Skip to content
Peptides Codex
ENFR

Use the arrow keys to choose a result, Enter to open it, and Escape to close.

← Home
Peptide hormone / growth factor

Insulin-like growth factor 1

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), also called somatomedin C, is a 70-amino-acid peptide hormone structurally related to insulin.

By The Peptides Codex Editorial TeamIndividual review date not recorded

Page data last changed: . Chemistry registry snapshot: . Registry refreshes and identity assessments are separate from scientific content review.

Length
70 aa
Class
Peptide hormone / growth factor
Function
Mediates growth-hormone anabolic and growth-promoting effects
Context
Growth, GH/IGF-axis and metabolism research

The primary mediator of growth-hormone action and a central node of the GH/IGF axis.

Also known as: IGF-1 · IGF1 · somatomedin C

Part of the Growth hormone & IGF peptides cluster

Overview

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), also called somatomedin C, is a 70-amino-acid peptide hormone structurally related to insulin. Produced largely by the liver in response to growth hormone, it drives childhood growth and has anabolic effects in adults through the IGF-1 receptor. This page is educational and not medical advice.

Source & context

Biological / chemical source: Produced mainly by the liver under GH control (IGF1 gene)

Primary research or clinical context: Growth, GH/IGF-axis and metabolism research

Structure and control

IGF-1 is a single 70-residue chain stabilized by three disulfide bridges, echoing insulin's architecture. Its production is stimulated by growth hormone and blunted by undernutrition or GH insensitivity, and most circulating IGF-1 travels bound to IGF-binding proteins.

Why it is central

IGF-1 mediates much of growth hormone's downstream activity on bone, muscle and other tissues, making it a key readout in GH-axis research. The recombinant analog mecasermin is approved for severe IGF-1 deficiency, and the base peptide differs from research analogs such as IGF-1 LR3.

Structure & chemistry

Molecular identity & reference confidence

Reference mass unavailable

Reference values are taken from the cited molecular record or curated profile. A database match is not independent laboratory verification; modifications, counter-ions, and formulations can change the measured mass.

Molecular form
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (source record; form not independently established)
Species
Not established by this molecular identity audit
Termini (N / C)
Not specified / Not specified

Average reference mass

Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05

Status
Approved medicine in at least one jurisdiction (IUPHAR record)
Identifiers

Chemistry values: IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology · fetched 2026-09-06.

Clinical development snapshot

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 299 registered studies with “Insulin-like growth factor 1” as an intervention (snapshot 2026-10-01). A registry footprint is not evidence of efficacy or approval.

Registered studies
299
Highest phase reached
Phase 4
Active in latest 100
30
Most recent update
2026-09-29
Most recently updated studies
NCTTitlePhaseStatusUpdated
NCT07557628Study of the Hypothalamic Microglial Response as a Function of a Meal's Lipid Content in Humans. A Single-cent—recruiting2026-09-29
NCT05645211The AgRP and GH/IGF-1 Axis in Children—not yet recruiting2026-09-25
NCT06930625A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Debio 4126 in Participants With Acromegaly Previously Treated WitPhase 3recruiting2026-09-22
NCT07778719Metformin-Dapagliflozin Effects on IGF-1 in Male T2DM With MASLDNot applicablenot yet recruiting2026-08-21
NCT07519954Expediting Pregnancy of Unknown Location Risk Stratification Using the ROM-Plus Point of Care Test—not yet recruiting2026-08-18
NCT06021054An Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability Study of Veligrotug (VRDN-001), in Participants With Chronic Thyroid EyePhase 3completed2026-08-13
See all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

FAQ about Insulin-like growth factor 1

What is Insulin-like growth factor 1?+

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), also called somatomedin C, is a 70-amino-acid peptide hormone structurally related to insulin. Produced largely by the liver in response to growth hormone, it drives childhood growth and has anabolic effects in adults through the IGF-1 receptor. This page is educational and not medical advice.

What Canadian product status is recorded for Insulin-like growth factor 1?+

Canadian product status for Insulin-like growth factor 1 has not been verified in this profile. No verified record here does not mean no authorization exists. Status depends on the product, formulation and use; consult Health Canada's product records.

What is the typical length of Insulin-like growth factor 1?+

Insulin-like growth factor 1 is commonly described as approximately 70 amino acids (Peptide hormone / growth factor).

Related peptides

Dihexa
Angiotensin IV-derived peptidomimetic (research compound)
Dihexa (PNB-0408; C27H44N4O5, ≈505 Da) is a small, orally available, blood-brain-barrier-permeable peptidomimetic derived from angiotensin IV: N-hexanoyl-tyrosyl-isoleucyl-6-aminohexanamide. It was designed as a metabolically stabilised procognitive agent and is proposed to act by potentiating hepatocyte growth factor signalling at the c-Met receptor. Its evidence is entirely preclinical — rodent memory models and cell work — with no registered human trial and no approval; a central 2014 mechanism paper has been retracted.
Thymosin beta-4
Actin-sequestering peptide
Thymosin beta-4 is a naturally occurring 43-amino-acid peptide and the principal actin-sequestering molecule in many cell types. The research compound TB-500 is derived from an active region of this larger peptide. Thymosin beta-4 is investigational and not authorized by Health Canada; this page is educational only.
Pramlintide
Amylin analog
Pramlintide is a synthetic analog of the pancreatic hormone amylin, designed with proline substitutions so it stays soluble rather than aggregating. It is an approved prescription medicine in the United States used alongside insulin, and is a common case study in peptide formulation and analog design.
Peptide YY
Gut hormone
Peptide YY (PYY) is a 36-amino-acid gut hormone released from intestinal L-cells after eating, where it contributes to satiety and slows gastric emptying. Named for its tyrosine residues at each end, it is a heavily studied signal in appetite and energy-balance research.

References & further reading

  1. 1.Kasprzak (2021). Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Signaling in Glucose Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci
  2. 2.Hsieh et al. (2025). Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in Hair Regeneration: Mechanistic Pathways and Therapeutic Potential. Curr Issues Mol Biol
  3. 3.Wang et al. (2023). Insulin-like growth factor 1 in heat stress-induced neuroinflammation: novel perspective about the neuroprotective role of chromium. Stress Biol
  4. 4.Donegan et al. (2022). Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in the Early Postoperative Assessment of Acromegaly. Am J Clin Pathol
  5. 5.OMIM — Insulin-like growth factor I; IGF1 (147440)
  6. 6.Wikipedia — Insulin-like growth factor 1
Disclaimer: Educational content only. Not medical advice. Not instructions for human use. Research peptides and unapproved products may be restricted or illegal to market for human consumption in your jurisdiction. Consult qualified professionals and applicable law.
You might also like: All peptides · Atlas · Research · Tools
Cite this: Peptides Codex — Insulin-like growth factor 1 educational profile.
Tip: Use browser print (Ctrl/Cmd + P) for a clean PDF of this page.