Performance · Research Phase
IGF-1 DES (1-3)
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
IGF-1 DES (1-3) is a truncated form of insulin-like growth factor 1 lacking the first three N-terminal residues, glycine-proline-glutamate, and it occurs naturally in tissues such as bovine colostrum and human brain as a processing product of IGF-1 (PMID 8930132). Loss of the glutamate at position 3 greatly reduces binding to IGF-binding proteins, and in cultured cells the truncated peptide is roughly ten times more potent than IGF-1 at stimulating cell growth and proliferation (PMID 8930132).
In rat myoblast and other cell lines it was among the most potent IGF-1 variants tested for stimulating protein and DNA synthesis (PMID 1378742). Its potency is only partly retained in animals, where effects have been most evident in gut tissue (PMID 8930132).
02 · Research summary & key findings
No controlled clinical trials of IGF-1 DES (1-3) have been published, and the compound has never been approved for human use, although it is available as a black market product and is prohibited in sport (PMID 33587816, PMID 42395176). Evidence is limited to cell culture and animal work, including greater and more prolonged blood glucose lowering than IGF-1 in pigs and marmosets, an effect that signals metabolic risk rather than proven benefit (PMID 9415072). Human pharmacokinetics and safety have not been characterized, and detection studies in rats were done for anti-doping purposes rather than to establish a therapeutic profile (PMID 33587816).
03 · Regulatory status
IGF-1 DES (1-3) is in the research phase with limited clinical data in humans. Current evidence is primarily derived from preclinical (animal or in vitro) studies.
No lawful pathway today
IGF-1 DES (1-3) is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for athletic performance?
IGF-1 DES (1-3) is a research compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on athletic performance, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
References
- [1]Novel recombinant fusion protein analogues of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I indicate the relative importance of IGF-binding protein and receptor binding for enhanced biological potency J Mol Endocrinol, 1992. PMID 1378742
- [2]Detection of LongR(3) -IGF-I, Des(1-3)-IGF-I, and R(3) -IGF-I using immunopurification and high resolution mass spectrometry for antidoping purposes Drug Test Anal, 2021. PMID 33587816
- [3]The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2026. PMID 42395176
- [4]Des(1-3)IGF-I: a truncated form of insulin-like growth factor-I Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 1996. PMID 8930132
- [5]IGF-I variants which bind poorly to IGF-binding proteins show more potent and prolonged hypoglycaemic action than native IGF-I in pigs and marmoset monkeys J Endocrinol, 1997. PMID 9415072
Primary literature
- PubMed: "IGF-1 DES"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "IGF-1 DES"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "IGF-1 DES"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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