HEAD-TO-HEAD

IGF-1 LR3 VS GH FRAGMENT (LIPOLYTIC)

IGF-1 LR3 and AOD-9604 represent the two opposing halves of the growth-hormone axis research conversation. IGF-1 LR3 is the long-acting downstream anabolic effector (IGF-1R agonist, extends plasma half-life via reduced IGFBP binding). AOD-9604 is the upstream lipolytic fragment of hGH (residues 176-191), engineered to retain fat-oxidation activity without IGF-1 elevation. Anabolic vs lipolytic, downstream vs fragment.

A · No. 017

IGF-1 LR3

Long R3 IGF-1 · extended half-life anabolic research compound

B · No. 024

GH FRAGMENT (LIPOLYTIC)

Synthetic C-terminal HGH fragment · lipolytic research

SIDE BY SIDE

FIELD

A · IGF-1 LR3

B · GH FRAGMENT (LIPOLYTIC)

Class

83-residue insulin-like growth factor 1 analog

16-residue C-terminal fragment of hGH (residues 176-191) with N-terminal Tyr

Mechanism

Direct IGF-1 receptor agonism (PI3K-Akt + Ras-MAPK)

Beta-adrenergic-mediated lipolysis in adipose, no IGF-1 elevation

Primary research focus

Protein synthesis · anabolic research

Lipolysis · obesity (Phase 2b) · cartilage

Half-life

~6 hours (vs ~10 min native IGF-1)

Short (minutes) plasma

IGF-1 elevation

Yes · primary mechanism

No · engineering goal was to avoid IGF-1 elevation

Hypoglycemia risk

Yes (binds insulin receptor at higher doses)

Not reported

FDA status

Not FDA-approved · research-use only (note: mecasermin/Increlex approves native IGF-1, distinct molecule)

Not FDA-approved. Australian TGA Schedule 4 in 2020.

WADA status

Prohibited at all times under S2

Prohibited at all times under S2 (growth-hormone fragments)

WHICH IS BETTER · BY GOAL

▶ Protein synthesis / anabolic researchA · IGF-1 LR3

Tomas 1993 (J Endocrinol) reported increased protein synthesis in rat skeletal muscle with LR3-IGF-1. AOD-9604 was not designed for anabolic activity.

▶ Lipolytic-only research (no IGF-1 elevation)B · GH FRAGMENT (LIPOLYTIC)

AOD-9604 was specifically engineered to retain hGH's lipolytic activity without driving IGF-1 elevation. The clinical Phase 2b did not meet primary weight-loss endpoint but the pharmacological design is the cleaner lipolytic probe.

▶ Established Phase 2/3 outcomesB · GH FRAGMENT (LIPOLYTIC)

AOD-9604 has the 12-week Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Phase 2b on record (1 mg/day, did not meet primary endpoint). IGF-1 LR3 does not have a completed human Phase 3 trial.

▶ Pharmacological half-life advantage vs nativeA · IGF-1 LR3

LR3 modification extends half-life from ~10 min (native IGF-1) to ~6 hr (LR3) · the engineering goal. AOD-9604 remains a short-half-life fragment.

STACKING NOTE

IGF-1 LR3 + AOD-9604 are sometimes referenced together in community body-composition research as a 'lipolytic + anabolic' framing. No published RCT validates the combination. Both are WADA-prohibited under S2.

SOURCED FROM GIGACOMPOUNDS

Both compounds are available as research-grade material at GigaCompounds · ≥99% purity · per-batch CoA. For laboratory research use only.

SOURCE AT GIGACOMPOUNDS ▶