptides are prescription-onlyDetails →source2026-09-29
Cagrilintide (and CagriSema)Not approvedCagrilintide (alone or in CagriSema) has no Medsafe consent and no data sheet in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
CJC-1295ProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe names CJC-1295 as an illegal unapproved peptide and says it seizes itDetails →source2026-09-29
DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide)Not approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains DSIP; it is not named in Medsafe's 2026 peptide advisoryDetails →source2026-09-29
DulaglutideApprovedApproved as Trulicity for type 2 diabetes and publicly funded with Special Authority criteriaDetails →source2026-09-29
EcnoglutideNot approvedEcnoglutide is an investigational medicine with no Medsafe consent in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
Elamipretide (SS-31)Not approvedElamipretide is classed as a prescription medicine but has no Medsafe consent or data sheetDetails →source2026-09-29
EloralintideNot approvedEloralintide is an investigational medicine with no Medsafe consent in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
EpitalonNot approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains epitalon; pineal peptides are prescription-onlyDetails →source2026-09-29
ExenatideNot approvedByetta and Bydureon approvals have lapsed; no exenatide product is currently approved or fundedDetails →source2026-09-29
GHK-Cu (copper peptide)Not approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains GHK-Cu; it is not named in Medsafe's 2026 peptide advisoryDetails →source2026-09-29
IpamorelinProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe names ipamorelin as an illegal unapproved peptide and says it seizes itDetails →source2026-09-29
KisspeptinProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe names kisspeptin as an illegal unapproved peptide and says it seizes itDetails →source2026-09-29
KPVNot approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains KPV; unapproved peptide products are unlawful to supplyDetails →source2026-09-29
LiraglutideApprovedVictoza and Saxenda approved; three generics have consent but are not marketed; Victoza funded for type 2 diabetesDetails →source2026-09-29
LL-37Not approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains LL-37; antimicrobial peptides are prescription-onlyDetails →source2026-09-29
Maridebart cafraglutide (MariTide)Not approvedMaridebart cafraglutide (MariTide) is investigational with no Medsafe consent in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
MazdutideNot approvedMazdutide is an investigational medicine with no Medsafe consent in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
Melanotan IIProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe names melanotan II as an illegal unapproved product and says it seizes itDetails →source2026-09-29
MOTS-cNot approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains MOTS-c; mitochondria-derived peptides are prescription-onlyDetails →source2026-09-29
NAD+Not approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains NAD+; the record covers NAD+ as a medicine, not supplementsDetails →source2026-09-29
OrforglipronNot approvedNo Medsafe data sheet listed for orforglipron; not approved for use in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
PramlintideNot approvedNo pramlintide product is approved, listed by Medsafe or funded in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
RetatrutideProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe says retatrutide sold to the public is black-market and is being seizedDetails →source2026-09-29
SelankNot approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains Selank; Medsafe's advisory lists a misspelt 'sealank'Details →source2026-09-29
SemaglutideApprovedApproved as Wegovy for weight management and heart-risk reduction; not publicly fundedDetails →source2026-09-29
SemaxNot approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains Semax; Medsafe's advisory lists a misspelt 'seamax'Details →source2026-09-29
SermorelinNot approvedNo Medsafe-approved medicine contains sermorelin; it is classed as a prescription medicineDetails →source2026-09-29
SetmelanotideNot approvedNo setmelanotide product is approved by Medsafe or listed with a data sheetDetails →source2026-09-29
SurvodutideNot approvedSurvodutide is an investigational medicine with no Medsafe consent in New ZealandDetails →source2026-09-29
TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment)ProhibitedNot approved; Medsafe names TB-500 and thymosin peptides as illegal unapproved productsDetails →source2026-09-29
TesamorelinNot approvedNo tesamorelin product is approved by Medsafe; it is classed as a prescription medicineDetails →source2026-09-29
TirzepatideApprovedApproved as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, weight management and sleep apnoea; weight loss not fundedDetails →source2026-09-29

