PinnyPeptide

ACE-031 vs IGF-1 DES

Side-by-side comparison: effects, dosing ranges, side effects, regulatory status, and reconstitution.

Peptide A

ACE-031

Muscle Growth

Soluble myostatin / activin trap — recombinant decoy of the activin IIB receptor.

Peptide B

IGF-1 DES

Muscle Growth

Truncated IGF-1 variant — site-specific, short-acting muscle growth signal.

Typical vial

1 mg

Typical dose

Per kg dosing mcg

Half-life

~10-15 days (Fc-fusion)

FDA status

Not FDA approved. Clinical development halted in 2011 after …

Typical vial

1 mg

Typical dose

20-100 mcg

Half-life

~20-30 minutes

FDA status

Not FDA approved.

ACE-031 effects

  • Inhibits myostatin and related TGF-β superfamily ligands
  • Rapid increases in lean muscle mass in clinical trials
  • Increased thigh muscle volume by MRI
  • Increased serum markers of muscle growth
  • Reduced fat mass in some trial subjects

IGF-1 DES effects

  • Strong acute IGF-1 receptor activation at the injection site
  • Promotes muscle cell hyperplasia (increased cell number)
  • Localized hypertrophy when injected intramuscularly
  • Faster clearance than IGF-1 LR3 (less systemic exposure)
  • Anabolic signaling via PI3K-Akt-mTOR

ACE-031 side effects

  • Capillary leak (gum bleeds, nosebleeds, telangiectasias) — clinical trial finding
  • Injection-site reactions
  • Headache
  • Potential off-target effects on vasculature and bone
  • Limited long-term safety data

IGF-1 DES side effects

  • Localized hypertrophy / asymmetry if always injected in one site
  • Mild hypoglycemia (less than LR3)
  • Injection site discomfort or temporary muscle soreness
  • Theoretical IGF-driven proliferation concerns
  • Lipohypertrophy with repeated same-site injection

ACE-031 dosing ranges

Research / muscle volume increase

0.5-3 mg/kg · IV or SubQ every 2-4 weeks · Per protocol

IGF-1 DES dosing ranges

Site-specific muscle hypertrophy

20-50 mcg per site · Into trained muscle post-workout (IM) · 30-50 days per cycle

General anabolic support

50-100 mcg · Once daily (SubQ) · 30-50 days per cycle

Full ACE-031 guide → Full IGF-1 DES guide →

ACE-031 vs IGF-1 DES — common questions

What is the difference between ACE-031 and IGF-1 DES?

ACE-031: Soluble myostatin / activin trap — recombinant decoy of the activin IIB receptor. Typical dose Per kg dosing mcg. IGF-1 DES: Truncated IGF-1 variant — site-specific, short-acting muscle growth signal. Typical dose 20-100 mcg. Both fall under the Muscle Growth category.

Can you stack ACE-031 and IGF-1 DES?

Stacking ACE-031 with IGF-1 DES is a protocol-design question best raised with a clinician — it depends on your goal, current bloodwork, and whether both peptides target overlapping mechanisms. Both peptides should be tracked independently with separate injection sites and timing. PinnyPeptide supports multi-peptide stacks with automatic injection site rotation.

Which is dosed more frequently, ACE-031 or IGF-1 DES?

ACE-031 is typically dosed: IV or SubQ every 2-4 weeks for Research / muscle volume increase. IGF-1 DES is typically dosed: Into trained muscle post-workout (IM) for Site-specific muscle hypertrophy; Once daily (SubQ) for General anabolic support.

Are ACE-031 and IGF-1 DES FDA approved?

ACE-031: Not FDA approved. Clinical development halted in 2011 after capillary leak observations. IGF-1 DES: Not FDA approved.

Related peptide comparisons

ace-031 vs b7-33ace-031 vs follistatinace-031 vs gdf-8-95ace-031 vs igf-1-lr3follistatin vs igf-1-desgdf-8-95 vs igf-1-des

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