If you have been reading about PPARδ and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Last reviewed on 2025-12-17. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Preclinical research reported that GW501516 increased running endurance in mice and improved lipid profiles in some animal species. Early human trials explored effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose handling, but the program was discontinued. Published human data are sparse and do not establish efficacy for any condition. Studies also examined PPAR delta in cancer biology, with conflicting findings across models. The relationship between receptor activation, tissue context, and disease risk remains an active area of investigation.
Anti-doping laboratories identify GW501516 and its metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is the usual matrix, and detection can occur after the parent compound has cleared from blood. The exact detection window depends on dose, formulation, individual metabolism, and assay sensitivity. Because the compound is prohibited at all times, athletes are subject to testing in and out of competition. Analytical methods continue to improve as new metabolites and designer analogs are characterized.
GW501516 acts as a ligand for PPAR delta, a nuclear receptor that regulates transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and energy use. Activation of this receptor in skeletal muscle shifts metabolism toward fat burning in animal models. The compound does not burn fat directly; it changes gene expression over hours to days. Researchers study it to understand metabolic flexibility and exercise adaptation. Effects observed in rodents are not automatically expected in humans.
In laboratory settings, cardarine is studied as a tool compound for probing PPARδ biology. Published experiments often use cell cultures, rodent models, or isolated tissues. Some investigations focus on metabolic effects, while others assess potential risks such as carcinogenicity observed in long-term animal studies. Because human trials are sparse, most knowledge comes from preclinical work and adverse event reports. Scientific literature frequently notes the gap between animal findings and human outcomes. The compound is not a dietary supplement and is not intended for human consumption.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, a synthetic compound developed in the 1990s through research collaborations involving GlaxoSmithKline. It belongs to a class of molecules known as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonists. Early studies explored its effects on lipid metabolism and energy expenditure in animal models. The compound was never approved as a human medicine, and clinical development was discontinued. In the years since, it has appeared in fitness and bodybuilding communities as a performance-enhancing substance. Regulatory agencies classify it as an unapproved drug.
PPARδ is a nuclear receptor that regulates gene expression related to fatty acid oxidation, glucose homeostasis, and mitochondrial function. GW501516 binds to this receptor with high affinity and activates downstream signaling in skeletal muscle and other tissues. Animal studies reported increased endurance and altered fuel preference, but human data remain limited and inconsistent. The precise relationship between receptor activation and observed physiological changes is still an area of active investigation. Researchers have also examined whether the compound affects inflammation or cell proliferation. No approved therapeutic indication exists for cardarine.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular target | PPAR delta (NR1C2) | Ligand-activated nuclear receptor. |
| Primary tissues studied | Skeletal muscle, liver, adipose | Effects on fatty acid oxidation and energy use. |
| Typical detection matrix | Urine | Used in anti-doping analysis. |
| Common analytical method | LC-MS/MS | Detects parent compound and metabolites. |
| Sport regulatory class | Prohibited at all times | Listed as a metabolic modulator by WADA. |
Published human data are sparse and mostly come from early-phase trials. Those studies examined short-term changes in lipids, glucose, and exercise capacity, but they were not large enough to establish efficacy or long-term safety. Some animal experiments reported increased running endurance, yet such findings do not prove a performance benefit in people. Anti-doping laboratories detect GW501516 and its metabolites in urine or blood using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Detection windows depend on dose, sample type, and individual metabolism. The method is sensitive enough to identify trace residues in tested samples.
Laboratory handling focuses on identity, purity, and stability. Reference standards are typically stored cold and dry, protected from light, because solutions can degrade over time. Analytical checks may use high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection or mass spectrometry. Impurities and related substances can be separated chromatographically and compared with a known standard. Because cardarine is not an approved drug, compendial monographs are absent, and laboratories often rely on in-house methods. Reported purity varies among unregulated products and should not be assumed from a label.
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.
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.
