⚠ RESEARCH USE ONLY · NOT FDA-APPROVED FOR HUMAN USE · NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
MUSCLE & RECOVERYRESEARCH

IGF-1 LR3.

Extended-half-life IGF-1 — anabolic without GH
AKA · Long Arg3 IGF-1 · Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 LR3
MUSCLE & RECOVERYSUBCUTANEOUSINTRAMUSCULAR

A modified IGF-1 analog with an N-terminal extension and Arg³ substitution that makes it resist IGF binding proteins. Half-life jumps from ~15 minutes to ~24 hours — this is what makes it useful.

~20–30 hours
Half-life
3
Citations
2
Routes
1
Categories
70
Popularity

AT A GLANCE.

§ 01 · TL;DR

THE QUICK READ.

A modified IGF-1 analog with an N-terminal extension and Arg³ substitution that makes it resist IGF binding proteins. Half-life jumps from ~15 minutes to ~24 hours — this is what makes it useful.

IGF-1 is the downstream messenger of growth hormone. LR3 is a long-acting version that keeps the anabolic signal on for a full day.

Short cycles (4–6 weeks) common. Monitor fasting glucose.

WHAT IT MIGHT HELP WITH.

1
Direct IGF-1 receptor activation (bypasses GH axis)
2
Increased muscle protein synthesis
3
Satellite cell proliferation
4
Fat loss via insulin-mimetic effects
5
Used in wasting disease research

HOW IT WORKS.

§ 02 · MECHANISM

IGF-1 is the downstream messenger of growth hormone. LR3 is a long-acting version that keeps the anabolic signal on for a full day.

IGF-1 analog with 13-residue N-terminal extension from bovine GH and glutamate-to-arginine substitution at position 3. Dramatically reduced IGFBP-3 binding extends plasma half-life ~30x vs. native IGF-1, maintaining constant IGF-1R activation.

WHO IT'S FOR
  • Researchers modeling anabolic pathways
  • Cachexia research
WHO SHOULD AVOID
  • Any cancer history
  • Diabetics without tight monitoring
  • Pregnancy

THE RESEARCH.

§ 03 · 3 STUDIES
1993 · FINDING

Tomas et al. — IGF-1 LR3 protein synthesis

LR3 analog showed 2–3x greater anabolic potency vs. native IGF-1 in rat models.

2003 · FINDING

Gillespie et al. — IGF-1 in cachexia

Sustained IGF-1 elevation attenuated muscle wasting in tumor-bearing mice.

2006 · FINDING

Yakar et al. — tissue-specific IGF-1

Systemic IGF-1 elevation improved body composition but raised cancer-model concerns.

DOSING PROTOCOL.

§ 04 · DOSING
TYPICAL RANGE
Short cycles (4–6 weeks) common. Monitor fasting glucose.
20–50mcg subcutaneous, 1–2x daily (reported research range)
FREQUENCY
Most-cited schedule
Once to twice daily
ROUTES
Delivery methods
SUBCUTANEOUS · INTRAMUSCULAR
HALF-LIFE
Steady state drives frequency
~20–30 hours
⚠ NOTE

These are reported protocols from research literature and practitioner accounts, not prescriptions. No FDA-approved human dose exists for research compounds. Anyone using IGF-1 LR3 should work with a qualified physician and source from a supplier providing third-party COAs.

FORMS AVAILABLE
  • · Lyophilized vial, 1mg typical
⚠ RESEARCH INFORMATION ONLY · NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

SIDE EFFECTS & RISKS.

§ 06 · SAFETY
Hypoglycemia
Common if dosed incorrectly · moderate

Eat before and after dosing

·
Injection site reactions
Common · mild
!
Theoretical cancer risk
Theoretical · serious

Sustained IGF-1 elevation studied in tumor models

!
Acromegalic changes long-term
Theoretical · serious

WHERE TO SOURCE

§ 07 · SUPPLIER
PEAK LAB
PEPTIDES
SUPPLIER OF RECORD · 12 BATCHES PASSED

We tried nine suppliers across 2025 and kept picking PEAK LAB for IGF-1 LR3: 99.4% HPLC purity, COA on every batch, cold chain intact. Shop through our link and we earn a small commission — affiliate relationship is disclosed.

Visit PEAK LAB ↗
◆ THE PEPGAINS DISPATCH

GET THE NEXT UPDATE FIRST.

New research on IGF-1 LR3 + a weekly dispatch on everything else moving in the peptide world. One email. Unsubscribe in a click.