A practical reference on GW501516: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
This page was last updated on 2025-09-14 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
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.
Detection of GW501516 in biological samples generally relies on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is a common matrix in anti-doping analysis, while blood or plasma may be used in research settings. Sample preparation can involve enzymatic hydrolysis, protein precipitation, or solid-phase extraction before instrumental analysis. Because the compound undergoes metabolism, assays may target the parent molecule, one or more metabolites, or both. Detection windows are not fixed; they depend on factors such as dose, route, individual metabolism, and assay sensitivity. Reference standards are required for accurate identification and quantification.
PPARδ is a nuclear receptor that influences transcription of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, lipid transport, and energy homeostasis. GW501516 binds and activates this receptor with high selectivity relative to PPARα and PPARγ in laboratory assays. Activation alters expression of target genes in skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue in animal models. The exact clinical consequences of these changes in humans remain incompletely characterized, and observed effects in animals do not establish therapeutic benefit or safety.
Published studies have examined GW501516 in animal models of obesity, insulin resistance, and exercise endurance. Early human trials reportedly ended, and development was discontinued after preclinical findings raised concerns about cancer in some rodent studies. Regulatory agencies have not approved cardarine for any medical use. Its availability through non-pharmaceutical channels raises questions about identity, purity, and legal status that are separate from its laboratory pharmacology. Those questions are often addressed through analytical testing rather than assumptions about product labels.
Cardarine is a common name for GW501516, also GW-1516, a synthetic compound developed as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) agonist. It belongs to a class of agents that modulate gene transcription related to lipid and energy metabolism. The compound was studied in preclinical and early clinical research for metabolic and cardiovascular conditions, but it did not progress to approved therapeutic use. Its name appears in fitness and sports contexts despite not being approved as a drug.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Visual description for typical solid reference material. |
| Solubility | Poorly soluble in water; soluble in DMSO | Solubility depends on solvent, purity, and form. |
| Storage | Cool, dry, protected from light | Long-term storage often uses low temperature and desiccant. |
| Common analytical method | LC-MS/MS | Used for detection and quantification in biological matrices. |
| Common synonyms | GW-501516; GW501516; endurobol | Naming varies among literature, vendors, and databases. |
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.
Sporting authorities added GW501516 to prohibited lists after it appeared in athlete samples and online markets. The World Anti-Doping Agency classifies it as a hormone and metabolic modulator, and its use can lead to an anti-doping rule violation. Some early laboratory work suggested effects on fatty acid oxidation and endurance-related metabolism in animals, but those findings do not establish safe or effective use in people. Reports of adverse events in humans are scarce and often anecdotal, which complicates risk assessment.
Anti-doping laboratories identify GW501516 and related metabolites using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is the most common matrix, though blood and dried blood spots may also be analyzed. The method targets the parent compound and phase I and phase II metabolites, which extend the detection window. Because the substance is prohibited at all times, athletes can be tested outside competition. Detection limits and windows depend on the assay, sample type, and individual metabolism.
Cardarine is frequently described as a fat-burning or endurance-enhancing supplement, but these claims exceed the available evidence. The compound is not a hormone, steroid, or selective androgen receptor modulator. Research articles discuss it as a tool compound for studying PPARδ biology, while anti-doping literature focuses on its abuse and detection. Quality of unapproved products is uncertain, and independent analyses have found impurities or incorrect labeling. Open questions include whether human cancer risk resembles that seen in rodents and how often non-athletes use the substance.
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.
The pharmacological interest in cardarine centers on PPARδ activation and its downstream effects on lipid handling and mitochondrial function. In animal studies, PPARδ agonists have been associated with changes in exercise endurance and fatty acid utilization, though results vary by model and protocol. Human data remain sparse, and the absence of large controlled trials limits conclusions about efficacy. Researchers often describe the compound as a tool for probing PPARδ biology rather than a proven therapeutic agent.
Safety discussions about cardarine frequently cite rodent carcinogenicity findings reported in the 2000s. In those studies, treated animals developed tumors at multiple sites, leading sponsors to discontinue clinical development. The relevance of these findings to humans has not been resolved, but they are a major reason the compound is not approved. Current literature emphasizes uncertainty about long-term effects and the risks of unregulated use. Regulators and health agencies have not established a safe human exposure level.
