Australian actor and martial arts expert Richard Norton died after complications linked to unapproved peptide injections, a coroner has ruled.
The 75-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest after injecting himself with CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin before collapsing at his home. He died at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital on March 30 last year.
Coroner David Ryan found that the peptide products had triggered complications leading to Norton’s death. The substances, prescribed by a doctor, are intended to stimulate the body’s natural production of growth hormone.
CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are used to support muscle growth and exercise recovery, as well as for sleep, fat loss, tissue repair and collagen production. The coroner’s finding is believed to be the first in Australia to link a death to unapproved peptides.
Norton had sought treatment for fatigue, reduced physical recovery, shoulder pain and the loss of lean muscle mass. He had asthma and osteoarthritis, and had undergone reconstruction of both shoulders.
He approached Dr Jerzy Muchnicki after developing an interest in peptide therapy. The doctor discussed the experimental nature of the treatment, its potential risks and the lack of other treatment options approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Norton also underwent blood tests and signed an informed consent form before being prescribed the injectable products. A licensed compounding pharmacy in Queensland prepared the treatment.
In findings released on Wednesday, Mr Ryan said Norton “had been taking amounts of the medication in excess of the dose prescribed by his medical practitioner”.
The coronial report said Norton told a nurse at Dr Muchnicki’s clinic that he had been administering twice the prescribed dose. “The nurse advised Richard that from the following week he ought to only administer the prescribed dose,” it said.
Just hours after speaking to the nurse, Norton injected himself with CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin before becoming unresponsive.
Days earlier, he had told Dr Muchnicki that the therapy had improved his symptoms and that he was “feeling good”.
Mr Ryan recommended that the Therapeutic Goods Administration review the benefits and safety risks of the two peptides and “consider whether further restrictions ought to be imposed on their use”.
The TGA said there were several existing pathways allowing doctors to access unapproved peptides. It added: “TGA continues to warn consumers about the risks of unapproved peptides, which have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness.”
Norton grew up in Sydney and began studying judo aged 11, earning a black belt in karate by the age of 17. He later became a martial arts instructor, stuntman, personal security guard and fight trainer.
He trained stars including Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Ben Affleck, Liam Neeson and Charlie Hunnam, and most recently worked as a fight co-ordinator on films including Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Suicide Squad and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
