Category
Muscle and body composition
These compounds target muscle growth signalling. Clinical programmes for myostatin inhibition have produced mixed results and, in the case of ACE-031, were halted for safety signals. IGF-1 analogs sold for research are largely used in cell culture, with little human data.
5 compounds, strongest evidence first
- Soluble activin receptor fusion protein ACE-031 ACE-031 is a decoy receptor that binds myostatin and related growth factors. Human RCTs
- Oral non-peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist MK-677 MK-677 (ibutamoren) is an orally active small molecule that mimics ghrelin and raises growth hormone and IGF-1. Human RCTs
- Myostatin-binding glycoprotein Follistatin-344 Follistatin is a natural protein that binds and neutralizes myostatin and activin, two signals that limit muscle growth. Early human data
- IGF-1 analog IGF-1 LR3 IGF-1 LR3 is an engineered form of insulin-like growth factor 1 that binds poorly to IGF-binding proteins, so more of it stays free to act on the IGF-1 receptor. Cell studies
- IGF-1 splice-variant peptide MGF and PEG-MGF MGF refers to a peptide from the unique tail of IGF-1Ec, a form of IGF-1 produced by muscle after mechanical stress. Cell studies