== Vertebrates == Across various vertebrate models that have been used to study cell behavior during wound healing, dedifferentiation is consistently reflected by changes in gene expression, morphology, and proliferative activity that distinguish it from its previously terminally differentiated state.
A Study published by Altus Group indicates that 383 pubs closed in England during the first six months of 2023, including 46 in London. 9 October – Medway Council in Kent cancels its 2023 Christmas lights due to what it describes as a "challenging financial situation". 11 October – South Yorkshire Police says it is making "ongoing" inquiries after video footage emerged of a man climbing onto the roof of Sheffield Town Hall to replace an Israeli flag with a Palestinian one. An Independent Monitoring Board report into Wandsworth Prison has concluded that the prison is "unsafe and inhumane"; the report was prepared before the escape of Daniel Khalife in September. 12 October – Following reports that some student societies have been distributing leaflets in support of Hamas, education ministers Gillian Keegan and Robert Halfon have written to university vice chancellors in England urging them to "act swiftly and decisively against any threats" to students' safety and welfare. The number of people waiting for planned NHS treatment in England rises to 7.75 million. 13 October – Three Jewish schools in north London have closed for the day amid safety concerns for their students because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Police have detailed a 22-year-old woman on suspicion of supporting Hamas, which is a prescribed terrorist organisation in the UK, following a speech given at a protest in Brighton on 8 October.
=== Cognitive development === Protein-calorie malnutrition can cause cognitive impairments. This most commonly occurs in people who were malnourished during a "critical period ... from the final third of gestation to the first 2 years of life". For example, in children under two years of age, iron deficiency anemia is likely to affect brain function acutely, and probably also chronically. Similarly, folate deficiency has been linked to neural tube defects. Iodine deficiency is "the most common preventable cause of mental impairment worldwide." "Even moderate [iodine] deficiency, especially in pregnant women and infants, lowers intelligence by 10 to 15 I.Q. points, shaving incalculable potential off a nation's development." Among those affected, very few people experience the most visible and severe effects: disabling goiters, cretinism and dwarfism. These effects occur most commonly in mountain villages. However, 16 percent of the world's people have at least mild goiter (a swollen thyroid gland in the neck)."
==== The Iberian Peninsula ==== The Normans began appearing in the military confrontations between Christians and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula since the early eleventh century. The first Norman who appears in the narrative sources was Roger I of Tosny who according to Ademar of Chabannes and the later Chronicle of St Pierre le Vif went to aid the Barcelonese in a series of raids against the Andalusi Muslims c. 1018. Later in the eleventh century, other Norman adventurers such as Robert Crispin and Walter Giffard participated in the probably papal organised siege of Barbastro of 1064. Even after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the Normans continued to participate in ventures in the peninsula. After the Frankish conquest of the Holy Land during the First Crusade, the Normans began to be encouraged to participate in ventures of conquest in the northeast of the peninsula. The most significant example of this was the incursion of Rotrou II of Perche and Robert Burdet in the 1120s in the Ebro frontier. By 1129 Robert Burdet had been granted a semi-independent principality in the city of Tarragona by the then Archbishop of this see, Oleguer Bonestruga. Several others of Rotrou's Norman followers were rewarded with lands in the Ebro valley by King Alfonso I of Aragon for their services. With the rising popularity of the sea route to the Holy Land, Norman and Anglo-Norman crusaders also started to be encouraged locally by Iberian prelates to participate in the Portuguese incursions into the western areas of the Peninsula.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Ribosomal diseases and cancer === Ribosomopathies are congenital human disorders resulting from defects in ribosomal protein or rRNA genes, or other genes whose products are implicated in ribosome biogenesis. Examples include X-linked Dyskeratosis congenita (X-DC), Diamond–Blackfan anemia, Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) and Shwachman–Bodian–Diamond syndrome (SBDS). SBDS is caused by mutations in the SBDS protein that affects its ability to couple GTP hydrolysis by the GTPase EFL1 to the release of eIF6 from the 60S subunit.
