IGF-1 DES
IGF-1 missing its first three amino acids: more potent and very short-acting, studied for local muscle effects.
Not approved. Research use only.
Look it up on Wikipedia2 listings across 2 independently tested vendors, ranked by price per milligram after coupon codes anyone can use. Vendors you can only order from by message are hidden.
Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it.
Daily price tracking started October 7, 2026; a price-history chart appears here once a few days have been collected.
| Vendor | Trust | Listing | Vials | Price | Per mg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huaian Dinglin Trading #268 by metascore · China |
Metascore 70Finnrick 61%Bought vials 97% of label · 10 testsTitrateLabNo report for thisOnline checkout |
IGF-DES 2mgx10vials | 10 × 2 mg = 20 mg | $60.00 $6.00 per vial |
$3.00 | Buy |
Hangzhou Youngpeptide Biotechnology HYB #153 by metascore |
IGF-DES 2 mg – 10 Vials | 10 × 2 mg = 20 mg | $80.00 $8.00 per vial |
$4.00 | Buy |
Mixing a 1 mg vial
What each common amount of bacteriostatic water gives you on a U-100 insulin syringe. Pick a vial size above to change it.
| Water | Strength | Per 10 units (0.1 mL) | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 1 mg/mL | 100 mcg | 10 mcg |
| 2 mL | 0.5 mg/mL | 50 mcg | 5 mcg |
| 3 mL | 0.333 mg/mL | 33.3 mcg | 3.33 mcg |
| 5 mL | 0.2 mg/mL | 20 mcg | 2 mcg |
Published lab results
1 certificate of analysis that vendors publish for IGF-1 DES. Numbers are only filled in where the document is readable text; image-only COAs are linked without numbers. A vendor's own COA shows one tested sample, not every batch.
| Vendor | Lab | Date | Label | Measured | Purity | Batch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BioPrecise LLCCOA concerns Several product pages link other compounds' COAs (Epithalon, Tesamorelin, AOD-9604, NAD+ and CJC-1295 DAC to IGF-1 LR3; SS-31 to Retatrutide; HCG to GHK-Cu). Those have no own test; 15 others have real Finnrick tests. Checked 2026-10-08. How we check |
– | – | 1 mg | – | – | View (image) |
Doses studied in research Animal or lab studies only
What was given to people (or animals) in published studies and official labels, each linked to its source. This is not a recommendation: study products, purity and supervision differ from research-grade vials.
Animal studies: Rats received des(1-3)IGF-I at about 0.9-1.08 mg/kg/day by subcutaneous osmotic pump for 7 days (renal failure, gut resection and diabetic models), and 100 μg/kg as a single intramuscular dose in an anti-doping detection study; cell-culture work used roughly 10-50 ng/ml.
No human studies of des(1-3)IGF-I were found. Doses in animal studies do not translate directly to people, and the compound is prohibited in sport.
What the research says
IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) is a naturally occurring truncated IGF-I that is more potent than IGF-I in cell and rodent studies; all in-vivo evidence is from rats, mice and pigs, mostly from the early 1990s. It has never been evaluated in human trials, and animal and cell studies raise growth-promoting (tumour) concerns.
Key papers ✓ 4✗ 4? 2
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Increased weight gain, nitrogen retention and muscle protein synthesis following treatment of diabetic rats with insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and des(1-3)IGF-I.Animalssize not reportedSham/vehicle control7 daysAnimal infusion study of hGH, IGF-I, des(1-3)IGF-I and insulin
In diabetic rats, 7 days of des(1-3)IGF-I improved weight gain and nitrogen retention (~70% of insulin's effect) via increased muscle protein synthesis, without fixing glucose control.
Key resultIGF-I gave about 30% of the improvement achieved with insulin (significant in only one of two experiments, P < 0.05); a 2.5-fold higher IGF-I dose or des(1-3)IGF-I gave approx. 70% of insulin's effect.
