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 Hexarelin and IGF-1 LR3 — mechanism, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
Hexarelin (His-D-2MeTrp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue developed by Mediolanum (Italy) in the 1990s. It is a potent ghrelin-receptor (GHSR-1a) agonist that also binds the CD36 scavenger receptor, giving it a cardioprotective signal distinct from other GHRPs. It is not FDA-approved for any indication and remains a research-only compound; its clinical development for GH deficiency and cardiac indications did not reach approval. A defining feature versus other GHRPs is rapid, pronounced tachyphylaxis with chronic daily dosing.
IGF-1 LR3 is an 83-amino-acid modified IGF-1 analog with a 13-residue N-terminal extension (MFPAMPLSSLFVN) and an Arg-3 substitution. These modifications reduce binding to IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), extending effective half-life and increasing tissue bioavailability relative to native IGF-1. It is a research/cell-culture reagent and is NOT FDA-approved for any human use. Do not confuse with mecasermin (Increlex), which is recombinant human IGF-1 and IS FDA-approved for severe primary IGF-1 deficiency.
Hexarelin
IGF-1 LR3
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Half-life
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
Hexarelin
IGF-1 LR3
COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
Hexarelin
10
COAs
99.4%
Avg purity
4
Labs
IGF-1 LR3
42
COAs
98.7%
Avg purity
9
Labs
Ghigo et al. (1994, PMID 8126144, JCEM) characterized hexarelin's GH-releasing activity across IV, SubQ, intranasal, and oral routes in healthy men, establishing it as a potent GH secretagogue. Rahim & Shalet (1998, PMID 10990150, Growth Horm IGF Res) demonstrated that twice-daily SubQ hexarelin in healthy elderly subjects caused ~45% attenuation of the GH AUC over 16 weeks, with partial recovery 4 weeks after discontinuation — the canonical human tachyphylaxis study. Bodart et al. (2002, PMID 11988484, Circulation Research) showed that hexarelin's cardiovascular action in perfused hearts is mediated by CD36 rather than GHSR-1a and is absent in CD36-null animals. Hexarelin has never been FDA-approved; grey-market use for body composition, recovery, or cardiac benefit is not clinically validated.
Key references
Francis et al. (J Mol Endocrinol 1992; PMID 1378742) characterized LR3-IGF-1 as a fusion analog whose enhanced biological potency derives from reduced IGFBP binding; in IGFBP-free cell systems LR3 was actually LESS potent than native IGF-1, underscoring that the 'potency' is really reduced sequestration rather than intrinsically stronger receptor activation. Tomas (Growth Horm IGF Res 2001; PMID 11472075) infused LR(3)IGF-I into food-restricted rats and found it preserved body weight and nitrogen retention but did NOT conserve skeletal muscle protein — which contradicts the common 'potent muscle builder' framing from preclinical literature alone. There are no controlled human trials supporting bodybuilding use. Epidemiologic and mechanistic work reviewed by Grimberg (Cancer Biol Ther 2003; PMID 14688466) links elevated IGF-1 axis activity to breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer risk, so chronic systemic LR3 exposure carries a concrete — not merely theoretical — tumorigenesis concern. IGF-1 and its analogs are banned at all times under the WADA Code.
Hexarelin (Hormone) and IGF-1 LR3 (Performance) are in different categories and target different biological pathways. This is a common pattern in multi-compound research protocols. Researchers should monitor the biomarkers from both profiles and watch for interactions listed in each compound’s contraindications. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before combining any research compounds.
This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.
Side Effects
Contraindications
Lab Testing
Key references
Disclosed Labs