Side-by-side · Research reference

IGF-1 LR3vsPancragen

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

AAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED10/58 cited

BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED23/39 cited

IGF-1 LR3

IGF-1 Analogue · Research

3–10×Potency vs IGF-I

Low IGFBPBinding affinity

ResearchStatus

Research only · SQ typical in animal models

Pancragen

Bioregulatory Tetrapeptide · Khavinson School

50 μgPrimate doseGoncharova 2014

10 daysTreatment cycleGoncharova 2015

3+ weeksEffect persistenceGoncharova 2014

IM · 10-day cycleGoncharova 2014

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

IGF-1 LR3

Pancragen

Primary target

IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R)McTavish 2009

Pancreatic acinar and islet cell differentiation pathwaysKhavinson 2013

Pathway

IGF-1R → IRS-1 → PI3K/Akt → Cell proliferation, protein synthesis, anti-apoptosisMuhlbradt 2009

Transcription factor activation → Pdx1/Pax6/Pax4/Ptf1a/Foxa2/NKx2.2 upregulation → Cell differentiationKhavinson 2013

Downstream effect

Enhanced cell proliferation, muscle anabolism, inhibition of apoptosis, increased telomerase activity

Enhanced pancreatic beta-cell function, normalized insulin/C-peptide dynamics, improved glucose clearanceGoncharova 2014

Feedback intact?

No — exogenous IGF analogue bypasses GH-mediated regulation

Yes — preserves physiological glucose-insulin response

Origin

Synthetic 83-AA analogue: 13-AA N-terminal extension + Arg substitution at position 3

Synthetic tetrapeptide derived from pancreatic tissue extracts (Khavinson bioregulator methodology)

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

IGF-1 LR3

Pancragen

Research dose (animal models)

Variable by protocol and species

In vivo murine atherosclerosis studies used sustained delivery.

—

In vitro typical concentration

10–1000 ng/mLThomas 2007

Dose-dependent effects on follicle growth and estradiol production.

—

Half-maximal stimulation

0.6 nM LR3 vs 1.5 nM native IGF-1Price 2004

2.5-fold greater potency in lung fibroblast proliferation.

—

Evidence basis

Animal / in vitro only

Non-human primate RCT, in vitro cell cultureGoncharova 2015 Khavinson 2013

Human use

Not FDA-approved; no published human trials

—

Primate dose (rhesus macaque)

—

50 μg / animal / dayGoncharova 2014

20–25-year-old females, 10-day IM protocol.

Effective concentration (in vitro)

—

0.05 ng/mLZakutskiĭ 2006

Organotypic tissue culture, both young and aged rat explants.

Route

—

IntramuscularGoncharova 2015

Frequency

—

Once daily for 10 daysGoncharova 2014

Treatment cycle

—

10-day course, effects persist 3+ weeks post-withdrawalGoncharova 2014

Diabetes model

—

STZ-induced diabetes (rat)

Evaluated via metabolic markers characterizing apoptosis.

03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence

Parameter

IGF-1 LR3

Pancragen

Mechanism

IGF-1R activation → lipolytic signaling; secondary to anabolic effects

—

Direct lipolytic evidence

Minimal — primarily anabolic/anti-apoptotic in literature

—

Atherosclerotic plaque effects

Reduced stenosis and core size in ApoE-KO micevon 2011

Plaque stabilization via vSMC phenotype modulation, not direct fat loss.

—

Human data

None published

—

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

IGF-1 LR3

Pancragen

Hypoglycemia risk

Theoretical — IGF-1 analogues can lower blood glucose

—

Excessive cell proliferation

Mitogenic signaling; theoretical tumor promotion risk

—

Telomerase activation

2–10-fold increase in prostate cancer cells (PC-3, DU-145, LAPC-4)Wetterau 2003

Critically involved in cancer cell immortalization.

—

Oocyte degeneration

Increased oocyte degeneration at high doses (≥1000 ng/mL) in bovine folliclesThomas 2007

—

Unregulated anabolism

Bypasses physiological GH/IGF-1 feedback; no pulsatility control

—

Unknown human safety profile

No published human trials; safety data absent

—

Reported adverse events

—

None documented in primate studies

Tolerability

—

Well-tolerated in aged rhesus monkeys (n=9)Goncharova 2015

Human safety data

—

No published human trials; clinical use limited to Russian gerontology protocols

Absolute Contraindications

IGF-1 LR3

·Active malignancy or history of cancer
·Not approved for human use

Pancragen

—

Relative Contraindications

IGF-1 LR3

·Diabetes or glucose intolerance
·Family history of cancer

Pancragen

·Active pancreatic malignancy (proliferation marker upregulation)

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

IGF-1 LR3

Pancragen

1. Research use only

IGF-1 LR3 is not FDA-approved for human use. All administration data derives from animal or in vitro studies.

Lyophilised tetrapeptide reconstituted in sterile saline or water per manufacturer protocol. Concentration not specified in literature.

2. Typical research route

Subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection in animal models. In vitro: added directly to culture medium at concentrations of 10–1000 ng/mL.Thomas 2007

Intramuscular injection. Primate studies used daily IM dosing for 10 consecutive days.Goncharova 2015

3. Reconstitution (research)

Lyophilised powder reconstituted in sterile water or buffered saline per manufacturer protocol. Store at 2–8 °C after reconstitution.

No specific timing constraints documented. Administered once daily in primate protocols.

4. Stability

Enhanced stability vs native IGF-1 due to reduced IGFBP binding; exact half-life in vivo not fully characterized in humans.

10-day treatment course. Restorative effects on pancreatic function persist for at least 3 weeks post-discontinuation.Goncharova 2014

06Stack Synergy

IGF-1 LR3

+ GHRP-6

Multi-pathway

View GHRP-6 →

GHRP-6 stimulates endogenous GH release, which drives hepatic IGF-1 synthesis. IGF-1 LR3 provides exogenous, IGFBP-resistant IGF signaling. Combining upstream GH stimulation with downstream IGF receptor activation creates a dual-pathway anabolic effect. However, this bypasses natural feedback and carries compounded mitogenic risk.

GHRP-6: 100–200 mcg SQ · 2–3× daily
IGF-1 LR3: Research doses variable · post-workout typical in animal models
Note: Research context only — no human protocols exist
Primary benefit: Theoretical maximal anabolic signaling (GH + IGF axes)

+ Ipamorelin

Multi-pathway

View Ipamorelin →

Ipamorelin (selective GHRP) stimulates pulsatile GH release without cortisol/prolactin elevation. IGF-1 LR3 directly activates IGF-1R independent of GH. This stack targets both upstream (GH secretion) and downstream (IGF receptor) nodes but eliminates physiological feedback, raising safety concerns around unchecked proliferation.

Ipamorelin: 200–300 mcg SQ · evening
IGF-1 LR3: Research doses only · timing variable
Caution: No human data; animal/in vitro only
Primary benefit: Dual-axis anabolic signaling (theoretical)

Pancragen

— no documented stacks