IGF-1 LR3: where it stands with the FDA, and what it costs
No FDA-approved drug contains it; the approved IGF-1 drug, Increlex, is a different molecule. At 83 amino acids it is a protein under the FDA's definition, which makes it a biologic, not a peptide a pharmacy may compound.
Go to clinicLowest per monthIGF-1 LR3 injection (200mcg)
Peps RX · $239/mo
Go to clinicLowest at a clinic we link toIGF-1 LR3 injection
Pepti · $259/mo (≈ $278 per 30 days with its fees)
Where IGF-1 LR3 stands today
No FDA-approved drug contains IGF-1 LR3; the one IGF-1 drug in Drugs@FDA, INCRELEX (mecasermin), is a different substance and a licensed biologic. FDA's substance registry (UNII M9L22Y19H9) records IGF-1 LR3 as a protein whose chain is 83 amino acids long. FDA's rule (21 CFR 600.3) defines a protein as an amino acid chain of more than 40 and counts a protein for treating disease as a biological product, and FDA says biological products are not eligible for the 503A or 503B compounding exemptions. IGF-1 LR3 is in no 503A or 503B category, is not on either bulks list, has had no advisory committee review and is not in HHS's October 2026 interim policy.
For pharmacies compounding one patient's prescription (section 503A)
A protein by FDA's definition, and so a biological product, which FDA says is not eligible for 503A compounding: FDA's substance registry records IGF-1 LR3 as a protein of 83 amino acids, and 21 CFR 600.3 counts any amino acid chain longer than 40 as a protein. No FDA-approved drug contains it; not in any 503A category and not on the 503A bulks list.
“Biological products subject to approval in a biologics license application (BLA) under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 262) are not eligible for the exemptions in section 503A of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 353a).”
FDA's substance record for IGF-1 LR3 (UNII M9L22Y19H9): substance class Protein, one chain numbered to its 83rd amino acid
“LONG-(ARG3)INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I M9L22Y19H9 Overview Substance Class Protein ... Protein Subunits Subunit 1 ... 80 E M Y C A P L K P A 83 K S A ... IGF-1 LR3 Common Name English”
FDA's UNII search names the substance and lists 'IGF-1 LR3' among its names
“LONG-(ARG3)INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I UNII: M9L22Y19H9 ... IGF-1 LR3”
21 CFR 600.3(h)(6)
“A protein is any alpha amino acid polymer with a specific, defined sequence that is greater than 40 amino acids in size.”
21 CFR 600.3(h)
“Biological product means a virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, vaccine, blood, blood component or derivative, allergenic product, protein, or analogous product, or arsphenamine or derivative of arsphenamine (or any other trivalent organic arsenic compound), applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease or condition of human beings.”
FDA's approved IGF-1 drug, INCRELEX (mecasermin, Ipsen, BLA 021839), is a licensed biologic and is not IGF-1 LR3
“This Former NDA Was Deemed To Be a BLA on March 23, 2020. ... INCRELEX MECASERMIN RECOMBINANT 40MG/4ML (10MG/ML) INJECTABLE;SUBCUTANEOUS Prescription”
21 CFR 216.23(a), the 503A bulks list itself: six substances (Brilliant Blue G, cantharidin, diphenylcyclopropenone, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, squaric acid dibutyl ester, thymol iodide); none of the compounds in this file
“The following bulk drug substances can be used in compounding under section 503A(b)(1)(A)(i)(III) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”
For outsourcing facilities (section 503B)
Not eligible for 503B compounding (a biological product on the same definition); not on the 503B bulks list or in any 503B category.
“Accordingly, such biological products are not eligible for the exemptions for compounded drugs under sections 503A and 503B of the FD&C Act.”
The 503B bulks list holds five substances (diphenylcyclopropenone, glycolic acid, quinacrine HCl oral, squaric acid dibutyl ester, trichloroacetic acid); none of the compounds in this file
“FDA has evaluated the following bulk drug substances and determined that there is a clinical need for outsourcing facilities to compound drug products using these bulk drug substances under section 503B of the FD&C Act:”
For athletes who are tested
Prohibited at all times (in and out of competition), as an analogue of IGF-1 (the list names IGF-1 and its analogues, not IGF-1 LR3 itself) (World Anti-Doping Agency, 2026 Prohibited List (in force 1 Jan 2026; WADA approved a 2027 list in Sept 2026, effective 1 Jan 2027, not read here)).
“Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, mecasermin) and its analogues”
Our reading
On FDA's own definitions IGF-1 LR3 is a biological product, so neither a 503A pharmacy nor a 503B facility may compound it, and no biologics license exists for it; a clinic selling it relies on nothing in FDA's or HHS's compounding policies. FDA has not said this of IGF-1 LR3 by name in any letter or statement we found: it is FDA's rule applied to FDA's own record of the molecule.
Every source above was checked again on 15 November 2026.
What 8 clinics charge
- Peps RXIGF-1 LR3 injection (200mcg)$239/mo
- PeptiIGF-1 LR3 injection$259/mo≈ $278 per 30 days with its fees
- Nuvo Life HealthIGF-1 LR3 injection (200mcg/ml)$299for 30 days
- Better Med SpaIGF-1 LR3 injection$500for 28 days
What IGF-1 LR3 is
- What it is
- Insulin-like growth factor-1 analog (an 83-amino-acid protein)
- How it works
- A modified human insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), with arginine at position 3 and 13 extra amino acids at its start, 83 in all. It acts where IGF-1 does, the hormone the liver makes in answer to growth hormone.
- How it is given
- Subcutaneous injection
- Also called
- Long R3 IGF-1, IGF1-LR3, IGF-LR3
IGF-1 LR3 side by side
About IGF-1 LR3
Is IGF-1 LR3 FDA-approved?
No. No FDA-approved drug contains IGF-1 LR3. What clinics sell is compounded by a pharmacy for a prescription, and the FDA does not review compounded products before they are sold.
Is IGF-1 LR3 legal in the US?
Whether a pharmacy may compound it for your prescription is what decides it. No FDA-approved drug contains IGF-1 LR3; the one IGF-1 drug in Drugs@FDA, INCRELEX (mecasermin), is a different substance and a licensed biologic. FDA's substance registry (UNII M9L22Y19H9) records IGF-1 LR3 as a protein whose chain is 83 amino acids long. FDA's rule (21 CFR 600.3) defines a protein as an amino acid chain of more than 40 and counts a protein for treating disease as a biological product, and FDA says biological products are not eligible for the 503A or 503B compounding exemptions. IGF-1 LR3 is in no 503A or 503B category, is not on either bulks list, has had no advisory committee review and is not in HHS's October 2026 interim policy.
How much does IGF-1 LR3 cost?
8 clinics publish a price. The lowest that compares per month is $239/mo at Peps RX, and the middle of 4 clinics' lowest monthly prices is about $288. What a month buys differs by clinic, so each price lists what it includes. every IGF-1 LR3 price
What forms does IGF-1 LR3 come in?
Clinics sell it as injection (7 prices), other (1 price).