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Legal status · Australia

Is Mifepristone legal in Australia?

Written by Reviewed Sep 2026

ApprovedHormoneNo human studies cited

Direct answer

Yes. Mifepristone is an approved medicine in Australia, classified as "TGA-registered, prescription only". Approval covers its labeled indication and it is supplied on prescription, not over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" fall outside that approval and the label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.

Mifepristone in Australia at a glance

ClassificationTGA-registered, prescription only
TGA approval statusApproved by TGA for its labeled use
Human studies cited0 of 1 citations on the profile
ReviewedSep 2026

Classification and note come from the Mifepristone profile, checked against Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) listings at the reviewed date.

What this means

  • 01

    TGA has approved Mifepristone for at least one labeled indication, so a pharmaceutical-grade product exists in Australia and is dispensed on prescription.

  • 02

    Approval is indication-specific. Uses outside the label are a clinical decision for a prescriber, not something the approval itself authorizes.

  • 03

    Unlicensed online vials, including those labeled "research use only", are not the approved product and are not covered by the approval.

What Mifepristone is

Blocking cortisol signalling was a serious longevity hypothesis, because chronic glucocorticoid exposure damages muscle, bone and brain. The mouse lifespan test found nothing in either sex.

The reason anyone tested this is worth stating, because it is a good hypothesis. Cortisol rises with age, and sustained glucocorticoid exposure causes exactly the changes that define ageing badly: muscle wasting, bone loss, visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance, hippocampal atrophy and immune suppression.

Mechanism: A competitive antagonist at the glucocorticoid receptor, blocking cortisol's transcriptional effects, and at the progesterone receptor, which is the basis of its obstetric use. At the glucocorticoid receptor it prevents the catabolic signalling that drives muscle proteolysis, hepatic gluconeogenesis and adipose redistribution.

Regulatory history: FDA-approved as Korlym for hyperglycaemia secondary to hypercortisolism in Cushing's syndrome, and as Mifeprex for medical termination of pregnancy. Not approved for any ageing indication.

How TGA treats this kind of product

Registers or lists therapeutic goods on the ARTG and schedules substances in the Poisons Standard. Many peptides are Schedule 4 (prescription only), so possession without a prescription and personal importation are restricted even when no product is registered.

The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Therapeutic Goods Administration listings for Mifepristone at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.

Mifepristone in other countries

Frequently asked questions

Is Mifepristone legal in Australia?

Yes. Mifepristone is an approved medicine in Australia, classified as "TGA-registered, prescription only". Approval covers its labeled indication and it is supplied on prescription, not over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" fall outside that approval and the label does not make human use lawful. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.

Can I buy Mifepristone in Australia?

Only with a prescription. Mifepristone is classified as "TGA-registered, prescription only" in Australia, so it is dispensed by pharmacies against a prescription for its approved indication. Buying it from unlicensed online sellers or as a "research chemical" is outside that system and carries no regulatory protection.

Is Mifepristone TGA approved?

Yes, for its labeled indication. In Australia Mifepristone is classified as "TGA-registered, prescription only". For comparison, the US FDA status is: FDA-approved as Korlym for hyperglycaemia secondary to hypercortisolism in Cushing's syndrome, and as Mifeprex for medical termination of pregnancy. Not approved for any ageing indication.. On the evidence, no human study is cited on its profile.

Related compounds in Australia

Full research profile

Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Mifepristone live on its compound profile.

Mifepristone profile

This page is general information about the regulatory status of Mifepristone in Australia, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Therapeutic Goods Administration directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.