A practical reference on LC-MS/MS: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
Reviewed 2026-01-16. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
GW501516 acts on PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that helps regulate fatty acid oxidation and energy homeostasis. In animal studies, activation of this receptor was associated with increased endurance and changes in lipid metabolism. Human trials examined effects on blood lipids and other metabolic markers, but the compound did not advance to approval. Rodent studies later reported tumors in multiple tissues at doses used in those experiments. Whether those findings translate to human risk remains uncertain, and the clinical relevance of the animal data is still debated.
Regulatory bodies treat GW501516 as a prohibited substance in competitive sport. The World Anti-Doping Agency added it to the prohibited list, and it falls under classes covering metabolic modulators and hormone-related agents. It is not approved by drug regulators for human use, and it is not a lawful dietary supplement. Products sold under the cardarine name may contain unlisted ingredients or different compounds. Because no approved product exists, quality and identity are not guaranteed by pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.
Cardarine is the common name for GW501516, a synthetic compound studied as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonist. Researchers developed it to explore treatments for lipid disorders and metabolic conditions. It is not an approved medicine in any country. Early clinical work examined changes in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, but development was discontinued after animal studies raised concerns about cancer. The compound remains available as a research chemical and appears in discussions of performance enhancement.
At the molecular level, GW501516 binds and activates PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that regulates transcription. Activation shifts expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, energy expenditure, and lipid transport in skeletal muscle and liver. Animal studies report increased endurance and altered lipid profiles after exposure. Human data are limited to small trials and do not establish long-term safety or efficacy. PPARδ also has roles in cell proliferation, so the relationship between activation and cancer risk remains an open question.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | Cardarine | Common internet and media name. |
| Research code | GW501516 | Also written GW-1516. |
| Drug class | PPARδ agonist | Not a selective androgen receptor modulator. |
| Development status | Discontinued | Clinical development halted after rodent cancer findings. |
| Regulatory status | Prohibited in sport | Listed by WADA; not approved as medicine. |
GW501516 acts as a selective agonist at PPARδ, a nuclear receptor that regulates transcription of genes involved in lipid handling and energy metabolism. Activation of PPARδ in preclinical models increases fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and exercise endurance in rodents. These effects have made the compound a subject of metabolic research and also a target for sport anti-doping rules. In humans, however, controlled studies are limited, and whether similar endurance or metabolic changes occur at tolerated exposures remains an open question. The receptor’s broad tissue distribution also means downstream effects may vary by organ and condition.
Detection of GW501516 in biological samples generally relies on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is a common matrix in anti-doping analysis, while blood or plasma may be used in research settings. Sample preparation can involve enzymatic hydrolysis, protein precipitation, or solid-phase extraction before instrumental analysis. Because the compound undergoes metabolism, assays may target the parent molecule, one or more metabolites, or both. Detection windows are not fixed; they depend on factors such as dose, route, individual metabolism, and assay sensitivity. Reference standards are required for accurate identification and quantification.
Handling and quality assessment of cardarine reference material follow general laboratory practices for poorly characterized compounds. It typically appears as a white to off-white powder and is sparingly soluble in water but soluble in organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol. Storage recommendations usually specify a cool, dry, dark place, with long-term storage at low temperature and desiccation. Purity may be checked by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, while identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. No pharmacopeial monograph exists, so reported purity and stability depend on the supplier’s methods.
Stability of GW501516 depends on form, temperature, light exposure, and moisture. Solid reference material is typically stored frozen or refrigerated in a desiccator and protected from light. Solutions in organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide are often kept frozen in aliquots to reduce freeze-thaw cycling. Aqueous solubility is low, so aqueous stock solutions can be difficult to prepare without cosolvents. Degradation may appear as changes in chromatographic purity or mass spectral signal. Stability studies are needed to establish shelf life for any specific preparation.
Quality assessment for cardarine samples usually combines identity, purity, and impurity testing. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry can confirm molecular structure, while high-performance liquid chromatography estimates purity. Certificates of analysis from testing laboratories may list these results, but they do not establish safety or legality. In the absence of approved manufacturing, products sold online may contain the wrong compound, variable amounts, or unlisted contaminants. Independent verification is therefore central to analytical work and to interpreting any reported biological activity.
Cardarine is frequently described as a fat-burning or endurance-enhancing supplement, but these claims exceed the available evidence. The compound is not a hormone, steroid, or selective androgen receptor modulator. Research articles discuss it as a tool compound for studying PPARδ biology, while anti-doping literature focuses on its abuse and detection. Quality of unapproved products is uncertain, and independent analyses have found impurities or incorrect labeling. Open questions include whether human cancer risk resembles that seen in rodents and how often non-athletes use the substance.
Cardarine has no approved therapeutic indication and is not marketed as a medicine. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists GW501516 as a prohibited substance at all times, covering both in-competition and out-of-competition periods. National laws vary: some countries treat it as an unapproved drug subject to import controls, while others have specific restrictions on sale for human consumption. It is often sold as a research chemical, a label that does not imply safety or legality. Enforcement actions have targeted online vendors and shipments.
Anti-doping laboratories identify GW501516 and related metabolites using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is the most common matrix, though blood and dried blood spots may also be analyzed. The method targets the parent compound and phase I and phase II metabolites, which extend the detection window. Because the substance is prohibited at all times, athletes can be tested outside competition. Detection limits and windows depend on the assay, sample type, and individual metabolism.