On the eve of Trump's nomination, it was reported that Bush had privately expressed concern about the current direction of the Republican Party, telling a group of his former aides and advisors that "I'm worried that I will be the last Republican president." According to a spokesperson for the Bush family, he did not vote for either Trump or Hillary Clinton in the general election, instead choosing to leave his presidential ballot blank. After the 2016 elections, Bush, his father, and his brother Jeb called Trump on the phone to congratulate him on his victory. On January 20, 2017, Bush and his wife attended Trump's first inauguration. Images of Bush struggling to put on a rain poncho during the ceremony became an internet meme. While leaving the event, Bush allegedly described the ceremony, and Trump's inaugural address in particular, as "some weird shit". In February 2017, Bush released a book of his own portraits of veterans called Portraits of Courage. In August, following the white nationalist Unite the Right rally, Bush and his father released a joint statement condemning the violence and ideologies present there. Subsequently, Bush gave a speech in New York where he noted of the current political climate, "Bigotry seems emboldened.
Although considered plausible, Wu's hypothesis was not immediately accepted, since so little was known of protein structure and enzymology and other factors could account for the changes in solubility, enzymatic activity and chemical reactivity. In the early 1960s, Chris Anfinsen showed that the folding of ribonuclease A was fully reversible with no external cofactors needed, verifying the "thermodynamic hypothesis" of protein folding that the folded state represents the global minimum of free energy for the protein. The hypothesis of protein folding was followed by research into the physical interactions that stabilize folded protein structures. The crucial role of hydrophobic interactions was hypothesized by Dorothy Wrinch and Irving Langmuir, as a mechanism that might stabilize her cyclol structures. Although supported by J. D. Bernal and others, this (correct) hypothesis was rejected along with the cyclol hypothesis, which was disproven in the 1930s by Linus Pauling (among others). Instead, Pauling championed the idea that protein structure was stabilized mainly by hydrogen bonds, an idea advanced initially by William Astbury (1933). Remarkably, Pauling's incorrect theory about H-bonds resulted in his correct models for the secondary structure elements of proteins, the alpha helix and the beta sheet. The hydrophobic interaction was restored to its correct prominence by a famous article in 1959 by Walter Kauzmann on denaturation, based partly on work by Kaj Linderstrøm-Lang.
While many other authors had published works of fantasy before Tolkien, the great success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings led directly to a popular resurgence and the shaping of the modern fantasy genre. This has caused Tolkien to be popularly identified as the "father" of modern fantasy literature—or, more precisely, of high fantasy, as in the work of authors such as Ursula Le Guin and her Earthsea series. In 2008 The Times ranked him sixth on a list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945", and in 2024, Forbes ranked him #60 on a list of 101 greatest authors of all time. His influence has extended to music, including the Danish group the Tolkien Ensemble's setting of all the poetry in The Lord of the Rings to their vocal music; and to a broad range of games set in Middle-earth. Among literary allusions to Tolkien, he appears as the elderly "Professor J. B. Timbermill" in all five novels in J. I. M. Stewart's series A Staircase in Surrey. The scholar Tom Shippey describes Tolkien as the "author of the [20th] century", and states that "I do not think any modern writer of epic fantasy has managed to escape the mark of Tolkien, no matter how hard many of them have tried". John Clute, writing in The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, similarly credits Tolkien with being "the twentieth-century's single most important author of fantasy". His work has had a massive impact on Western pop culture, and remains extremely influential.
The three substrates of this enzyme are D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, phosphate (Pi), and oxidised nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+). Its products are 1,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid, reduced NADPH, and a proton.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Science and technology === The National Science and Technology Council (CCT) and the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development were also restructured, with the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos saying that the government would increase investments in that area. On 16 February, Lula announced yet another readjustment in the value of scholarships during an event in the Planalto Palace. and stated that "in this government it is forbidden to treat money that goes to education, scholarships, or healthcare as an expense." He later restructured the National Council for Science and Technology (CCT) and restored the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT). The minister of science, technology and innovation, Luciana Santos, stated that investment in the area is a priority for the government.
