Cardarine (GW501516)
Muscle & Strength · PPAR-delta agonist (not a SARM)
Tier C-
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Cardarine (GW501516) as C- (4.2/10) based on moderate evidence, very high benefit magnitude, and a very high — gsk halted development due to multi-organ carcinogenesis in 2-year rodent studies-risk safety profile.
One of very few performance compounds with explicit published cancer warnings from its originating pharma company.
Typical use: Typical illicit: 10-20 mg/day (DO NOT USE) — NOT FDA-approved; gray market; WADA banned with special cancer warning to athletes.
What this is
One of very few performance compounds with explicit published cancer warnings from its originating pharma company. WADA issued an unusual notice specifically warning athletes about cancer risk beyond just the anti-doping violation. Commonly mislabeled as a SARM — mechanism is entirely different (PPAR-δ, not AR). Do not use.
Mechanism
PPAR-delta agonist; increases fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance; originally GSK developed for dyslipidemia; DISCONTINUED 2007 AFTER LONG-TERM RODENT STUDIES SHOWED TUMOR FORMATION IN MULTIPLE ORGANS
Dose & route
Typical illicit: 10-20 mg/day (DO NOT USE)
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23399566/
- https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/2013-advisory-note-gw501516
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18997154/
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
Common questions
- Does Cardarine (GW501516) work?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Cardarine (GW501516) as Moderate and the benefit magnitude as very high, producing an overall grade of C- (4.2/10). One of very few performance compounds with explicit published cancer warnings from its originating pharma company.
- Is Cardarine (GW501516) safe?
- Cardarine (GW501516) has a very high — gsk halted development due to multi-organ carcinogenesis in 2-year rodent studies risk profile in published human data. Legal status: NOT FDA-approved; gray market; WADA banned with special cancer warning to athletes. This is not medical advice — see the disclaimer.
- What is the typical dose for Cardarine (GW501516)?
- Typical illicit: 10-20 mg/day (DO NOT USE)
- How does Cardarine (GW501516) work?
- PPAR-delta agonist; increases fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance; originally GSK developed for dyslipidemia; DISCONTINUED 2007 AFTER LONG-TERM RODENT STUDIES SHOWED TUMOR FORMATION IN MULTIPLE ORGANS
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.