Primary entity: LGD-4033Also known as: Ligandrol; VK5211; LGD4033Class: performance-adjacent literacy (see page)Cluster: Performance-adjacent
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) is an investigational selective androgen receptor modulator studied in limited human clinical settings for muscle/bone endpoints — not an FDA-approved physique drug. It is not a peptide, remains unapproved for consumer use, and is named on the WADA Prohibited List among SARMs (S1.2).
LGD-4033 is not a peptide. It is a nonsteroidal SARM. “Ligandrol peptide” search strings are category errors.
Not FDA-approved as a medicine. Not a legal dietary-supplement SARM. WADA: LGD-4033 (ligandrol) listed under S1.2. Clinical trial history ≠ approval.
Key takeaways
- Not a peptide — SARM (Ligandrol / VK5211).
- Not FDA-approved despite some clinical study history.
- WADA-prohibited S1.2 example
- Human Phase studies ≠ safe gray-market cycles.
- No dosage charts here.
Questions this page answers
Next questions we answer on this page (curiosity / AI-gap map):
- What is LGD-4033?
- Aliases
- Classification
- What it is NOT
- Mechanism
- Evidence ladder
- What has been studied
- Safety literacy
- Regulatory & WADA
- Why no dosages
- Related
- Who for / not for
Who is this profile for — and who is it not for?
For: readers separating Ligandrol clinical-history headlines from approved-drug status.
Not for: cycle/PCT seekers or buyers.
What is LGD-4033?
LGD-4033 is a nonsteroidal SARM (Ligandrol) with published early clinical pharmacology and muscle-related trial work under research codes including VK5211 in some programs. Early human data improve evidence maturity versus purely preclinical SARMs — they do not create an OTC or approved bodybuilding label.
| Chemistry class | Nonsteroidal SARM |
|---|---|
| Peptide? | No |
| Folk name | Ligandrol |
| Alt code | VK5211 (program-dependent) |
| Sport | WADA S1.2 |
Also known as
- LGD-4033 / LGD4033 — research code.
- Ligandrol — common name.
- VK5211 — clinical-program code in some materials.
- Mis-tags: “Ligandrol peptide.”
Trial participation under protocol ≠ permission for unregulated self-experimentation. Product identity on research sites is not GMP drug quality.
How is LGD-4033 classified?
Investigational SARM — unapproved. Performance-adjacent literacy cluster.
What is LGD-4033 not?
| LGD-4033 is not… | Why that matters |
|---|---|
| A peptide | SARM small molecule |
| FDA-approved | No approval |
| Legal sports supplement | WADA-prohibited; FDA warns on SARM supplements |
| Something we dose | Refusal |
How is LGD-4033 thought to work?
Androgen-receptor selective modulation with anabolic intent in muscle/bone — standard SARM thesis.
What human vs animal vs label evidence exists?
| Evidence type | What exists (summary) | Maturity |
|---|---|---|
| Human clinical | Early Phase / pharmacology and muscle-endpoint studies in literature | Human Limited |
| Animal | AR / anabolic models | Animal |
| Approved label | None | None |
| Forum cycles | Anecdote | None |
Cite locked papers before quoting any lean-mass deltas in evergreen bullets.
What has LGD-4033 been studied for?
Muscle and bone / hypogonadal or recovery-adjacent clinical research themes historically. Physique enhancement remains off-label folklore, not an approved use.
What safety topics come up?
Class themes: testosterone suppression, lipid shifts, liver-injury case reports in recreational SARM use, unknown long-term risk. Not medical advice.
What is LGD-4033's regulatory status?
- U.S.: Not approved. SARM supplement marketing targeted by FDA.
- WADA: LGD-4033 (ligandrol) under S1.2
- Sport: Positive tests and sanctions appear in anti-doping news — treat as high enforcement risk.
Why doesn't this page include a dosage chart?
Protocol-seeking queries refused under YMYL policy.
Related lab literacy
Not a peptide lab topic. What are peptides?.
Related compounds and comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is LGD-4033 a peptide?
No.
Is Ligandrol the same as LGD-4033?
Yes — Ligandrol is the common name.
Is it FDA approved?
No.
Is it WADA banned?
Listed under S1.2 SARMs.
Why no dosage chart?
Unapproved anabolic self-experimentation refusal.
Not a peptide, not FDA-approved, WADA-relevant. Disclaimer..
Sources
The sources below were checked against PubMed, DailyMed, or the official agency page on November 10, 2026 (America/Phoenix). Links go to the publisher, PubMed, or the agency record.
- Primary — human Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL, et al. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls078. PMID: 22459616.
- Safety Leciejewska N, Jędrejko K, Gómez-Renaud VM, et al. Selective androgen receptor modulator use and related adverse events including drug-induced liver injury: Analysis of suspected cases. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2024. doi:10.1007/s00228-023-03592-3. PMID: 38059982.
- Regulatory U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Warns of Use of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) Among Teens, Young Adults. Accessed November 10, 2026.
- Regulatory U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain bodybuilding products put consumers at risk for heart attack, stroke, serious liver damage and more. Accessed November 10, 2026.
- Anti-doping World Anti-Doping Agency. The World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. Confirm the current list and GlobalDRO before relying on sport status. The 2026 list names LGD-4033 (ligandrol) as a SARM example under S1.2.
- Written by
- Peptide Tutorials Staff — a group of independent researchers & writers (not clinicians)
- Published · Updated
- Oct 7, 2026 · Oct 7, 2026 · Regulatory and sport-status wording checked November 10, 2026 against current FDA labels and the 2026 WADA Prohibited List · How we source & update
Educational disclaimer: Educational only. LGD-4033 is not a peptide and is not FDA-approved. No dosing or buy links. We don't sell peptides. Read our full disclaimers.