Legal status varies by country. In some places, cardarine is controlled under medicines or psychoactive substances laws; in others, it may be sold with minimal oversight as a research chemical. Customs agencies have intercepted shipments, and several national health agencies have issued warnings about products marketed for bodybuilding or performance enhancement. The lack of a standardized pharmaceutical supply means identity, purity, and contamination levels can differ widely between samples. These factors make cardarine a regulatory and public health concern rather than a conventional prescription drug.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, a synthetic compound first described in the 1990s as a selective agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta. It was studied in preclinical models for metabolic and cardiovascular conditions, but it has not been approved as a medicine in the United States, Europe, or other major jurisdictions. Retail products labeled as cardarine are generally research chemicals or supplements, not pharmaceutical formulations. Because human safety and efficacy data remain limited, regulatory agencies treat it as an unapproved substance rather than a therapeutic product.
== Gegenanzeigen und Nebenwirkungen == Eculizumab soll nicht angewendet werden bei bekannter Überempfindlichkeit gegen Eculizumab oder gegen murine Proteine. Eculizumab darf nicht angewendet werden bei Patienten mit bekanntem erblichen Komplementdefekt, bei nicht ausgeheilter Infektion mit Neisseria meningitidis (Meningokokken) oder bei nicht vorhandener Impfung gegen Neisseria meningitidis. Neisseria-Infektionen sind deshalb so problematisch, weil durch den Wirkungsmechanismus von Eculizumab die Abwehr des Körpers gegen diese Bakterien eingeschränkt ist. Meningokokken können unter anderem Gehirnhautentzündung hervorrufen. Eine Meningokokkenseptikämie bei zwei Patienten war das schwerwiegendste unerwünschte Ereignis während der klinischen Studien mit Eculizumab. Infusionsreaktionen, die das Absetzen von Eculizumab erfordert hätten, wurden bisher nicht beobachtet. Eine vorherige Impfung gegen Meningokokken wird bei Gabe von Eculizumab empfohlen. Die häufigsten Nebenwirkungen sind Kopfschmerzen, Halsentzündung, Übelkeit, Fieber, Muskelschmerz, Müdigkeit und ein Auftreten von Herpes simplex. Bei etwa 3,5 % der japanischen Bevölkerung, aber auch bei Han-Chinesen, liegt eine heterozygote Mutation des Gens für den Komplementfaktor 5 vor mit einem Einzelnukleotid-Polymorphismus (G2654A), bei der ein Austausch der Aminosäure Arginin durch Histidin an Position 885 (Arg885His) zu einem schlechten Ansprechen auf Eculizumab bei der Therapie der Paroxysmalen nächtlichen Hämoglobinurie führt.
== Herstellung == Eculizumab ist ein humanisierter Antikörper vom Typ IgG2/4κ und wird von Lonza gentechnisch in der stabilen Maus-Myelomzelllinie NS0 hergestellt. Eculizumab wurde von dem amerikanischen Biotechnologieunternehmen Alexion entwickelt und ist seit 2007 in den USA und in der Europäischen Union als Orphan-Arzneimittel zugelassen. Es war in der Europäischen Union das erste Arzneimittel, das im zentralisierten Verfahren über ein beschleunigtes Beurteilungsverfahren zugelassen wurde.
== Kosten == Die jährlichen Kosten für Soliris betragen um die 460.000 € (Stand 2019) und das bei einer lebenslang notwendigen Behandlungsdauer. Im Jahr 2013 galt es mit Jahrestherapiekosten von bis zu 600.000 EUR als teuerstes Arzneimittel der Welt.
Edelfosin ist ein synthetisches Alkyllysophospholipid (ALP). Es ist gegen verschiedene Arten von Krebszellen wirksam. Edelfosin ist ein experimenteller Arzneistoff, der zur Behandlung verschiedener Krebsarten untersucht wurde. Er ist für die orale, intraperitoneale (i. p.) und intravenöse (i. v.) Verabreichung geeignet.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org
It binds to and activates PPAR delta, a nuclear receptor that controls expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation. This mechanism can alter energy metabolism in animal models. It is not a direct stimulant or fat-burning enzyme.
Early-stage trials examined lipid and glucose markers, but the development program was discontinued. Published human results are limited and do not support approved use for any indication. Claims of performance or health benefits remain unproven.
Yes. Laboratories use LC-MS/MS to detect GW501516 and its metabolites in urine. Detection depends on timing and sensitivity, but the substance is banned at all times.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, a synthetic PPARδ agonist developed for research. It has not been approved as a medication in any country. It is classified as an unapproved drug and a prohibited substance in sport.