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All peptides

Performance · Research Phase

MGF (Mechano Growth Factor)

No lawful US pathway

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Written by Peptide Association Editorial TeamLast reviewed Editorial policy

01 · Overview

Mechano Growth Factor is the name given to a splice variant of the IGF-1 gene, IGF-1Eb in rodents and IGF-1Ec in humans, that is upregulated in muscle after mechanical loading or damage, and to the synthetic 24-amino-acid C-terminal E-domain peptide derived from it (PMID 20130113). In rat muscle, expression of this splice variant rises rapidly after mechanical damage and precedes markers of satellite cell activation, while the systemic IGF-1Ea variant rises later (PMID 12692175).

It is important to note that no corresponding natural MGF peptide has been isolated from cells, culture medium or animal tissues, so the activity ascribed to the synthetic peptide is not established as a physiological signal (PMID 20130113).

02 · Research summary & key findings

In human primary muscle cell cultures, including cells from people with muscular dystrophy and ALS, the synthetic E-domain peptide increased the pool of mononuclear progenitor cells and blocked myogenic differentiation (PMID 17531227). Two pharmaceutical companies later failed to reproduce effects of MGF peptides on proliferation or differentiation of mouse and human myoblasts or on primary muscle stem cells, which casts doubt on the proposed physiological role (PMID 24253050). In mice, plasmid-based muscle delivery of the MGF sequence improved hindlimb muscle strength and motoneuron survival in an ALS model, which is gene-transfer evidence in animals rather than peptide injection in humans (PMID 19038252). No human clinical trials of MGF have been published and it has no regulatory approval (PMID 42395176).

03 · Regulatory status

MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) 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

MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) 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?

MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) 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

  • Intramuscular injection

References

  1. [1]Expression and splicing of the insulin-like growth factor gene in rodent muscle is associated with muscle satellite (stem) cell activation following local tissue damage J Physiol, 2003. PMID 12692175
  2. [2]The IGF-I splice variant MGF increases progenitor cells in ALS, dystrophic, and normal muscle FEBS Lett, 2007. PMID 17531227
  3. [3]Mechano-growth factor, an IGF-I splice variant, rescues motoneurons and improves muscle function in SOD1(G93A) mice Exp Neurol, 2009. PMID 19038252
  4. [4]Minireview: Mechano-growth factor: a putative product of IGF-I gene expression involved in tissue repair and regeneration Endocrinology, 2010. PMID 20130113
  5. [5]Mechano-growth factor peptide, the COOH terminus of unprocessed insulin-like growth factor 1, has no apparent effect on myoblasts or primary muscle stem cells Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2014. PMID 24253050
  6. [6]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

Primary literature

  • PubMed: "MGF"

    Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: "MGF"

    Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.

  • PubChem: "MGF"

    Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.

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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.