This compound is supplied for in-vitro and preclinical research only. It is not a medicinal product. It is not approved for human or veterinary use in any jurisdiction. No therapeutic, medicinal, cosmetic, or performance-enhancement claims are made or implied. By proceeding to inquire, you confirm you are an adult researcher acquiring this compound within your own research framework. Full terms on the Research Use Only page.
IGF-1 LR3
1 mg freeze-dried vial, modified IGF-1 analogue with extended N-terminus
Compound specifications, chemistry, and storage.
Technical specifications
Specimen format| Compound name | IGF-1 LR3 (Long Arg3 Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) |
| Also known as | Long R3 IGF-1, IGF-1 Long Arg3, modified IGF-1 |
| CAS number | 946870-92-4 |
| PubChem CID | Reference CID on COA → |
| InChI Key | Reference InChI Key on COA |
| SMILES | Reference SMILES on COA |
| Empirical formula (Hill notation) | C400H625N111O115S9 |
| Molecular weight | 9111.36 g/mol (monoisotopic mass: 9106.39) |
| Salt form | Acetate (default) |
| Counter-ion content | Quantified per batch on COA. Custom salt forms (chloride, ammonium, TFA) available on quote. |
| Sequence (1-letter) | MFPAMPLSSLFVNGPRTLCGAELVDALQFVCGDRGFYFNKPTGYGSSSRRAPQTGIVDECCFRSCDLRRLEMYCAPLKPAKSA |
| Sequence (3-letter) | 83-residue modified IGF-1 analogue with N-terminal MFPAMPLSSLFV extension and Arg3 substitution |
| Length | 83 amino acids (13-residue N-terminal extension over native 70-residue IGF-1) |
| Weight basis | Gross weight per industry standard. Net peptide content quantified on batch COA. |
| Quantity per vial | 1 mg |
| Format | Freeze-dried white powder or thin film, sealed under inert atmosphere. Why does the vial look empty? |
| Appearance | White freeze-dried cake or powder. May also appear as a thin film on the vial wall. |
| Solubility | Water soluble, reconstituted with bacteriostatic water (1 to 2 ml typical) |
| Solution colour | Clear and colourless when correctly reconstituted |
| Purity (HPLC) | Specification ≥98.5%, tested before listing |
| Identity confirmation | LC-MS, batch-specific spectrum on COA |
| Endotoxin (LAL) | Within Ph. Eur. specification, batch report on COA |
| Storage (freeze-dried) | 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, sealed, protected from light. Avoid thermal cycling. |
| Storage (reconstituted) | 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. Use within 4 to 6 weeks. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw. |
| Shelf life | 24 months from synthesis date when storage conditions are maintained |
| Country of synthesis | EU partner facility, Ph. Eur. methodology references |
| Application | In-vitro and preclinical research only. Not for human or veterinary use. |
Mitochondrial & longevity research
Primary research area. Studied for IGF-1 receptor signalling and downstream PI3K-Akt and MAPK pathway activation in cellular ageing models.
Open research area → 02Growth hormone secretagogue pathways
Secondary research area. Studied as a downstream signalling endpoint in growth-hormone-secretagogue research designs.
Open research area →A modified IGF-1 analogue, and what the published research says about it.
IGF-1 LR3 is a synthetic 83-amino-acid analogue of natural Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1, 70 amino acids), with a 13-residue N-terminal extension and a single arginine substitution at position 3. The modifications were introduced to slow binding by IGF-binding proteins, extending plasma half-life relative to native IGF-1. Published preclinical research investigates IGF-1 receptor signalling, downstream PI3K-Akt and MAPK pathway activation, and cellular proliferation in animal injury and ageing models. The sections below summarise what the published research investigates, what Cresten supplies, and what the certificate of analysis confirms.
Where IGF-1 LR3 comes from.
IGF-1 LR3 is a synthetic 83-amino-acid analogue of native human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Native IGF-1 is a 70-amino-acid single-chain protein produced primarily in the liver in response to growth-hormone signalling, and it is the principal mediator of growth-hormone-driven tissue-growth signalling in mammalian tissues. The natural protein circulates almost entirely bound to IGF-binding proteins, particularly IGFBP-3, which extends plasma half-life but limits free-fraction availability at IGF-1 receptors.
The LR3 modifications were introduced to alter binding-protein interaction. The 13-residue N-terminal extension (sequence MFPAMPLSSLFV) and the substitution of arginine for glutamate at position 3 together reduce binding affinity for IGFBPs, increasing the free-fraction availability of the analogue in plasma. Published research describes the modifications as producing extended biological activity in cell-culture and animal models compared with native IGF-1 administered at equivalent molar doses.
The peptide is produced by recombinant expression in bacteria followed by purification of the disulfide-folded mature protein, freeze-dried, and sealed in vials. PubMed lists roughly 70 papers specifically mentioning IGF-1 LR3 or Long R3 IGF-1 as of 2026, with the broader IGF-1 literature comprising thousands of papers. The research is concentrated in cell-culture studies, animal injury models, and ageing-research contexts.
What the research looks at.
IGF-1 LR3 mechanism research starts from the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase expressed on most mammalian cell types. The peptide binds the receptor and triggers receptor autophosphorylation, which initiates signalling through two principal downstream pathways: the PI3K-Akt cascade and the Ras-MAPK cascade. Published cell-culture studies measure receptor phosphorylation, downstream substrate phosphorylation, and the kinetics of signalling activation in defined cell types.
A second strand of research compares the analogue against native IGF-1 in head-to-head studies. The published literature describes IGF-1 LR3 as producing equivalent maximal signalling at the receptor but with extended duration of action, attributed to reduced sequestration by IGF-binding proteins. The functional consequence in cell culture is described as a longer-duration tissue-growth signalling response per unit of administered peptide. In animal studies, the extended duration translates into measurable effects on tissue-growth markers in injury and recovery models.
