Vial Guide
PreclinicalIGF-1 analog

IGF-1 DES

des(1-3)IGF-1, IGF-1(4–70)

Common dose
No tested dose
Cycle
No set cycle
Vial sizes
Not established

A shortened IGF-1 missing the first three amino acids, Gly-Pro-Glu. That loss frees it from IGF binding proteins, so more of it reaches the IGF-1 receptor. Like IGF-1, it lowers blood sugar.

Evidence. No human study has tested it. It occurs naturally in human brain tissue, and rat and cell work from the late 1980s and 1990s found it about 10 times as potent as IGF-1, because it escapes the proteins that normally hold IGF-1 inactive. The approved IGF-1 drug, mecasermin, is full-length IGF-1 and a different molecule.

Status

Approval
Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. The approved IGF-1 drug, mecasermin (Increlex), is full-length IGF-1 and a different molecule.
US compounding
Not nominated for compounding. It appears on none of FDA’s 503A or 503B category lists.
Sport (WADA 2026)
Banned in sportS2.3 growth factors: “Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, mecasermin) and its analogues”. A truncated IGF-1 is an analogue, so it is banned at all times.

Category 2 is FDA’s list of bulk substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding. The 503A bulks list adds substances that pharmacies may compound with. Advisory committee votes are advice; FDA makes the final decision. Sport status follows the WADA Prohibited List in force since January 1, 2026; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization. Checked October 5, 2026. Status of every compound.

How it works

IGF-1 DES is IGF-1, the growth factor the liver makes in response to growth hormone, missing its first three amino acids. That small change means IGF binding proteins, which normally hold IGF-1 inactive in blood and tissues, barely grab it, so more reaches the IGF-1 receptor, which drives cell growth and lowers blood sugar. In cell studies it was about 10 times as potent as IGF-1, though it leaves rat blood about 4 times faster.

AnimalMainly from cell and animal studies; not shown in people.

Not known

No study has given it to a person, so how long it lasts, how far it lowers blood sugar, and its effects on growth and cancer risk in people are unknown.

Protocol

Community

No dose has been tested in a person. Amounts quoted online vary widely between sources and rest on user reports, not on any study of this molecule.

Frequency
Not established
Route
Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection (community); no human study has given it by any route
Cycle
No established cycle.

No set cycle, shown over 26 weeks

Taking it

Where it goes

No human study has given it by any route. Community use is injection under the skin or into muscle, on the idea that its short life keeps it near the injection site; that has not been shown in a person.

If you miss a dose

No published guidance.

What to expect

  1. Any time

    Nothing has been measured in a person: no effect on muscle or fat, no time course, no dose response.

    Community
  2. In cell assays

    About 10 times as potent as IGF-1 at stimulating protein synthesis in rat myoblasts, half-maximal at 1.5 ng/mL versus 13 ng/mL, because binding proteins don’t sequester it.

    Animal
  3. In rats

    Cleared from plasma about 4 times faster than IGF-1 (4.59 versus 1.20 mL/min per kg) and distributed more widely into tissues. No human measurement exists, and the “20 to 30 minute half-life” quoted online has no published source.

    Animal

Side effects and what to do

Low blood sugar: shaky, sweaty, hungry, confused

The main expected risk for IGF-1 analogues. For scale, the approved IGF-1 drug mecasermin lists it in about 42% of patients, and that drug is less active per microgram than this one. Fainting or a seizure is an emergency.

Unknown: never given to a person in a published study

There is no measured side-effect profile. Treat anything new as unexplained and stop.

Water retention and joint discomfort

Reported with IGF-1 drugs generally. Tell a prescriber if it persists.

Unknown effect on tissue growth over time

IGF-1 receptor signaling promotes cell growth. Any new or growing lump needs medical assessment.

Stop and get medical help

Confusion, fainting or a seizure (low blood sugar), or hives with swelling or trouble breathing: get emergency help.

Who should avoid it

No product label covers IGF-1 DES, so these come from human studies and from precautions based on how it works. Most important first.

Diabetes, insulin use or low blood sugar
PrecautionIGF-1 lowers blood sugar like insulin, and in pigs this was the strongest blood-sugar-lowering IGF-1 form tested; the mecasermin label warns of severe lows causing seizures (by analogy).
Anyone with active or past cancer
PrecautionIt acts on the IGF-1 receptor, which drives cell growth. The mecasermin label rules out its use in children with cancer or a history of it (by analogy).
Children and teens
PrecautionThe mecasermin label warns of slipping of the hip’s growth plate and worsening scoliosis in growing children (by analogy). This compound has never been tested in children.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
PrecautionNo human safety data exist.
Anyone relying on product quality
PrecautionIt isn’t an approved drug, so vials have no regulated standard for identity, purity, sterility or amount.

Interactions

No interaction studies have been published, and no product label lists any.

Precaution: follows from how it works or from a related drug, and hasn’t been tested. This isn’t a complete list: a pharmacist or doctor can check a specific medicine or condition.

Tracking and pairing

Worth tracking

  • Blood glucose
  • Symptoms of low blood sugar
  • Any new or growing lump

Often paired with

Usually run on its own.

Human studies

No published human studies of IGF-1 DES turned up in our October 2026 review. The evidence note at the top of this page sums up what is known.

Limits of the evidence

No study has given IGF-1 DES to a person. The evidence is rat, pig, monkey and cell work from 1986–1997 showing it occurs naturally in brain tissue and escapes the binding proteins; in injured rat brain it didn’t reduce nerve-cell loss as IGF-1 did. Any dose or route, effects on blood sugar, long-term safety and product purity are untested in people.

How it’s supplied

No vial size or dose has been established for IGF-1 DES, so there’s no mixing math to show.