Treatments for ATTR-related neuropathy include TTR-specific oligonucleotides in the form of small interfering RNA (patisiran) or antisense inotersen, the former having recently received FDA approval. Research into treatments for ATTR amyloidosis have compared liver transplantation, oral drugs that stabilize the misfolding protein (including tafamidis and diflunisal), and newer therapeutic agents still being investigated (including patisiran). Based on available research, liver transplant remains the most effective treatment option for advanced ATTR amyloidosis, protein stabilizing drugs may slow disease progression but were insufficient to justify delay of liver transplant, and newer agents such as patisiran require additional studies. Peptide synthesis Proteinopathy
June 13 – 23: 2019 Men's Softball World Championship in Prague-Havlíčkův Brod Argentina defeated Japan, 3–2, to win their first Men's Softball World Championship title. Canada took third place. July 23 – 27: Europe/Africa Softball 2020 Olympic Qualifier in Utrecht Italy defeated Great Britain, 5–0, to book their team and compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics. July 26 – 30: 2019 Women's U12 Softball World Cup in Tainan (debut event) Chinese Taipei defeated Peru, 3–2, to win the inaugural Women's U12 Softball World Cup title. The Czech Republic took third place. Indonesia took fourth place. August 10 – 17: 2019 Women's U19 Softball World Cup in Irvine The United States defeated Japan, 4–3, to win their third consecutive and seventh overall Women's U19 Softball World Cup title. Canada took third place. August 25 – September 1: Americas Softball 2020 Olympic Qualifier in Surrey Champions: Mexico; Second: Canada; Third: Puerto Rico Note: Both Mexico and Canada have qualified to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics. September 24 –28: Asia/Oceania Softball 2020 Olympic Qualifier in Shanghai Champions: Australia; Second: Chinese Taipei; Third: China Note: Australia has qualified to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The drugs used in the 2026 Enhanced Games had to be on the US Food and Drug Administration list of legally approved substances, which includes muscle building substances like testosterone and anabolic steroids; substances that boost endurance, like human growth hormone and Erythropoietin (EPO); stimulants, like Adderall, that improve focus; and metabolic drugs, like meldonium, which alter how the body burns fat. Enhanced made drug recommendations, but each athlete was free to choose what they took. According to the Enhanced Games, 91% of the athletes who took performance-enhancing substances used testosterone or testosterone esters; 79% used human growth hormone; 62% used stimulants such as Adderall; 50% used metabolic modulators; 41% used Erythropoietin; and 29% used anabolic steroids. According to strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, he took testosterone, nandrolone decanoate, oxymetholone and fluoxymesterone. To compete, he said he had to stop taking methandrostenolone, trenbolone and boldenone undecylenate. Cody Miller said he took, in the eight-week period leading up to the competition, testosterone, human growth hormone and oxandrolone.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Over the years, multiple synthesizers have been developed to assist with automated synthesis, including the Chemspeed Accelerator (SLT106, SLT II, ASW2000, SwingSLT, Autoplant A100, and SLT100), the Symyx system, and Freeslate ScPPR. Recently, researchers have investigated the optimization of these methods for controlled/living radical polymerization (CLRP), which faces issues with oxygen intolerance. This research has led to the development of oxygen-tolerant CLRP, including with the use of enzyme degassing of RAFT (Enz-RAFT), atom-transfer radical (ATRP) that possesses tolerance to air, and photoinduced electron/energy transfer–RAFT (PET–RAFT) polymerization. Through the use of liquid-handling robots, Tamasi et al. demonstrated the use of automated synthesis with executing multi-step procedures, enabling the reactions to investigate more elaborate schemes, such as with scale and complexity. Lee Cronin and his team have developed a modular synthesis machine called the chemputer which uses a dedicated programming language for chemical synthesis.
Ana María Muñoz Jauregui (born 1969, Lima) is a Peruvian pharmacist, biochemist and nutritionist. She has served as Rector and, since 2023, as the Vice Rector of research at San Ignacio de Loyola University (USIL). Muñoz has authored numerous publications and received national and international awards, such as silver, gold medals and semi-grand prize wins at the International KIWIE Award. Muñoz, was born in Lima, Peru. In 1996, she attended the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM), where she earned her pharmaceutical degree. While studying, she developed an interest in the field of nutrition. She earned a master's degree in biochemistry and nutrition, and earned a PhD in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) in 2006.
Studies in the hematopoietic system disclosed that during endothelial to hematopoietic stem cell transition, ADGRG1 is a transcriptional target of the heptad complex of hematopoietic transcription factors, and is required for hematopoietic cluster formation. Recently, two studies showed that ADGRG1, is a cell autonomous regulator of oligodendrocyte development through Gα12/13 proteins and Rho activation. Della Chiesa et al. demonstrate that ADGRG1 is expressed on CD56dull natural killer (NK) cells. Lin and Hamann's group show all human cytotoxic lymphocytes, including CD56dull NK cells and CD27–CD45RA+ effector-type CD8+ T cells, express ADGRG1.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
No. Cardarine is a PPARδ agonist, while selective androgen receptor modulators act on androgen receptors. The two classes differ in receptor target and downstream effects.
Preclinical rodent studies reported cancers, including liver and bladder tumors, at tested doses. The human relevance of those findings is uncertain, but development was discontinued. No approved human product resulted.
No. It remains an investigational compound without approved therapeutic labeling. Sports regulators prohibit its use, and health agencies have warned against consuming it.
Cardarine is a common name for the investigational compound GW501516. It acts as a PPARδ agonist and is not approved for human use. It is prohibited in sport.