LC-MS/MS raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.
Reviewed 2026-03-25. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, an investigational compound developed in the 1990s for metabolic conditions. It acts as an agonist at peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, a nuclear receptor involved in lipid and energy metabolism. The compound is frequently mislabeled as a selective androgen receptor modulator, or SARM, but its molecular target is different. GW501516 reached early clinical testing before development was discontinued. It has no approved therapeutic use in any country. The name cardarine is not a formal international nonproprietary name.
Regulatory treatment varies, but cardarine is not approved as a medicine. Sports authorities list GW501516 as a prohibited substance, and it is banned at all times under the World Anti-Doping Agency code. Many countries restrict sales for human consumption, while online vendors market it as a research chemical. Such products may lack purity data, and their actual contents can differ from the label. Purchasing or possessing cardarine may carry legal consequences depending on jurisdiction. The compound is not a dietary supplement ingredient in regulated markets.
Clinical development stopped after rodent studies showed tumors at multiple sites. Whether those findings predict human cancer risk remains an open question, but they led sponsors to discontinue programs. Human safety data are limited to small, short-term studies that were not designed to assess cancer risk. Reported effects in those studies included changes in blood lipids, but the evidence is insufficient for medical use. Long-term consequences of nonmedical use are not well characterized. Questions about dose, duration, and individual susceptibility remain unresolved.
Laboratory studies indicate that GW501516 activates PPARδ, a nuclear receptor involved in fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism. In rodent experiments, treated animals often showed increased endurance and reduced fat mass. These effects were observed under controlled conditions and do not establish safe or effective use in humans. The exact dose-response relationship in humans remains poorly characterized. Species differences in metabolism can affect how results translate across animals and people.
Safety concerns emerged from long-term animal studies. In rodents given the compound for extended periods, researchers found an increased incidence of certain cancers, including liver and bladder tumors. These findings contributed to the discontinuation of clinical development. Whether similar risks apply to short-term or low-level exposure in humans is not established, and controlled human safety data are limited. The relevance of high-dose rodent carcinogenicity findings to human use remains a subject of debate.
Human trials of GW501516 were small and short in duration. They examined lipid levels, glucose handling, and other metabolic markers, but the programs were halted after the animal cancer findings. No approved therapeutic product exists, and published human data are insufficient for establishing long-term safety. Reports of use for athletic performance come mainly from non-clinical settings and cannot be verified through controlled trials. Independent testing of products sold as cardarine has found inconsistent purity and labeling.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common synonyms | GW501516; GW-1516; endurobol | GW501516 is the research code |
| Drug class | PPARδ agonist | Not a selective androgen receptor modulator |
| Molecular formula | C21H18F3NO3S2 | Established chemical formula |
| Molar mass | 453.5 g/mol | Calculated from the formula |
| Regulatory status | Prohibited in sport; not approved as medicine | Status varies by country |
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 can be detected in biological samples and product materials using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method separates compounds by chromatography and identifies them by mass-to-charge transitions, allowing low-level detection in urine or blood. Sample preparation often involves enzymatic hydrolysis, solid-phase extraction, or protein precipitation. Certified reference materials and isotope-labeled internal standards improve quantification. Detection windows depend on metabolism, matrix, and assay sensitivity, so no single universal window applies.
Regulatory treatment of cardarine differs by context and jurisdiction. In competitive sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency lists PPARδ agonists, including GW501516, as prohibited at all times. Outside sport, it lacks approval as a prescription medicine in major drug markets, and products sold for human consumption may be treated as unapproved drugs. Some countries also restrict importation or sale through general consumer protection and medicines laws. These classifications affect availability, testing, and legal risk without establishing therapeutic value.
Because cardarine is not an approved medicine, no pharmacopeial monograph defines its identity, purity, or storage requirements. Laboratories typically rely on in-house methods and reference standards when testing materials labeled as GW501516. Certificates of analysis may report purity and identity for a specific batch, but their scope varies and they do not guarantee safety or legal status. Independent verification can include high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and elemental analysis. The distinction between research chemical labeling and human use is significant because quality standards and oversight differ.
(AstraZeneca, 2014) Peginesatide (Omontys) – once-monthly medication to treat anemia associated with chronic kidney disease in adult patients on dialysis (Affymax/Takeda Pharmaceuticals, 2012) Pegloticase (Krystexxa) – PEGylated uricase for the treatment of gout (Savient, 2010) Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) – monoclonal antibody for treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, an inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder (Nektar/UCB Pharma, 2008) Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (Mircera) – PEGylated form of erythropoietin to combat anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (Roche, 2007) Pegaptanib (Macugen) – used to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (Pfizer, 2004) Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) – PEGylated recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for severe cancer chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (Amgen, 2002) Pegvisomant (Somavert) – PEG-human growth hormone mutein receptor antagonist for treatment of Acromegaly (Pfizer, 2002) Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) – PEGylated interferon alpha for use in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and hepatitis B (Hoffmann-La Roche, 2002) Peginterferon alfa-2b (PegIntron) – PEGylated interferon alpha for use in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and hepatitis B (Schering-Plough/Enzon, 2000) Doxorubicin HCl liposome (Doxil/Caelyx) – PEGylated liposome containing doxorubicin for the treatment of cancer (Alza, 1995) Pegaspargase (Oncaspar) – PEGylated L-asparaginase for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients who are hypersensitive to the native unmodified form of L-asparaginase (Enzon, 1994). This drug was recently approved for front line use. Pegademase bovine (Adagen) – PEG-adenosine deaminase for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) (Enzon, 1990)
Calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) are a group of two similar neuropeptides that belong to the calcitonin family. The two types of CGRP in humans are alpha-CGRP (α-CGRP, also known as CGRP I) and beta-CGRP (β-CGRP, also known as CGRP II). α-CGRP is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide formed by alternative splicing of the calcitonin/CGRP gene located on chromosome 11. β-CGRP is less studied. In humans, β-CGRP differs from α-CGRP by three amino acids and is encoded in a separate, nearby gene. The CGRP family includes calcitonin (CT), adrenomedullin (AM), and amylin (AMY).