"The functional difference between IGF-1 LR3 and native IGF-1 in published research is duration of signalling, not maximal signalling intensity, and the difference is attributed to reduced IGF-binding-protein sequestration."
A third line of research examines downstream cellular endpoints. Published cell-culture studies measure protein synthesis rates, cell-cycle progression, and apoptosis pathways as endpoints downstream of receptor activation. Animal injury studies measure tissue-repair markers in muscle and connective tissue. The literature describes the analogue as a research tool for isolating the IGF-1 signalling contribution in research designs that also include growth-hormone-secretagogue compounds at upstream points in the signalling axis.
Where the published research does not go: there are no large randomised human clinical trials of IGF-1 LR3 specifically. The compound is classified as a research peptide, and research is the only context in which it is supplied. The native IGF-1 protein is regulated as a pharmaceutical product separately under different trade names; IGF-1 LR3 is supplied for research use only.
What the certificate confirms.
Every Cresten batch of BPC-157 ships with a certificate from an analytical lab, against the test panel described on the Methodology page. The certificate that ships with your batch confirms:
The certificate format is shown on the batch verification page.
Selected published research on IGF-1 LR3.
Monograph last reviewed 26 May 2026 · references checked against PubMed
The curated reference list for IGF-1 LR3 is being finalised against PubMed and will appear here. In the meantime, the indexed literature is available directly: PubMed results for IGF-1 LR3.
What this monograph is not
This monograph summarises what the published research looks at regarding BPC-157 mechanism. It is not a therapeutic recommendation. It is not dosing guidance. It is not a clinical protocol. It is not medical advice.
Cresten Labs supplies BPC-157 as a research compound for lab-based research only. The decision to investigate any compound in any research framework is the researcher’s decision, within their own ethical, legal, and methodological boundaries.
Cresten makes no claim about human therapeutic use, no claim about clinical effectiveness, no claim about safety in human use, and no claim that this compound has been reviewed by any regulator for any medical use.
Frequently asked questions about IGF-1 LR3
Common research-protocol and supply questions about IGF-1 LR3, with answers grounded in published peer-reviewed research and Cresten Labs supply practice. All information is for in vitro and preclinical research only.
What is IGF-1 LR3?
IGF-1 LR3 is long-acting analogue of insulin-like growth factor 1, a 83-amino-acid peptide (CAS 946870-92-4, molecular weight 9117.55 g/mol). Cresten Labs supplies IGF-1 LR3 as a freeze-dried vial for in vitro and preclinical research only, with each batch verified at Janoshik Analytical.
What does research suggest IGF-1 LR3 does?
Published research investigates IGF-1 LR3 for IGF-1 receptor activation with extended half-life through reduced binding-protein affinity in research models. The compound is studied primarily in IGF-1 pathway and cell-proliferation research. IGF-1 LR3 is supplied for research use only and is not approved by any regulator for medical use.
What is the typical IGF-1 LR3 dosage in published research?
Published IGF-1 LR3 dosage in research protocols ranges from 20 to 80 mcg per administration, administered subcutaneously, with daily dosing in muscle-pathway and cell-proliferation research. Cresten Labs publishes the typical IGF-1 LR3 protocol ranges as research-protocol references only; this is not dosing guidance for human use.
How do I reconstitute IGF-1 LR3 for research?
Standard IGF-1 LR3 reconstitution adds 1 mL plain bacteriostatic water for the 1 mg vial. Use plain BAC water; acetic-acid stabilized format means NaCl is not preferred here.
What is the IGF-1 LR3 half-life and how is IGF-1 LR3 storage handled?
Published research reports IGF-1 LR3 systemic half-life at approximately 20 hours (vs. ~10 minutes for native IGF-1). IGF-1 LR3 storage: lyophilized vial stable at room temperature for shipping; acetic-acid stabilized format. Reconstituted solution stored at 2 to 8 °C and used within 28 days. The Cresten certificate of analysis lists the synthesis date, batch identifier, and the storage conditions verified for this specific batch.
What does the research literature report about IGF-1 LR3 side effects?
Published IGF-1 LR3 research reports the following: preclinical research reports tolerability across tested dose ranges; the long half-life requires careful protocol design. Cresten Labs supplies the compound for research use only; clinical-use side-effect data should be drawn from peer-reviewed clinical trial publications, not from research-vendor pages.
What is the typical IGF-1 LR3 protocol duration in research?
Published IGF-1 LR3 protocol research typically runs daily dosing in muscle-pathway and cell-proliferation research. The IGF-1 LR3 protocol duration depends on the research question being studied. The Cresten reconstitution calculator includes a schedule planner that flags the 28-day refrigerated shelf-life of the reconstituted solution.
Where to buy IGF-1 LR3 in Europe?
Cresten Labs supplies IGF-1 LR3 across the EU single market to 16 European countries. Each IGF-1 LR3 batch is tested at Janoshik Analytical with the certificate of analysis published on the website before it lists. IGF-1 LR3 is sold for in vitro and preclinical research only, not for human or veterinary use.
How is IGF-1 LR3 verified at Cresten Labs?
Every IGF-1 LR3 batch is tested at Janoshik Analytical in Czech Republic, an third-party peptide-analysis laboratory. Each batch certificate documents HPLC purity, mass-spectrometry identity confirmation, and contamination panels. The certificate publishes with the batch, before it lists.
Is IGF-1 LR3 legal to import for research in the EU?
Research-use peptides supplied with proper documentation are legally importable into EU member states for in vitro and preclinical research. Cresten ships IGF-1 LR3 from inside the EU single market, so no customs declaration is required for shipments within EU member states. Local research-use regulations apply.