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PEG-MGF

Status: Preclinical, , not approved for human use
Evidence: Not graded on a research bench yet

Reviewed 28 October 2026

01Overview

What PEG-MGF is

MGF differs from systemic IGF-1 in that it has a unique E-domain peptide (the Ec peptide, or MGF peptide) that activates satellite cells (muscle stem cells) rather than IGF-1 receptor signaling. Pegylation (attachment of polyethylene glycol chains) dramatically extends MGF's plasma half-life from minutes to approximately 24 hours, enabling systemic administration in research protocols. PEG-MGF is researched primarily for its muscle satellite cell activation, tissue repair, and recovery applications.

How it works

PEG-MGF is the PEGylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF), a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 24 amino acids of the unique E-domain of IGF-1Ec, an alternatively spliced variant of the IGF-1 gene expressed in skeletal muscle after mechanical loading or damage. The MGF E-peptide acts on muscle satellite (stem) cells and myoblasts: in vitro it increases their proliferation while DELAYING terminal differentiation, expanding the myoblast/satellite-cell pool available for repair and myonuclear addition. Blocking the IGF-1 receptor does not abolish this effect, indicating the E-peptide signals through a receptor distinct from IGF-1R (the specific receptor has not been definitively identified). This separates MGF's proliferative action from the differentiation and metabolic signaling of mature IGF-1. In preclinical models MGF/IGF-1Ec is also reported to be cytoprotective - pretreatment before myocardial infarction improves cardiac function, and it is neuroprotective during cerebral ischemia - but these effects are NOT mediated by the fibroblast growth factor receptor (MGF is a variant of IGF-1, not an FGF). PEGylation is intended to slow proteolytic clearance and extend the peptide's otherwise very short half-life. Important caveat: no endogenous MGF E-peptide has ever been isolated from cells, conditioned media, or animal tissue, and the human pharmacology of the synthetic (and PEGylated) peptide is uncharacterized.

Benefits listed

Increases satellite-cell and myoblast proliferation, expanding the cell pool available for muscle repair (in vitro and animal studies)
May accelerate muscle repair after exercise-induced damage or injury (preclinical)
Pro-survival, anti-apoptotic signaling reported in muscle and other cell types (preclinical)
Preclinical cytoprotection: MGF pretreatment improved cardiac function after experimental myocardial infarction (mechanism distinct from IGF-1R, NOT via fibroblast growth factor receptor)

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Preclinical neuroprotection during cerebral ischemia
PEGylation is intended to extend native MGF's very short half-life to allow less frequent research dosing

02Research

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What the research shows

No research bench grades PEG-MGF yet. Benches compare compounds people pair, with the evidence for each.

Key research findings

No human clinical trials of MGF or PEG-MGF have been conducted; all evidence is preclinical (cell culture and animal), and the synthetic peptide's pharmacology in humans is uncharacterized. Key findings: the MGF E-peptide increases myoblast proliferation while inhibiting terminal differentiation, and this action persists when the IGF-1 receptor is blocked, implying a receptor distinct from IGF-1R (Yang & Goldspink, FEBS Lett 2002, PMID 12095637; confirmed in porcine satellite cells by Qin et al. 2012, PMID 22875667). The synthetic 24-aa E-peptide activated human muscle progenitor cells and increased their fusion potential in cells from neonatal and young-adult donors, but not from old-adult donors, and without the oncogenic profile of IGF-1 (Kandalla et al. 2011, PMID 21354439). In animals, MGF is reported to be neuroprotective during cerebral ischemia and cardioprotective when given before myocardial infarction (van Dijk-Ottens et al. 2009, PMID 20032059). Importantly, no endogenous MGF peptide has ever been isolated from cells, conditioned media, or animal tissue, so the synthetic peptide's actions cannot be assumed to reflect a natural IGF-1 gene product (Matheny et al., Endocrinology 2010 review, PMID 20130113). There are no published pharmacokinetic or safety data for the PEGylated form in humans.

On PubMed

The search PEG-MGF on PubMed.

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03Safety

PEG-MGF side effects and interactions

Side effects

Common

Injection-site reactions (redness, itching, swelling)
Post-injection fatigue or lethargy (anecdotal)
No controlled human data - tolerability is not established

Serious events

No controlled human safety data of any kind
Theoretical mitogenic/proliferative risk - MGF is a proliferation-promoting growth-factor peptide; caution in anyone with active or prior malignancy
Unlike IGF-1 or IGF-1 LR3, the MGF E-peptide signals through a non-IGF-1R receptor and is not expected to cause classic insulin-like hypoglycemia, but its metabolic effects in humans are unknown
WADA prohibited: S2 category (peptide hormones, growth factors and mimetics)

Interactions

Not in our record

Our record lists no interactions for PEG-MGF. That means none are recorded here, not that none exist.