== History == The corporate origins trace back to 1980, when the predecessor trading company (Ta Chiang International) was established. In the late 1990s the group created a biomedical division and moved progressively into health-care product development and manufacturing. In 2011 the company transitioned its business model from an ODM (original design manufacturer) to a CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization), emphasizing integrated bioscience design, proprietary ingredient development and turnkey manufacturing services for clients seeking private-label and brand products. The firm went public on Taiwan's OTC market in 2013 (listing date 12 September 2013) with stock code 8436, accelerating capital access for factory expansion, R&D laboratories and overseas business development. Since the 2010s TCI has expanded into multiple subsidiaries and business lines (including genetic testing and digital health services), pursued international client partnerships, and invested in laboratory and production capacity—reporting a group workforce in the high hundreds and multiple manufacturing sites and laboratories by the early 2020s.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Dharmalingam, a Malaysian executed on 27 April 2022 at 6:00 am for trafficking of heroin in 2009 2022: Kalwant Singh Jogindar Singh and Norasharee Gous, a Malaysian and Singaporean respectively, who were both executed on 7 July 2022 for diamorphine trafficking in 2013 2022: Nazeri Lajim, a Singaporean executed on 22 July 2022 for importing 33.89g of diamorphine in 2012 2022: Abdul Rahim Shapiee and Ong Seow Ping, who were both Singaporeans, were hanged on 5 August 2022 for trafficking diamorphine in 2015 2023: Tangaraju Suppiah, a Singaporean hanged on 26 April 2023 for trafficking 1 kg of marijuana. 2023: Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, a Singaporean hanged on 26 July 2023 for trafficking 49.98g of diamorphine in 2017. 2023: Saridewi Djamani, a Singaporean woman hanged on 28 July 2023 for trafficking 30.72g of diamorphine in 2016. 2023: Mohamed Shalleh Abdul Latiff, a Singaporean and former delivery driver hanged on 3 August 2023 for trafficking 54.04g of diamorphine in 2019. 2024: 39-year-old Malaysian Pausi Jefridin and 53-year-old Singaporean Roslan Bakar, who were both hanged on 15 November 2024 for trafficking 96.07g of diamorphine in 2008. 2024: Rosman Abdullah, a 55-year-old Singaporean hanged on 22 November 2024 for trafficking 57.43g of diamorphine in 2009. 2025: Roshdi Abdullah Altway, a Singaporean, was hanged on 10 April 2025 for trafficking 78.77g of diamorphine. Roshdi was previously sentenced to hang in 1994 for the murder of a CNB inspector before he appealed and successfully reduced his death sentence to ten years' prison for manslaughter.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) refers to using fluorescently labeled probe to hybridize to cytogenetic cell preparations. In addition to standard preparations FISH can also be performed on:
== Distinctions == Hofmann was the founder and the director of Protein Research Laboratory at the School of Medicine at University of Pittsburgh, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Professor Emeritus of Experimental Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and a member of American Association for the Advancement of Science.
a signal peptide of 16 amino acid residues; a negatively-charged N-terminal domain containing sulfated tyrosine and disulfide bond(s); ten tandem leucine-rich repeats allowing lumican to bind to other extracellular components such as collagen; a carboxyl terminal domain of 50 amino acid residues containing two conserved cysteines 32 residues apart. There are four N-linked sites within the leucine-rich repeat domain of the protein core that can be substituted with keratan sulfate. The core protein of lumican (like decorin and fibromodulin) is horseshoe shaped. This enables it bind to collagen molecules within a collagen fibril, thus helping keep adjacent fibrils apart.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
No. Cardarine is GW501516, a PPARδ agonist, while SARMs act on androgen receptors. The two classes are often grouped in informal discussions despite different mechanisms.
No. It has no approved medical indication in any country. Regulatory agencies have not cleared it for treatment or prevention of any condition.
Early clinical work stopped after rodent carcinogenicity findings. Those animal results raised concerns about long-term human risk, although direct human evidence is lacking. The human relevance of the tumors remains an open scientific question.
Rodent studies reported increased endurance and fat oxidation after GW501516 exposure. Long-term studies also found higher rates of some tumors, which led to halted development.