IGF-1 (overview)
Also known as: Mecasermin, Increlex, Somatomedin-C, IGF-I
IGF-1 (overview), also called Mecasermin or Increlex, is a research peptide in the IGF-1 receptor agonist class. Insulin-like growth factor 1 is a 70-amino-acid peptide produced mainly by the liver under growth hormone stimulation, and it mediates most of the anabolic effects attributed to growth hormone.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 67763-96-6
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 7649 Da
- Half-life
- ~10–16 hours (bound); minutes unbound
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Last updated
- Sep 6, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- IGF-1 receptor
Research summary
Endogenous growth factor. Recombinant mecasermin (Increlex) is FDA-approved for severe primary IGF-1 deficiency. Research vials are unapproved. WADA S2.
Peptide Library's IGF-1 (overview) profile summarises 3 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
IGF-1 (overview) dosage chart
Recombinant human IGF-1 has an FDA-approved human dosage as mecasermin: 0.04–0.08 mg/kg twice daily by subcutaneous injection, escalated by 0.04 mg/kg per dose to a maximum of 0.12 mg/kg twice daily, given within 20 minutes of a meal. It is approved only for growth failure in children with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency, and the meal requirement exists because IGF-1 causes hypoglycaemia.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 0.04–0.12 mg/kg twice daily (weight-based) |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Frequency | Twice daily |
| Duration studied | Continuous while growth failure is being treated |
| Titration | Start at 0.04–0.08 mg/kg twice daily; if tolerated for at least one week, increase by 0.04 mg/kg per dose, to a maximum of 0.12 mg/kg twice daily. |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label — Increlex (Ipsen)FDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Paediatric patients aged 2+ with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency, or GH gene deletion with neutralising antibodies to GH | 0.04–0.08 mg/kg twice daily, maximum 0.12 mg/kg twice daily | Subcutaneous | Twice daily, within 20 minutes of a meal or snack; withhold if the meal is omitted | Continuous | Treatment of growth failure | INCRELEX (mecasermin) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| FDA label — Increlex (Eton)FDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Same approved population as the reference product | As per the approved labelling | Subcutaneous | Twice daily | — | Treatment of growth failure | INCRELEX (mecasermin) injection — FDA prescribing information (Eton Pharmaceuticals), DailyMed |
Where sources disagree
- Approved dosing is weight-based and twice daily, and the label requires it to be taken within 20 minutes of a meal, withholding the dose if the meal is skipped. That instruction exists because IGF-1 lowers blood glucose. Protocols quoted for performance use routinely omit both the weight basis and the hypoglycaemia precaution.
- The approval covers children with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency, a rare growth disorder. There is no approved indication, and no trial, for IGF-1 in healthy adults for muscle growth or recovery.
- Mecasermin is recombinant human IGF-1. It is not the same molecule as IGF-1 LR3 or IGF-1 DES, which are engineered analogues sold separately and which have no human dosing evidence of their own.
Handling & administration
- Injection Sites
- Abdomen
- Timing Notes
- Typically addressed indirectly via GH secretagogues; direct use is prescription-only and indication-specific.
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular weight | 7649 Da |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 67763-96-6 |
| Half-life | ~10–16 hours (bound); minutes unbound |
| Appearance | Injection |
| Formulation | Solution |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Insulin-like growth factor 1 is a 70-amino-acid peptide produced mainly by the liver under growth hormone stimulation, and it mediates most of the anabolic effects attributed to growth hormone. It activates the IGF-1 receptor, a tyrosine kinase that signals through PI3K/Akt and MAPK to promote protein synthesis, cell proliferation and survival. In circulation over ninety percent is bound to IGF binding proteins, principally IGFBP-3 with the acid-labile subunit, which buffers free concentrations and extends half-life from minutes to hours. At high concentrations it cross-reacts with the insulin receptor, which is why hypoglycaemia is the characteristic acute risk of excess free IGF-1.
Origin
Endogenous 70-aa peptide; recombinant pharmaceutical form exists.
Targets
Regulatory & research status
IGF-1 (overview) is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Banned in Sport |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
Benefits
IGF-1 (overview) side effects
The effects below are drawn from IGF-1 (overview)'s prescribing information, which lists the full adverse-reaction data.
Side Effects
- Hypoglycemia
- Tonsillar hypertrophy
- Intracranial hypertension
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
IGF-1 (overview): frequently asked questions
What is IGF-1 (overview)?
Endogenous growth factor. Recombinant mecasermin (Increlex) is FDA-approved for severe primary IGF-1 deficiency. Research vials are unapproved. WADA S2.
How does IGF-1 (overview) work?
Insulin-like growth factor 1 is a 70-amino-acid peptide produced mainly by the liver under growth hormone stimulation, and it mediates most of the anabolic effects attributed to growth hormone. It activates the IGF-1 receptor, a tyrosine kinase that signals through PI3K/Akt and MAPK to promote protein synthesis, cell proliferation and survival.
Is IGF-1 (overview) FDA approved?
No. IGF-1 (overview) is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
What is the half-life of IGF-1 (overview)?
Reported half-life for IGF-1 (overview) is ~10–16 hours (bound); minutes unbound. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
Is IGF-1 (overview) banned in sport?
IGF-1 (overview) is recorded here as prohibited in sport. Athletes subject to anti-doping rules should check the current WADA Prohibited List directly, since it is revised annually and classifications change.
What peptides are similar to IGF-1 (overview)?
Compounds most often compared with IGF-1 (overview) include Mecasermin, IGF-1 LR3, IGF-1 DES and MGF. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- FDA label — IncrelexExternal reference
- WADA Prohibited List 2026External reference
- Acromegaly: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management — Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 2022External reference
- Doping and sports endocrinology: growth hormone, IGF-1, insulin, and erythropoietin — Rev Clin Esp (Barc), 2023External reference
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Signaling in Glucose Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer — Int J Mol Sci, 2021External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Sep 6, 2026 · Version 2
This IGF-1 (overview) profile is compiled from published literature (3 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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