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 Cardarine (GW-501516) and Roxadustat — mechanism, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
Cardarine (GW-501516) is a synthetic small-molecule PPARδ agonist — not a SARM and not a peptide, despite gray-market marketing that groups it with SARMs. Developed by GSK and taken into human lipid trials, its clinical development was discontinued around 2007 after rodent carcinogenicity findings. It has no regulatory approval anywhere, is WADA-prohibited at all times, and is sold only as a gray-market research chemical.
Roxadustat (Evrenzo) is a small-molecule HIF-prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor — not a peptide — that raises endogenous erythropoietin. It is an approved prescription drug for anemia of chronic kidney disease in China, Japan, and the EU, but the US FDA rejected it over safety signals. Because it boosts EPO/hemoglobin, it is diverted to the gray market for endurance doping and is WADA-prohibited at all times.
Cardarine (GW-501516)
Roxadustat
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Side Effects
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
Cardarine (GW-501516)
Roxadustat
No pricing data yet.
Check Roxadustat prices →COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
Cardarine (GW-501516)
2
COAs
99.7%
Avg purity
1
Labs
Roxadustat
3
COAs
99.8%
Avg purity
2
Labs
Completed GSK-sponsored human trials in low-HDL/dyslipidemia subjects (2.5–10 mg/day, 12 weeks) improved lipids (HDL-C +16.9%, triglycerides −16.9%, LDL −7.3%; Sprecher et al., 2012). GSK halted development around 2007 after a 2-year rodent carcinogenicity study reported tumors across multiple organs; a 2019 mouse study found GW-501516 accelerated colitis-associated colorectal cancer. A published human case report documented severe rhabdomyolysis and hepatotoxicity from self-administration. Never approved for any indication; not a peptide.
Roxadustat is supported by extensive human data as an approved anemia drug (China 2018, Japan 2019–2020, EU 2021 as Evrenzo) with numerous Phase 2/3 CKD trials. The US FDA advisory committee voted against approval in July 2021, citing thrombosis, seizures, infections, and mortality signals. No validated recreational or performance dose exists. Not FDA-approved; not a peptide.
Cardarine (GW-501516) and Roxadustat 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