Study details
- Studied
- Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
- Compared with
- Vehicle controls; insulin; hGH
- Main outcome
- Body weight, nitrogen retention, muscle protein synthesis
- Authors' conclusion
- IGF peptides stimulate muscle protein synthesis and improve nitrogen balance in diabetic rats without improving glucosuria; des(1-3)IGF-I is at least as potent as IGF-I.
- Limitations
- Rat model; group sizes not stated in abstract.
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Insulin-like growth factor I and its variant, des(1-3)IGF-I, improve nitrogen balance and food utilization in rats with renal failure.Animalssize not reportedSham/vehicle control7 daysAnimal study of subcutaneous IGF-I (0.9 or 2.2 mg/kg/day) or des(1-3)IGF-I (0.9 mg/kg/day) by osmotic pump
In rats with partial kidney removal, des(1-3)IGF-I improved food utilization 13-16%, cut nitrogen excretion 24% and lowered serum urea 25%, without altering carcass composition.
Key resultFood utilization improved 13-16% in all peptide groups; nitrogen excretion fell 24% with des(1-3)IGF-I and 16% and 18% with low- and high-dose IGF-I.
Study details
- Studied
- Rats after 5/6 nephrectomy (renal failure model)
- Compared with
- Vehicle-treated nephrectomized rats; sham-operated controls
- Main outcome
- Nitrogen balance, food utilization, serum urea, muscle protein degradation
- Sample
- 5/6 nephrectomy rats, 8 per group (4 groups); 7 sham controls
- Authors' conclusion
- IGF-I, and more particularly des(1-3)IGF-I, may be efficacious in overcoming impaired growth in renal failure.
- Limitations
- Rat model; 7-day study.
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IGF-I and the truncated analogue des-(1-3)IGF-I enhance growth in rats after gut resection.Animalssize not reportedSham/vehicle control7 daysAnimal study of IGF-I (0.96 or 2.4 mg/kg/day) or des-(1-3)IGF-I (0.96 mg/kg/day) by osmotic pump
In rats after removal of 80% of the small bowel, des(1-3)IGF-I improved weight gain and nitrogen balance; kidney and thymus weights also increased.
Key resultNitrogen balance over the last 3 days was 242 ± 14 mg/d (high-dose IGF-I) and 217 ± 13 mg/d (des-(1-3)IGF-I) vs 153 ± 21 mg/d in controls (P less than 0.05).
Study details
- Studied
- 170 g rats after resection of 80% of jejunum plus ileum
- Compared with
- Vehicle and low-dose IGF-I
- Main outcome
- Weight gain and nitrogen balance
- Authors' conclusion
- High-dose IGF-I and des-(1-3)IGF-I enhanced weight gain and nitrogen balance after gut resection in rats; effects partly explained by reduced muscle protein breakdown.
- Limitations
- Rat model; abstract truncated.
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Enhanced potency of truncated insulin-like growth factor-I (des(1-3)IGF-I) relative to IGF-I in lit/lit mice.Animalssize not reported3 weeksAnimal study comparing daily injections of IGF-I and des(1-3)IGF-I
In GH-deficient mice, 3 weeks of des(1-3)IGF-I increased body length at a tenth of the effective IGF-I dose, with increased kidney and heart weights; body weight did not change significantly.
Key result30 µg IGF-I, 30 µg des(1-3)IGF-I or 3 µg des(1-3)IGF-I daily increased length substantially more than in controls or 3 µg IGF-I; body weight changes were not statistically significant.
Study details
- Studied
- lit/lit (GH-deficient) mice
- Compared with
- Controls; IGF-I
- Main outcome
- Total length, nose-rump length, body and organ weights
- Authors' conclusion
- The higher potency of des(1-3)IGF-I seen in cultured cells also applies in vivo in at least one GH-deficient mouse strain.
- Limitations
- One mouse strain; group sizes not stated in abstract.
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Cooperative interaction between mutant p53 and des(1-3)IGF-I accelerates mammary tumorigenesis.Animalssize not reportedUp to 23 months of ageTransgenic mouse mammary tumorigenesis study
Transgenic mice overexpressing des(1-3)IGF-I in the mammary gland developed pre-cancerous lesions, and 53% developed mammary adenocarcinomas by 23 months; mutant p53 accelerated tumour onset.
