Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Head-to-head comparison of 5-Amino-1MQ and Amlexanox — mechanism, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
5-Amino-1MQ is a small heterocyclic molecule (not a peptide) that acts as a selective, membrane-permeable inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). It is under preclinical investigation for obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is not FDA-approved and has not completed human clinical trials; it is commonly tracked alongside peptides because grey-market vendors sell it for metabolic protocols.
Amlexanox is a non-peptide small-molecule 2-amino-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid derivative (CAS 68302-57-8, MW 298.29 g/mol). Originally approved in 1996 as a topical oral paste for aphthous ulcers (FDA, now discontinued) and in Japan for allergic conditions, it was later characterized as a selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of the non-canonical IκB kinases TBK1 and IKKε. It is NOT approved for any metabolic, obesity, or performance indication; it is sold by research-chemical vendors labeled research-use-only and promoted off-label by biohacking outlets for fat loss. No validated human dose exists for metabolic applications.
5-Amino-1MQ
Amlexanox
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Half-life
Side Effects
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
5-Amino-1MQ
Amlexanox
COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
5-Amino-1MQ
80
COAs
99.5%
Avg purity
12
Labs
Amlexanox
1
COAs
99.6%
Avg purity
1
Labs
Neelakantan et al. (2018, Biochem Pharmacol, PMID 29155147) reported that 5-Amino-1MQ and related selective, membrane-permeable methylquinolinium NNMT inhibitors reversed high-fat-diet-induced obesity in mice, reducing body weight, white adipose mass, adipocyte size, and plasma cholesterol without changing food intake. A separate NNMT inhibitor program (Kannt et al., 2018, Sci Rep, PMID 29483571, JBSNF-000088) produced similar metabolic effects in rodents. Dimet-Wiley et al. (2022, Sci Rep, PMID 35013352) reported microbiome changes with NNMT inhibition plus low-fat diet in DIO mice, and Babula et al. (2024, Diabetes Obes Metab, PMID 39161060) showed 5A1MQ dose-dependently limited weight and fat gain and reduced NAFLD-like liver pathology in DIO mice. No human clinical trials of 5-Amino-1MQ have been completed or published as of 2026; grey-market oral protocols are not clinically validated.
Key references
In diet-induced obese and ob/ob mice, amlexanox treatment increased energy expenditure via thermogenesis, produced weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and decreased hepatic steatosis; these metabolic benefits require intact FGF21 signaling. In LDL-receptor-knockout mice on Western diet, amlexanox reduced triglycerides, cholesterol, circulating monocytes/eosinophils, macrophage plaque accumulation, and atherosclerotic lesion size. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial in 42 obese patients with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD showed statistically significant HbA1c and fructosamine reductions versus placebo, with a responder subgroup showing improved insulin sensitivity and reduced hepatic fat; rash occurred in several participants (two required biopsy). No obesity or diabetes indication has been approved by any regulator.
5-Amino-1MQ and Amlexanox are both in the Metabolic category and may have overlapping mechanisms. Researchers should review both profiles carefully, understand the mechanisms of action, and monitor the relevant biomarkers when combining compounds in the same class. As always, consult a licensed healthcare provider before making any decisions about combining research compounds.
This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.
Contraindications
Lab Testing
Disclosed Labs