A manufactured copy of the brain signal that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone, altered so one injection works for days. It reliably raises growth hormone and its downstream messenger; whether that delivers the fat, sleep, or thinking benefits sought is untested. Development stopped after a trial death never fully explained, and long-term safety is unmeasured. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IGF-1 | Z-score 0 to +1.5; roughly 150–200 ng/mL at 40–65 | Mechanism output and titration target |
| IGFBP-3 | Mid-range; normal IGF-1 to IGFBP-3 ratio | Separates bioavailable from bound IGF-1 |
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | First site of the insulin-antagonist effect |
| Fasting insulin | Below 5 µIU/mL | Earliest warning of insulin resistance |
| HOMA-IR | Below 1.0 | Summarizes the glucose-insulin risk |
| HbA1c | 4.8–5.3% | Confirms a real shift in average glucose |
| Lipid panel with ApoB | ApoB below 80 mg/dL; triglycerides below 80 mg/dL | Tracks the favourable metabolic effect |
| hs-CRP | Below 0.5 mg/L | Falls with visceral fat; a rise signals inflammation |
| PSA — men only | Below 1.0 ng/mL under 60; trend more informative | Prostate cancer signal linked to IGF-1 |
| TSH with free T4 | TSH 0.5–2.0 mIU/L | Growth hormone can unmask hypothyroidism |
| Prolactin | Within the laboratory reference range | Only when stacking a ghrelin-receptor agonist |
| Morning cortisol | 10–18 µg/dL at 8 am | Stress-axis blunting; sex-divergent effect |
| Blood pressure | Below 120/80 mmHg | Earliest accessible sign of fluid retention |
| DEXA body composition scan | Visceral fat below 100 cm²; lean mass stable or rising | Separates fat loss from fluid and lean change |
Cadence: Core panel — IGF-1, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c — at weeks 6 and 12, then every 3 months, and 4 weeks after stopping. Full panel — lipids, thyroid, prolactin, cancer markers — at 6 and 12 months. Blood pressure and weight weekly for 8 weeks, then monthly; imaging at baseline and 6 months.