=== No development reported === AD-6626 – aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) inhibitor – alcoholism AM-6527 (AM6527) – cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist – substance-related disorders Amitifadine (DOV-21947; EB-1010) – serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI) – alcoholism, opioid-related disorders, smoking withdrawal, substance-related disorders Arbaclofen extended release – GABAB receptor agonist – opioid-related disorders BMB-101 – serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist – opioid-related disorders Bupropion/mecamylamine (INT-0003; QuitPak) – combination of bupropion (norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator) and mecamylamine (non-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist) – smoking withdrawal Cannabidiol (CBD; cannabidiol transderma/topical gel/patch; Zygel; ZYN-002) – cannabinoid/various actions – alcoholism, substance-related disorders CM-1212 – undefined mechanism of action – alcoholism, substance-related disorders CPP-115 – GABA transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitor – substance-related disorders CT-044 analogues - CERSCI Therapeutics – reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitors (CT-044 analogues) – opioid-related disorders CX-717 (CX717) – AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator (ampakine) – substance-related disorders Cyproheptadine/prazosin (KT-110; Periactine/Alpress) – combination of cyproheptadine (various actions) and prazosin (α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist) – substance-related disorders DCR-AUD (DCR-A1203; NN-6020) – aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) inhibitor, RNA interference – alcoholism Dimethyltryptamine (DMT; EBRX-101) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist, and serotonergic psychedelic – smoking withdrawal GLWL-01 – ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) inhibitor – alcoholism GSK-598809 (GSK598809) – dopamine D3 receptor antagonist – smoking withdrawal, substance-related disorders GSK-1521498 – μ-opioid receptor inverse agonist – cocaine-related disorders GTS-21 (DMXB-A; DMBX-anabaseine) – nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist – smoking withdrawal Icalcaprant (ABBV-1354; CVL-354) – κ-opioid receptor antagonist – substance-related disorders Levodopa (CVT-301; CXG-89; Inbrija) – dopamine precursor (non-selective dopamine receptor agonist) – smoking withdrawal Mazindol controlled release (NLS-0; NLS-1; NLS-10; NLS-13; NLS-2; Nolazol; Quilience) – serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI) – opioid-related disorders Midomafetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) – serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine releasing agent (SNDRA), serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist, and entactogen – substance-related disorders Mifepristone (C-1073; Corlux; Corluxin; Korlym; Mifegyne; Mifeprex; RU-38486; RU-486) – glucocorticoid, progesterone, and androgen receptor antagonist – smoking withdrawal Modafinil oral (ASB) – atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitor (DRI) – cocaine-related disorders Naloxone nasal spray (-12; LT-20; LT-21; LT-22; Naloxon B; Narcan Nasal Spray; OPNT-001) – μ-opioid receptor antagonist – cocaine-related disorders, substance-related disorders Nalmefene implant (nalmefene six-month implant) – μ-opioid receptor antagonist, κ-opioid receptor weak partial agonist – opioid-related disorders Naloxone buccal/intransal gel (Exonal) – opioid receptor antagonist – opioid-related disorders Nicotine abuse vaccine (Niccine) – nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist – smoking withdrawal Nicotine/cannabidiol chewing gum (nicotine/CBD; CVSI-007) – combination of nicotine (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist) and cannabidiol (CBD) (cannabinoid/various actions) – smoking withdrawal Noribogaine derived therapeutic – various actions (noribogaine derivative) – opioid-related disorders OMS-405 (OMS405) – PPARγ agonist – alcoholism Ondansetron (AD-04) – serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist – opioid-related disorders, smoking withdrawal Ondansetron/topiramate (AD-01; AD/TO-01) – combination of ondansetron (serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist) and topiramate (various actions) – alcoholism Ondelopran (LY-2196044; Odelepan; Odelepran; OpRA) – opioid receptor antagonist – alcoholism OPNT-005 (OPNT005; adjuvanted heroin analogue vaccine; diamorphine analogue vaccine; heroin vaccine) – immunostimulant (vaccine against heroin) – heroin-related disorders PF-5402536 (NIC7-001; PF-5402536) – immunostimulant (smoking vaccine) – smoking withdrawal Pomaglumetad methionil (DB103; LY-2140023; LY-2812223; LY-404039 prodrug) – metabotropic glutamate mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptor receptor agonist (pomaglumetad prodrug) – substance-related disorders PPL-103 – μ-opioid receptor agonist, δ-opioid