Key resultBy 23 months, 53% of WAP-DES mice developed mammary adenocarcinomas; tumor latency was reduced by 8 months in bitransgenic mice.
Study details
- Studied
- Transgenic mice overexpressing des(1-3)hIGF-I (WAP-DES) and/or mutant p53 (p53172R-H)
- Compared with
- Nontransgenic and p53172R-H mice
- Main outcome
- Mammary tumor incidence and latency
- Authors' conclusion
- Overexpression of des(1-3)hIGF-I increases mammary intraepithelial neoplasia and stochastic tumors, and mutant p53 accelerates tumors with genomic instability. This is transgenic overexpression, not drug dosing.
- Limitations
- Transgenic overexpression model; not peptide administration.
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Des (1-3) IGF-I-stimulated growth of human stromal BPH cells is inhibited by a vitamin D3 analogue.Cells / labIn vitro cell study of Des(1-3)IGF-I and a vitamin D3 analogue
In human benign prostatic hyperplasia stromal cells, des(1-3)IGF-I acted as a potent mitogen, stimulating growth and inhibiting apoptosis.
Study details
- Studied
- Human stromal benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) cells
- Main outcome
- BPH cell proliferation, apoptosis, bcl-2 expression
- Authors' conclusion
- Des(1-3)IGF-I is a potent mitogen for BPH stromal cells, stimulating growth and inhibiting apoptosis; a vitamin D3 analogue inhibited this and induced apoptosis, so such analogues might be considered for BPH treatment.
- Limitations
- In vitro only.
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Des(1-3)IGF-I: a truncated form of insulin-like growth factor-I.No new dataNarrative review
Review noting des(1-3)IGF-I is ~10-fold more potent than IGF-I in cultured cells due to weak IGF-binding-protein binding, with anabolic effects mainly in gut tissue in vivo; clinical use had not been evaluated.
Study details
- Studied
- Literature on des(1-3)IGF-I, a truncated IGF-I variant
- Main outcome
- Potency, biology and potential clinical use
- Authors' conclusion
- Des(1-3)IGF-I is generally about 10-fold more potent than IGF-I in cultured cells due to reduced IGFBP binding, with selective anabolic effects in gut in vivo. Clinical opportunities have not yet been evaluated.
- Limitations
- No clinical data.
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The effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, and des-IGF-1 on neuronal loss after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in adult rats: evidence for a role for IGF binding proteins.AnimalsGroups of 10 to 20 rats per treatmentSham/vehicle controlNeuronal loss assessed 5 days laterAnimal experiment, intraventricular dosing
In adult rats after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, central IGF-1 reduced neuronal loss, but des-IGF-1 at 2 or 20 micrograms did not (only a non-significant trend at 150 micrograms), pointing to a role for IGF binding proteins.
Key resultIGF-1 (20 micrograms) reduced neuronal loss in all regions (P < 0.01); des-IGF-1 at 2 and 20 micrograms did not.
Study details
- Studied
- Adult rats with unilateral hypoxic-ischemic brain injury
- Compared with
- IGF-1, IGF-2, vehicle
- Main outcome
- Neuronal loss in cortex, striatum, hippocampus and other regions
- Authors' conclusion
- Binding proteins may target IGF-1's neuroprotective action; IGF-2 may antagonise IGF-1 by displacing it from them.
- Limitations
- Rat study of des-IGF-1 as a comparator; 1996.
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Prenatal (1-3)IGF-1 Treatment Is Ineffective and Behaviorally Detrimental in a Rat Model of Cortical Malformation.Animalssize not reportedSham/vehicle controlPrenatal plus prolonged early postnatal treatmentAnimal study with in utero MRI and behavioural testing
In a rat model of cortical malformation, prenatal and early postnatal (1-3)IGF-1 did not improve brain growth, neurometabolites or seizure susceptibility, and long-term exposure impaired spatial working memory.