This interaction data is compiled from published research and community reports. It may not be exhaustive. Always consult a healthcare professional before combining compounds.

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04Dosing

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PEG-MGF dosage and protocols

Dose range: 200 mcg
Dosing: Twice weekly
Common vials: 2mg

Dosing summary

Dose Range: 200 mcg
Route: Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, Intravenous
Frequency: Twice weekly

Preclinical research protocols: 50–200 mcg subcutaneous 2–3x per week, typically post-exercise or post-injury. No established human dosing standard. Often used with IGF-LR3 or other IGF-axis compounds in research stacking protocols.

Common vial sizes

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Common vial sizes

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05Prices

PEG-MGF prices

1 listing from 1 vendor, opening in the Featured order.

Pack prices: $39.00
Lowest per mg: $19.50/mg
Vendors: 1
Listings: 1 (vial)

Prices as the vendors list them, last recorded 22 April 2026.

Form

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PEG-MGF listings, in Featured order
Vendor	Product	Price	Buy
Ion Peptide	PEG-MGF 2mg vial, 1 vial In stock	$19.50/mg $39.00 Lowest per mg	Buy PEG-MGF 2mg at Ion Peptide

Vendors selling PEG-MGF(1: trust score, certificates, payment, shipping)

Ion Peptide1 listing, from $39.00

Trust Score 70/100, no certificate records on file, pays by card, crypto, ACH, ships to the US, international destinations

Every supplier above is graded 0 to 100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and active listings. Methodology published, no pay-to-rank. How we score these vendors

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06Chemistry

Chemistry and structure

Molecular mass: Free peptide approximately 2,867-2,868 Da (24-aa MGF E-peptide). The total mass of PEG-MGF is greater and is not standardized - it depends on the size of the attached PEG chain.
Amino acid sequence: YQPPSTNKNTKSQRRKGSTFEERK - the human MGF / IGF-1Ec C-terminal 24-amino-acid E-domain peptide (Tyr-Gln-Pro-Pro-Ser-Thr-Asn-Lys-Asn-Thr-Lys-Ser-Gln-Arg-Arg-Lys-Gly-Ser-Thr-Phe-Glu-Glu-Arg-Lys). PEG-MGF is this same peptide covalently conjugated to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety to slow proteolytic degradation.
Half-life: Native MGF: very short (minutes) due to rapid proteolysis. PEG-MGF: PEGylation is intended to extend this substantially (community estimates up to roughly 1 day), but there are no published human pharmacokinetic data to confirm a specific value.

08Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is PEG-MGF used for in research?

PEG-MGF (Pegylated Mechano Growth Factor) is a synthetic, PEGylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF) — an alternatively spliced variant of IGF-1 produced locally in muscle and other tissues in response to mechanical loading or damage. MGF differs from systemic IGF-1 in that it has a unique E-domain peptide (the Ec peptide, or MGF peptide) that activates satellite cells (muscle stem cells) rather than IGF-1 receptor signaling. Pegylation (attachment of polyethylene glycol chains) dramatically extends MGF's plasma half-life from minutes to approximately 24 hours, enabling systemic administration in research protocols. PEG-MGF is researched primarily for its muscle satellite cell activation, tissue repair, and recovery applications.

What forms does PEG-MGF come in?

PEG-MGF is available in vial form.

How do I compare PEG-MGF vendors?

Compare prices, payment methods, shipping, and COA scores across 1 vendor.

How many vendors sell PEG-MGF, and what does it cost per mg?

1 of the vendors BodyHackGuide tracks list PEG-MGF (1 listing). Among BodyHackGuide's PEG-MGF listings recorded as in stock with a milligram count, the lowest price per milligram is $19.50/mg at Ion Peptide and the median is $19.50/mg. The PEG-MGF prices on BodyHackGuide are vendors' listed prices as BodyHackGuide last recorded them, not transactions; the most recent recorded change to a PEG-MGF listing is dated 22 April 2026.

Which vendors have third-party COAs for PEG-MGF on file at BodyHackGuide?

BodyHackGuide holds 5 third-party certificate records for PEG-MGF, from . No editor has read any of BodyHackGuide's 5 certificate records for PEG-MGF. The laboratory named on BodyHackGuide's PEG-MGF certificate records is Freedom Diagnostics Testing, and the newest test date on them is 18 September 2025. Each vendor page on BodyHackGuide shows how many certificate records BodyHackGuide holds for that vendor and links to each record that has its own page.

Lowest price per mg

$19.50/mg$39.00 for 2mg

at Ion Peptide

Buy at Ion Peptide (opens the vendor's site in a new tab)

Spec sheet