receptor agonist, κ-opioid receptor agonist – substance-related disorders Pregnenolone methyl ether (3β-methoxypregnenolone; MAP-4343) – microtubule-associated protein (MAP) stimulant and tubulin polymerization promoter – substance-related disorders Psilocybin (MYCO-001; MYCO-003) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist, and serotonergic psychedelic – substance-related disorders PT-150 (PT150; ORG-34517; SCH-900636) – androgen and glucocorticoid receptor antagonist – alcoholism Research programme: alcoholism therapeutics - ADial Pharmaceuticals – various actions – alcoholism Research programme: allosteric modulators - Addex Therapeutics – various actions – substance-related disorders Research programme: GPCR modulators - Nxera Pharma – various actions – cocaine-related disorders, substance-related disorders Research programme: nociceptin receptor agonists - Astraea Therapeutics – nociceptin receptor agonist, opioid receptor agonist – alcoholism, substance-related disorders Research programme: smoking cessation therapies - Ophidion – smoking withdrawal – nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists Research programme: tryptamine based therapeutics - PsyBio Therapeutics – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists – substance-related disorders RTI-598929 – μ-opioid receptor antagonist and κ-opioid receptor antagonist – heroin-related disorders Saracatinib (AZD-0530) – Src-family kinase inhibitor – alcoholism SBP-9330 – metabotropic glutamate mGlu2 receptor modulator – smoking withdrawal SEL-068 (tSVP; immunomodulatory nanoparticle vaccine for smoking cessation) – immunomodulator (smoking vaccine) – smoking withdrawal Serdexmethylphenidate (KP-484; KP-1077; KP-1077H; KP-1077IH; KP-1077N; KP-879) – norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) (dexmethylphenidate prodrug) – substance-related disorders TRV-734 (TRV734) – μ-opioid receptor biased agonist – opioid-related disorders VDM-001 – opioid receptor antagonist – alcoholism, opioid-related disorders Zolunicant (18-methoxycoronaridine; 18-MC; MM-110) – α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist – substance-related disorders
Hormonal therapy in oncology is hormone therapy for cancer and is one of the major modalities of medical oncology (pharmacotherapy for cancer), others being cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted therapy (biotherapeutics). It involves the manipulation of the endocrine system through exogenous or external administration of specific hormones, particularly steroid hormones, or drugs which inhibit the production or activity of such hormones (hormone antagonists). Because steroid hormones are powerful drivers of gene expression in certain cancer cells, changing the levels or activity of certain hormones can cause certain cancers to cease growing, or even undergo cell death. Surgical removal of endocrine organs, such as orchiectomy and oophorectomy can also be employed as a form of hormonal therapy. Hormonal therapy is used for several types of cancers derived from hormonally responsive tissues, including the breast, prostate, endometrium, and adrenal cortex. Hormonal therapy may also be used in the treatment of paraneoplastic syndromes or to ameliorate certain cancer- and chemotherapy-associated symptoms, such as anorexia. Perhaps the most familiar example of hormonal therapy in oncology is the use of the selective estrogen-response modulator tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer, although another class of hormonal agents, aromatase inhibitors, now have an expanding role in that disease.
== Structure == The party president is the top position of SWAPO; in 2012 this was held by Namibia's former president Pohamba. The vice-president was Namibia's former president Hage Geingob, who was elected to that position in 2007 and reconfirmed at the SWAPO congress in December 2012, until his death on 4 February 2024. The third highest position in SWAPO is the secretary-general, a position held in December 2012 by Nangolo Mbumba. Number four is the deputy secretary-general, Omaheke governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua. Like many socialist and communist parties, SWAPO is governed by a politburo and a central committee. The party leadership is advised by a youth league, a women's council, and an elders' council.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Cardarine targets PPARδ, a nuclear receptor involved in lipid and energy metabolism. It does not bind the androgen receptor in the way SARMs do.
Most methods use liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Urine is common in anti-doping testing, and blood or plasma may be used in research.
Typical guidance is cool, dry, dark storage, often at low temperature and with desiccant. Stability data are limited, so storage conditions should be verified for each batch or supplier.
Cardarine is commonly known as GW501516 or GW-1516. These names refer to the same synthetic compound. It is not a brand-name approved medicine.