Scientific Reference

IGF-1-DES

Evidence profile: Preclinical, with limited uncontrolled human reports

IGF-1 DES (Des(1–3) IGF-1) is a truncated analogue of insulin-like growth factor-1 in which the first three N-terminal amino acids have been removed. This structural modification significantly reduces binding to insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), resulting in increased bioavailability and enhanced receptor activity. Due to its reduced binding affinity for IGFBPs, IGF-1 DES exhibits a more rapid and potent localised effect compared to full-length IGF-1. It is widely used in research to study muscle growth signalling, cellular proliferation, and tissue regeneration pathways.