GW-501516 Cardarine Capsules

For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. Sold by Explicit SARMs solely as reference material for in-vitro and animal research by qualified professionals. Not evaluated by the FDA and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

GW-501516 gets shelved next to SARMs, but it isn’t one. It doesn’t touch the androgen receptor. It is a selective agonist of PPAR-delta (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta), a nuclear receptor that regulates fatty acid oxidation and lipid handling. CAS 317318-70-0, C21H18F3NO3S2, molecular weight 453.5. You’ll also see it as GW1516 or by the street name cardarine.

GW-501516 is also available as GW-501516 (cardarine) liquid for labs that work with a liquid format.

Explicit SARMs has cardarine GW-501516 for sale as 90 capsules per bottle, third-party lab tested. The background on its development, and why it was dropped, is covered in our GW-501516 research review. For androgen receptor work, see ostarine MK-2866 capsules.

Why researchers still use it

GSK and Ligand developed it as a lipid drug. Oliver et al. (PNAS 2001, PMID 11309497) showed it raised HDL cholesterol and promoted reverse cholesterol transport in obese rhesus monkeys. Small human studies followed: Sprecher et al. (2007, PMID 17110604) on HDL and triglycerides in healthy volunteers, and Riserus et al. (Diabetes 2008, PMID 18024853) on fatty acid oxidation and lipid markers.

The paper most people cite is Narkar et al. (Cell 2008, PMID 18674809), which paired GW-501516 with the AMPK activator AICAR in mice and coined the phrase “exercise mimetics.” It remains a standard tool compound for PPAR-delta pathway work in cell and rodent models.

The part you can’t skip

GSK stopped development in 2006 after long-term rodent studies found tumors in multiple organs. WADA put out a specific alert about GW501516 in March 2013 citing those findings, and stated it would never receive clinical approval. Any protocol using this compound should be written with that history in mind. Our GW-501516 Research Review covers the toxicology and the metabolite work from Thevis et al. (2013, PMID 23100242) in more depth.

Specifications

• Compound: GW-501516 (GW1516, cardarine)
• CAS: 317318-70-0
• Formula / MW: C21H18F3NO3S2 / 453.5
• Target: PPAR-delta agonist
• Format: 90 capsules, 10mg per capsule
• WADA: prohibited at all times under S4.4 (metabolic modulators)

Sourcing and the COA

Our GW-501516 is produced by US domestic manufacturing partners. Our manufacturer tests it twice during production, and we use an independent third-party lab for purity testing.

FAQ

Is GW-501516 a SARM?

No. It is a PPAR-delta agonist with no androgen receptor activity.

How much does cardarine (GW-501516) cost, and where can I buy it?

As of November 2026, Cardarine GW-501516 from Explicit SARMs costs $80 for a bottle of 90 capsules at 10mg each, and you can order directly on this page. US orders of $100 or more ship free, and orders placed before 2 PM ET, Monday to Friday, ship the same day. Sold for laboratory research use only.

Why did GSK abandon it?

Long-term rodent studies showed tumors in several organs, and development stopped in 2006.

Is cardarine approved anywhere?

No regulator has approved it.

Which WADA category does it fall under?

S4.4, metabolic modulators, not S1 with the anabolic agents.

Is this sold for human use?

No. It is reference material for in-vitro and animal research only.

Who tests Cardarine GW-501516?

Our manufacturer tests Cardarine GW-501516 twice during production, and we use an independent third-party lab for purity testing.

What payment methods does Explicit SARMs accept?

We accept debit and credit cards, Zelle, Cash App, and ACH bank transfer.

Does Explicit SARMs ship internationally?

Yes. We ship within the United States, to Canada, and to other countries where local regulations allow the product. Available destinations and shipping options are shown at checkout.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. Sold by Explicit SARMs solely as reference material for in-vitro and animal research by qualified professionals. Not evaluated by the FDA and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.