Datasheet

Half-life
No reliable value has been published.
Type
Protein, 67 amino acids
Molecular weight
about 7,365 g/mol (calculated from the sequence with the three disulfide bonds formed; 7,371 for the reduced form)
Formula
C319H495N91O96S7
Sequence
TLCGAELVDALQFVCGDRGFYFNKPTGYGSSSRRAPQTGIVDECCFRSCDLRRLEMYCAPLKPAKSAIGF-1 residues 4–70, lacking Gly-Pro-Glu; three disulfide bonds
Storage before use
Freezer (about −20 °C) for long-term storage, kept dry.
After mixing or opening
Fridge (2–8 °C); use within about 4 weeks.
  • Molecule: Sequence: mature human IGF-1 minus the N-terminal tripeptide (UniProt P05019). Formula and weight computed from that sequence and cross-checked with ExPASy ProtParam, which returns C319H501N91O96S7 and 7,371.5 for the reduced form. No PubChem record exists for des(1-3)IGF-1.
  • Storage: Community Common practice; no approved label exists for this peptide

Every compound side by side: the half-life chart and the storage chart.

Cautions

  • Low blood sugar is the main expected risk of any IGF-1 analogue, and this one is far more active per microgram than IGF-1 because binding proteins don’t hold it back.
  • It acts on the IGF-1 receptor, which drives cell growth: a concern with any cancer or cancer history.
  • No human safety data of any kind exist for this molecule.
  • The brain research often cited as support is negative: in injured rat brain, IGF-1 reduced nerve-cell loss and des-IGF-1 did not.
  • Prohibited in sport (WADA) as an IGF-1 analogue.

Questions

What is IGF-1 DES?

A shortened IGF-1 missing the first three amino acids, Gly-Pro-Glu. That loss frees it from IGF binding proteins, so more of it reaches the IGF-1 receptor. Like IGF-1, it lowers blood sugar.

How does IGF-1 DES work?

IGF-1 DES is IGF-1, the growth factor the liver makes in response to growth hormone, missing its first three amino acids. That small change means IGF binding proteins, which normally hold IGF-1 inactive in blood and tissues, barely grab it, so more reaches the IGF-1 receptor, which drives cell growth and lowers blood sugar. In cell studies it was about 10 times as potent as IGF-1, though it leaves rat blood about 4 times faster. No study has given it to a person, so how long it lasts, how far it lowers blood sugar, and its effects on growth and cancer risk in people are unknown.

Is IGF-1 DES FDA-approved?

Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. The approved IGF-1 drug, mecasermin (Increlex), is full-length IGF-1 and a different molecule. Not nominated for compounding. It appears on none of FDA’s 503A or 503B category lists.

What is the usual IGF-1 DES dose?

From community reports, not established: No dose has been tested in a person. Amounts quoted online vary widely between sources and rest on user reports, not on any study of this molecule. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.

Who should avoid IGF-1 DES?

No product label covers IGF-1 DES, so these come from human studies and from precautions based on how it works. Diabetes, insulin use or low blood sugar: IGF-1 lowers blood sugar like insulin, and in pigs this was the strongest blood-sugar-lowering IGF-1 form tested; the mecasermin label warns of severe lows causing seizures (by analogy). Anyone with active or past cancer: It acts on the IGF-1 receptor, which drives cell growth. The mecasermin label rules out its use in children with cancer or a history of it (by analogy). Children and teens: The mecasermin label warns of slipping of the hip’s growth plate and worsening scoliosis in growing children (by analogy). This compound has never been tested in children. The “Who should avoid it” section lists 2 more groups.

How should IGF-1 DES be stored?

Before mixing: Freezer (about −20 °C) for long-term storage, kept dry. After mixing: Fridge (2–8 °C); use within about 4 weeks. This is common practice; no product label covers it.

Is IGF-1 DES banned in sport?

Yes. S2.3 growth factors: “Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, mecasermin) and its analogues”. A truncated IGF-1 is an analogue, so it is banned at all times.

Has IGF-1 DES been studied in people?

No published human studies turned up in our October 2026 review. The evidence note at the top of this page sums up what is known.

Sources

  • Bagley et al., a key functional role for the IGF-1 N-terminal pentapeptide (Biochem J 1989) PMID 2730580
  • Ross et al., IGF binding proteins inhibit IGF-1 and IGF-2 but not des-(1-3)-IGF-1 (Biochem J 1989) PMID 2539101
  • Ballard et al., plasma clearance and tissue distribution of IGF-I, IGF-II and des(1-3)IGF-I in rats (J Endocrinol 1991) PMID 2005410
  • Guan et al., effects of IGF-1, IGF-2 and des-IGF-1 on neuronal loss after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in adult rats (Endocrinology 1996) PMID 8603600
  • Sara et al., identification of a variant form of IGF-I in human fetal brain (PNAS 1986) PMID 3460078

For the protocol details

  • Francis et al., IGF-1 and IGF-2 in bovine colostrum, compared with a potent truncated form (Biochem J 1988) PMID 3390164
  • Tomas et al., IGF-I and especially IGF-I variants are anabolic in dexamethasone-treated rats (Biochem J 1992) PMID 1371669
  • Carlsson-Skwirut et al., isolation of variant IGF-1 from adult human brain (FEBS Lett 1986) PMID 3709807

For how it works, who should avoid it and the limits of the evidence

  • Tomas et al., low-binding IGF-I variants and blood sugar in pigs and marmosets (J Endocrinol 1997) PMID 9415072
  • Increlex (mecasermin) prescribing information, sections 4 and 5, cited by analogy (DailyMed, rev. 05/2026)

Doses tagged Community come from public dosing guides and user reports, checked against at least two of them. Those sites aren’t named here because many of them sell peptides or earn commissions on them.

By Vial Guide editorsLast reviewed

How we review