Follistatin-344
FST-344 · Follistatin
Popular for:Myostatin inhibition, muscle growth, muscular dystrophy research
1
Registered Trials
0
Trial Publications
5
PubMed References
Phase I
Evidence Level
Overview
Follistatin-344 is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring follistatin protein, which functions as an inhibitor of myostatin and activin signaling. The short version: people usually care about it for myostatin inhibition, muscle growth, muscular dystrophy research, but the strength of the evidence depends heavily on indication and study type.
Follistatin-344 is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring follistatin protein, which functions as an inhibitor of myostatin and activin signaling. Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle growth — by binding and neutralizing myostatin, follistatin effectively removes the body's natural brake on muscle development.
Follistatin gained public attention through gene therapy experiments where mice treated with follistatin gene therapy developed dramatically increased muscle mass. The synthetic injectable form (Follistatin-344 and the related Follistatin-315) allows researchers to study myostatin inhibition without gene therapy approaches.
Research Snapshot
What the evidence says
Phase IFollistatin-344 currently shows 1 registered trials from ClinicalTrials.gov, 0 PubMed trial publications (0 RCT-tagged), and 5 PubMed references matching the stored source query. Treat PubMed references as literature surface area, not a count of clinical trials.
Known vs uncertain
Known signals
- 1 registered trials are tracked from ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records.
- 0 PubMed clinical-trial publications are indexed.
- 0 PubMed randomized controlled trial publications are indexed.
- 5 PubMed references are tracked separately from trial counts and can include animal, in-vitro, review, mechanism, or clinical records.
Open questions
- Evidence strength may vary by indication, route, formulation, and population.
- Public anecdotes can highlight interest or concern but do not establish clinical efficacy.
- Regulatory status and compounding access can change independently from the research literature.
Mechanism of Action
Follistatin-344 binds directly to myostatin and activin A, preventing them from interacting with their receptors (ActRIIB).
Key Research Benefits
Clinical Evidence Summary
Research Pipeline
1
Registered Trials
0
Trial Publications
0
RCT Publications
5
PubMed References
Registered trials are ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records. Trial publications are PubMed records tagged as clinical trials or randomized controlled trials. PubMed references are broader source-query matches and can include animal studies, in-vitro work, reviews, mechanism papers, and trial publications.
1
Registered trials
0
Trial publications
0
RCT publications
5
PubMed references
1
Reviews
0
Meta-analyses
Registered trials source
Jun 1, 2026
Follistatin-344
Uses the exact compound name as a ClinicalTrials.gov intervention query.
View sourceNot FDA-approved. Gene therapy version (AAV-FS344) in clinical trials for inclusion body myositis and muscular dystrophy. Injectable form is a research compound. Regulatory risk due to gene doping concerns in sports.
Key PubMed References
Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance.
Mendias CL, Awan TM · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026
PMID: 41966639Detection of black market follistatin 344.
Reichel C, Gmeiner G, Thevis M · Drug testing and analysis · 2020
PMID: 33460286Central serous chorioretinopathy associated with high-dose follistatin-344: a retrospective case series.
Dağ U, Çağlayan M, Öncül H, et al. · International ophthalmology · 2020
PMID: 32671599Detection of black market follistatin 344.
Reichel C, Gmeiner G, Thevis M · Drug testing and analysis · 2019
PMID: 31758732The transgenic expression of human follistatin-344 increases skeletal muscle mass in pigs.
Chang F, Fang R, Wang M, et al. · Transgenic research · 2017
PMID: 27787698Anecdotes & Sentiment
This section summarizes what people are talking about in public sources. It can be useful for spotting questions, hype cycles, and recurring concerns, but it is separate from the evidence sections above.
No curated public-discussion themes are live for Follistatin-344 yet.
Side Effects & Safety
- Potential effects on reproductive hormones (FSH binding) - Joint and tendon stress from rapid muscle growth - Limited human safety data for injectable form - Theoretical cancer concerns (removing growth regulation) - High cost
Known Interactions
No curated interaction entry is live for Follistatin-344 yet.
Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.
Comparison Pages
Comparison pages
AllNo comparison page is linked yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Disclaimer
This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Regulatory status can vary by compound, formulation, indication, and jurisdiction. Check official labeling, registry records, and qualified professional guidance before making any health-related decision. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.