GW-501516 (Cardarine) — Research Literature Summary
Class: PPAR-delta agonist (SARM-adjacent) • Page type: research-literature reference • Updated 2026-04-23
Regulatory notice — research reference only
GW-501516 (Cardarine) was discontinued from clinical development in 2007 by GlaxoSmithKline after long-term rodent studies showed dose-dependent development of multiple-organ cancers at all tested doses. Path to Peptides does not publish a human-use protocol for this compound. This page exists solely to document the published research record and the reasons clinical development was halted.
Published research summary
- GW-501516 is a nonsteroidal PPAR-delta agonist originally developed as a dyslipidemia candidate by Ligand Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline.
- Short-term human studies (<= 2 weeks) documented lipid-profile improvements (LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) at 2.5-10 mg/day.
- GSK discontinued development in 2007 after 2-year rodent carcinogenicity studies showed dose-dependent increases in tumors across multiple organ systems (liver, bladder, stomach, skin, tongue, testes, among others) at every tested dose and in both species tested.
- GW-501516 is prohibited at all times on the WADA Prohibited List under Section S4.5 - Metabolic Modulators.
Why this page does not publish a consumer “cycle” schedule
Given documented multi-organ carcinogenicity at all tested doses in rodents, Path to Peptides does not describe dosing schedules for human use.
Peer-reviewed citations
- GSK investigator brochure / regulatory communications 2007 (discontinuation).
- WADA Prohibited List (current). S4.5 Metabolic Modulators.
Consulting a healthcare provider: This page is a reference for published research. If you are considering any health decision, consult a licensed healthcare provider. Path to Peptides does not provide medical advice.