At a glance
Effects
- Increased lean body mass: A single 3 mg/kg subcutaneous dose produced a ~3.3% rise in total body lean mass by day 29 in healthy postmenopausal women.[7]
- Increased muscle volume: The same 3 mg/kg dose increased thigh muscle volume by ~5.1% at day 29 (measured by MRI).[7]
- Bone and fat metabolism changes: Serum biomarkers suggested improved bone formation and altered fat metabolism; DMD-trial boys showed trends for higher bone mineral density.[7][2]
- Possible muscle-function preservation: In DMD boys there was a non-significant trend toward maintaining 6-minute-walk distance versus decline on placebo.[5]
ActRIIB-Fc fusion protein / myostatin ligand trap (biologic)
~10–15 days
Subcutaneous injection
Unapproved; development discontinued 2013
Vascular bleeding (BMP9/10 off-target)
About ACE-031
Every point here is drawn from public medical and harm-reduction sources. A bracketed number after a claim — like [1]— is a reference: tap it to open the exact source it's based on (numbered list at the bottom). It is not a rating or score. Educational information, not medical advice.
Product specifics
- Est. delivery
- 3–7 business days · EU tracked
Product details as stated by the vendor (claims, not independently verified). Delivery is our standard EU estimate.
What it is
ACE-031 (ramatercept) is an experimental, injectable biologic — a soluble "ligand trap" fusion protein of the activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) joined to the Fc region of human IgG1.[1][3] It was developed to build/preserve skeletal muscle in muscle-wasting diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and never reached approval.[2][5]
How it works
ACE-031 acts as a decoy receptor: it binds and sequesters myostatin and other negative regulators of muscle growth (e.g. activin A) before they can signal through the real ActRIIB receptor, releasing the natural "brake" on muscle and increasing muscle mass.[1][8] Critically, because it traps multiple TGF-β–family ligands broadly, it also blocks BMP9 and BMP10 — proteins essential for blood-vessel integrity — which is the source of its vascular side effects.[3][6]
Risks & side effects
Most important: The defining danger is vascular: by also blocking BMP9/BMP10 signalling needed to maintain healthy blood vessels, ACE-031 caused nosebleeds (epistaxis), gum bleeding and skin telangiectasias (dilated/broken blood vessels) — effects resembling hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia — and these bleeding events were serious enough that the Phase 2 trial was stopped and the entire program was permanently discontinued.[3][4][5] It is an unapproved experimental drug with no established safe human dose.[2][6]
Common
Serious
Safety & harm reduction
- Anyone with a bleeding disorder, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), or known BMP9/ALK1-pathway vascular conditions — the mechanism directly worsens these[4]
- Anyone seeking an approved/legitimate therapy: ACE-031 is unapproved and was discontinued for safety, so it has no sanctioned human use[2][6]
- Plausible additive bleeding risk with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, or other drugs affecting clotting (mechanistic caution; not directly studied in trials)[4]
Dosage context
Commonly-reported (NOT a prescription): in the Phase 1 healthy-volunteer study, single subcutaneous doses ranged from 0.02 to 3 mg/kg, with the muscle effects seen at 3 mg/kg.[7][8] In the DMD trial, ACE-031 was given subcutaneously every 2–4 weeks at 1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg.[6] These are clinical-trial figures from a program that was halted for safety — they are not validated, approved, or safe dosing guidance.[5][2]
Sources
- 1.PubMed — Campbell et al. 2017, ACE-031 in DMD (PMID 27462804)
- 2.Cenexa Labs — ACE-031 research guide (orphan/fast-track, discontinuation)
- 3.PLOS One — ACE-031 in common marmoset (mechanism & BMP9 vascular AEs)
- 4.Peptide Reference — ACE-031 (BMP9/BMP10, ALK1, HHT-like effects)
- 5.Muscle & Nerve (Wiley) — Campbell et al. 2017 abstract
- 6.Peptide Protocol Wiki — ACE-031 (BMP9/10 attribution, dosing context)
- 7.PubMed — Attie et al. 2013, Phase 1 healthy volunteers (PMID 23169607)
- 8.MDA Quest — ACE-031 trials halted update (Acceleron/Shire)
This information is provided for educational and harm-reduction purposes only. It is not medical advice. These substances can carry serious health risks; effects and safe use vary by individual. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use. Legal status varies by country — it is your responsibility to know your local law. We do not encourage misuse.