PEG-MGF
pegylated mechano growth factor, MGF, IGF-1Ec
REC PPT-PEG-MGF // REV 2026-10-04 // assessment changes are logged, never silent
The human literature attached to this name is about a gene the body switches on after exercise — not about administering this compound.
What it is
A polyethylene-glycol-conjugated synthetic version of the E-domain peptide of mechano growth factor, itself a splice variant of IGF-1 known as IGF-1Ec. The PEG group is intended to extend a half-life measured in minutes for the unmodified peptide.
What it does
Promoted for muscle repair and satellite-cell activation. That rationale comes from cell and animal work on the MGF E-peptide; the administered PEG-conjugated compound itself has been studied almost entirely outside humans.
Does it work?
This is the clearest evidence collision in the growth-factor category, and it works in the compound's favour if not checked. Searching mechano growth factor returns 548 records and eleven papers tagged as randomised trials, but those are exercise studies measuring endogenous MGF messenger RNA in muscle biopsies — they administered nothing. Searching the term PEG-MGF itself returns three records in Europe PMC, none randomised, and ClinicalTrials.gov holds no registered study, so there is effectively no controlled human evidence for the injected compound.
Claims vs data
Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.
| Mechanical loading increases endogenous MGF expression in human muscle | supported |
| Administered PEG-MGF activates satellite cells and drives muscle repair | preclinical only |
| PEGylation keeps its action local to the injection site | weak evidence |
| Has been tested in randomised human trials | overreach |
Reference figures
Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.
The evidence, counted
Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.
3 publications indexed, 14 registered interventional studies, no randomised controlled trials indexed. Evidence is minimal.
SRC // EUROPE PMC + CTGOV // "PEG-MGF" // FETCHED 2026-10-04 // 3 RECORDS
Most-cited literature
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[01]
Intranasal, siRNA Delivery to the Brain by TAT/MGF Tagged PEGylated Chitosan Nanoparticles
Malhotra M, Tomaro-Duchesneau C, Saha S, Prakash S. · J Pharm (Cairo) 2013 · 18 citations · DOI 10.1155/2013/812387
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[02]
The Generation of Dehydroalanine Residues in Protonated Polypeptides: Ion/Ion Reactions for Introducing Selective Cleavages
Peng Z, Bu J, McLuckey SA. · J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2017 · 7 citations · DOI 10.1007/s13361-017-1672-5
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[03]
The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration
Dominikowski A, Rękoś Z, Olejarz M, Szczepanek-Parulska E, Domin R, Ru · Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2026 · 0 citations · DOI 10.3389/fendo.2026.1822475
Regulatory status
Formal, dated regulatory actions.
WADA — Prohibited List 2026
Prohibited in sport — WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances)
Common questions
Are there human trials of PEG-MGF?
None were found. Databases return randomised trials under the phrase mechano growth factor, but on inspection those are exercise studies measuring the body's own MGF gene expression in muscle biopsies. They did not give participants PEG-MGF, and they cannot be read as evidence for it.
Is MGF the same thing as IGF-1?
Not quite. MGF is a splice variant of the IGF-1 gene, designated IGF-1Ec, and the peptide sold under the MGF name is its E-domain rather than the mature IGF-1 molecule. The two are related but not interchangeable.
Is it approved by any medicines regulator?
No approval was identified anywhere. It is not approved by the US FDA, the EMA or the Saudi FDA, and no registered clinical study of the compound was found.
Is PEG-MGF prohibited in sport?
Yes. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names mechano growth factors as a class under section S2.3, growth factors and growth factor modulators, prohibited at all times both in and out of competition.
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