For experts

The regulatory detail

The Medicines Act 1981 requires ministerial consent, delegated to Medsafe, before a new medicine is sold, supplied or advertised (s 20). The Medicines Amendment Act 2025, in force from 19 November 2025, added consent by verification for a new medicine that already has full marketing authorisation from two or more recognised overseas regulators (s 22D); Medsafe published the guideline and application form for this route in June 2026. Exemptions allow an authorised prescriber to obtain an unapproved medicine for a known patient under their care (s 25, including direct importation or asking a pharmacy to compound it), and allow a pharmacist to compound a medicine to suit a particular person (s 26(4)); a prescription medicine may only be supplied on prescription (s 26(3)(b)). Personal importation of prescription medicines needs a reasonable excuse, meaning a letter or prescription from a New Zealand authorised prescriber, and is limited to three months' supply. Medsafe's classification database lists semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide and a range of peptide classes as prescription medicines. Funding is decided separately by Pharmac. The October 2026 Pharmaceutical Schedule funds dulaglutide and liraglutide (Victoza) for type 2 diabetes under Special Authority. Wegovy for weight loss is on Pharmac's Options for Investment list and is unfunded, and Mounjaro has no weight-loss funding application; Pharmac does not control the private price. On enforcement, Medsafe's 21 May 2026 advisory says it is seizing unapproved peptides and SARMs and that 'for research purposes only' labels have no legal effect.

Official sources we monitor

Sources (25)

  1. 01Consumer advisory: Unapproved peptide products health warningMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-05-21 · accessed 2026-09-29
  2. 02Medicines Act 1981 (version as at 10 July 2026)New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office · 2026-07-10 · accessed 2026-09-29
  3. 03Use of Unapproved Medicines and Use of approved Medicines for an unapproved purposeMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2025-12-12 · accessed 2026-09-29
  4. 04Personal Importation of MedicinesMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2021-11-12 · accessed 2026-09-29
  5. 05Medicines Classification Database (Schedule 1, Medicines Regulations 1984)Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-09-25 · accessed 2026-09-29
  6. 06Data sheets index (medicines with consent to be distributed in New Zealand)Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-09-29 · accessed 2026-09-29
  7. 07Product/Application Search (product and application records searched by ingredient on 29 September 2026)Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-07-07 · accessed 2026-09-29
  8. 08Medicines Amendment Act 2025 (Prescriber Update, March 2026)Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-03 · accessed 2026-09-29
  9. 09What's New (29 June 2026: Verification Pathway for New Medicine Applications guideline and consent-by-verification application form)Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-08-24 · accessed 2026-09-29
  10. 10Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight loss not fundedPharmac (Pharmaceutical Management Agency) · 2026-05-14 · accessed 2026-09-29
  11. 11Record of the Obesity Treatments Advisory Group meeting, December 2025Pharmac (Pharmaceutical Management Agency) · 2025-12 · accessed 2026-09-29
  12. 12Pharmaceutical Schedule, October 2026 (Volume 33)Pharmac (Pharmaceutical Management Agency) · 2026-10 · accessed 2026-09-29
  13. 13Guidelines on the Regulation of Therapeutic Products in New Zealand, Part 7: Advertising of therapeutic productsMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2023-10 · accessed 2026-09-29
  14. 14Weight Management / Weight Loss ProductsMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2019-12-19 · accessed 2026-09-29
  15. 15Therapeutic and Health Advertising resourcesAdvertising Standards Authority (New Zealand) · 2026 · accessed 2026-09-29
  16. 16Latest decisions, 20 August 2026 (complaint 26/128, Novo Nordisk, Wegovy billboard)Advertising Standards Authority (New Zealand) · 2026-08-20 · accessed 2026-09-29
  17. 17Reducing the prescription: updates on pharmacy regulation, medicines advertising and the proposed Medical Products BillBell Gully · 2025-10-24 · accessed 2026-09-29
  18. 18Why does NZ allow weight-loss drug billboards? Expert reactionScience Media Centre New Zealand · 2026-08-07 · accessed 2026-09-29
  19. 19Prohibited substances (WADA Prohibited List and 2026 changes)Sport Integrity Commission (New Zealand) · 2026 · accessed 2026-09-29
  20. 20Trulicity (dulaglutide) solution for injection: New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-07-13 · accessed 2026-09-29
  21. 21Victoza (liraglutide) solution for injection: New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-08-27 · accessed 2026-09-29
  22. 22Saxenda (liraglutide) solution for injection: New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-08-27 · accessed 2026-09-29
  23. 23Liraglutide RBX solution for injection: New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2025-08-15 · accessed 2026-09-29
  24. 24Wegovy (semaglutide) solution for injection: New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-06-22 · accessed 2026-09-29
  25. 25Mounjaro (tirzepatide) solution for injection: New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) · 2026-09-10 · accessed 2026-09-29