Study details
- Studied
- Rat offspring in a MAM-induced cortical malformation model
- Compared with
- Untreated / vehicle groups
- Main outcome
- Brain morphology, neurometabolites, seizure susceptibility, behaviour
- Authors' conclusion
- No benefit in any paradigm and detrimental behavioural effects, cautioning against assuming earlier or longer IGF-1-based treatment is beneficial.
- Limitations
- Animal model of one specific malformation.
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Cardioprotective effect of insulin-like growth factor I in myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion.Animalssize not reportedSham/vehicle control20 min ischemia plus 24 h reperfusionAnimal experiment
In rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, IGF-I reduced heart injury and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, but this protection was not seen with des-(1-3)-IGF-I.
Study details
- Studied
- Rats with myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion
- Compared with
- IGF-I; vehicle
- Main outcome
- Creatine kinase loss, neutrophil accumulation, myocyte apoptosis
- Authors' conclusion
- IGF-I protected ischemic myocardium; the abstract states the protective effect was not observed with des-(1-3)-IGF-I.
- Limitations
- Des-(1-3)-IGF-I was only a comparator in a study of IGF-I; 1995.
Reported side effects
No human safety data in the published literature; animal and cell studies show potent mitogenic effects, including promotion of mammary tumours in transgenic mice.
✓ positive · ✗ negative · ~ mixed · ? inconclusive, judged on each paper's own main outcome. Grades: A strong human evidence → D little or none. Papers and verdicts are drawn from PubMed, Europe PMC and Russian journals (CyberLeninka); not medical advice.
Discussions elsewhere
Experiences and questions about IGF-1 DES on other sites. Treat anecdotes with care.
IGF-1 DES: questions people ask
What is IGF-1 DES?
Truncated IGF-1. IGF-1 missing its first three amino acids: more potent and very short-acting, studied for local muscle effects.
How much does IGF-1 DES cost?
The cheapest IGF-1 DES from an independently tested vendor is $3.00 per mg (Huaian Dinglin Trading, IGF-DES 2mgx10vials, $60.00). Across 2 listings from 2 vendors the median is $4.00 per mg.
Where can I buy IGF-1 DES?
2 vendors tested by Finnrick sell IGF-1 DES. The cheapest per mg right now: Huaian Dinglin Trading ($3.00), Hangzhou Youngpeptide Biotechnology HYB ($4.00). 0 of them publish a lab report (COA) for IGF-1 DES; compare lab scores and reports in the table above before buying.
How much bacteriostatic water for 2 mg of IGF-1 DES?
Adding 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to a 2 mg vial of IGF-1 DES gives 1 mg/mL: each 10 units on a U-100 insulin syringe holds 100 mcg. With 1 mL it's 2 mg/mL (200 mcg per 10 units); with 3 mL, 0.667 mg/mL (66.7 mcg per 10 units). More water makes small amounts easier to measure. Mixing charts: 2 mg.
Is IGF-1 DES FDA approved?
Not approved. Research use only.
Can IGF-1 DES be compounded in the US?
Not an FDA-approved drug and not nominated for FDA's 503A bulks list, so US pharmacies can't legally compound it. Compounding status for every peptide.
Does IGF-1 DES work? What does the research say?
Evidence grade C (mostly animal studies), from 10 papers: Never tested in humans; rat, mouse and pig studies show anabolic effects, with negative neuroprotection results and tumour signals in transgenic mice. IGF-1 DES (des(1-3)IGF-I) is a naturally occurring truncated IGF-I that is more potent than IGF-I in cell and rodent studies; all in-vivo evidence is from rats, mice and pigs, mostly from the early 1990s. It has never been evaluated in human trials, and animal and cell studies raise growth-promoting (tumour) concerns. See the papers.
What dose of IGF-1 DES was used in studies?
IGF-1 DES is tested only in animals or cells. Rats received des(1-3)IGF-I at about 0.9-1.08 mg/kg/day by subcutaneous osmotic pump for 7 days (renal failure, gut resection and diabetic models), and 100 μg/kg as a single intramuscular dose in an anti-doping detection study; cell-culture work used roughly 10-50 ng/ml. These are amounts used in published studies or official labels, not a recommendation.