Head to head
Cardarine against SR9009
Two research chemicals sold as exercise mimetics with no human trials between them. SR9009 has very poor oral bioavailability and later work questions whether its effects run through REV-ERB at all; Cardarine's development was stopped after long-term rodent studies reportedly produced cancers in multiple organs.
Column A
CardarineGW501516 (cardarine)
A PPAR-delta agonist GSK stopped developing, reportedly after long-term rodent studies produced cancers in multiple organs; still sold widely for endurance and fat loss despite that report and a WADA ban.
Column B
SR9009SR9009 (stenabolic)
A REV-ERB agonist marketed as an exercise mimetic. No human study of any design has been published, oral bioavailability is very poor, and later work questions whether its effects run through REV-ERB at all.
Side by side, on the facts we can check
| Attribute | Cardarine | SR9009 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Metabolic | Metabolic |
| FDA status | Never approved; development halted for carcinogenicity | Not approved |
| Half-life | ~24 hours (reported) | Short; poor oral bioavailability |
| Molecular weight | 453.5 Da | 437.9 Da |
| Mechanism | PPAR-delta agonism that upregulates fatty-acid oxidation genes in skeletal muscle. | REV-ERB alpha/beta agonism affecting circadian regulation of metabolism (contested). |
| Human studies cited | 1 | 0 |
| Legal status, US | Not approved; sold 'for research use only' | Not approved; sold 'for research use only' |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Cardarine and SR9009?
Cardarine: A PPAR-delta agonist GSK stopped developing, reportedly after long-term rodent studies produced cancers in multiple organs; still sold widely for endurance and fat loss despite that report and a WADA ban. SR9009: A REV-ERB agonist marketed as an exercise mimetic. No human study of any design has been published, oral bioavailability is very poor, and later work questions whether its effects run through REV-ERB at all.
Which has stronger research evidence, Cardarine or SR9009?
This database does not grade compounds. It counts what was run in people: 1 of the 2 studies cited on the Cardarine profile were human work, against 0 of 2 for SR9009. Those counts are of our own citation lists and understate any larger literature, and neither is a recommendation.
Are Cardarine and SR9009 FDA-approved?
Cardarine: Never approved; development halted for carcinogenicity. SR9009: Not approved.
Reviewed Sep 2026. This page sets two published records side by side. It is educational, it is not medical advice, and it contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use.