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Follistatin (FST-344)

lead outcome

Injected follistatin protein → muscle in…

grades vary by outcome ↓

Protein (not a peptide)⚠ WADA-banned

also called — Follistatin · FST · FST-344 / FS344 (the "research-peptide" isoform) · FST-315 (the circulating form) · FST-288 (the tissue-bound form). INCI: none

muscle / myostatin inhibition(studied:) muscular-dystrophy gene therapy — research context

Reference entry — not sold here. The muscle world's holy grail — myostatin inhibition — and the honest reality behind the hype. Two things to know up front: it's a large protein, not a peptide, and the jaw-dropping numbers you've seen come from transgenic animals and gene therapy, not from an injected protein. No dosing published here.

In brief

Follistatin is a natural myostatin inhibitor whose biology is spectacular — releasing the body's brake on muscle produces the "double-muscling" seen across species. But "follistatin, the injectable muscle drug" does not exist in any proven form: the dramatic gains are from transgenic animals and gene therapy, the human gene-therapy trials were modest and unapproved, the pharma myostatin-inhibitor programs mostly failed on function or safety, and the online "FST-344" is a large protein of dubious authenticity. Fascinating science; unproven and risky as a product. Banned in sport.

Legal standing, by region

International

See note

- Everywhere — not approved for any human indication. Sold only as a "research" chemical — and because it's a large protein, gray-market "Follistatin-344" is frequently underdosed, mislabelled or contaminated. - ⚠ Sport: WADA-prohibited — myostatin-inhibiting agents are explicitly banned (Section S4.4, Hormone and Metabolic Modulators). Do not touch it in tested sport.

⚠ WADA-prohibited in sportSport: WADA-prohibited — myostatin-inhibiting agents are explicitly banned (Section S4.4, Hormone and Metabolic Modulators). Do not touch it in tested sport.

Evidence, by outcome

How we grade →

An honest grade per outcome — drawn from the evidence, not any catalogue. Hype and undemonstrated marketing claims grade low.

OutcomeEvidence base · effectGrade

Muscle hypertrophy via myostatin inhibition (the biology)

This is the biology in transgenic / gene-therapy models — not injected protein in humans

Transgenic + gene-therapy animals (20–40%, more in overexpression); Lee 2007 · Dramatic muscle growth

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Injected follistatin protein → muscle in healthy humans (the marketed use)

No human clinical evidence; the animal gains were transgenic / gene-therapy

None · Not demonstrated

Gene therapy for muscular dystrophy / IBM

Well tolerated locally, but modest; never became an approved therapy

Phase 1/2 (Mendell) · Modest

Broader myostatin-inhibitor drug class

Antibodies: modest/no functional benefit; ACE-031 terminated on vascular safety

Antibodies (MYO-029 etc.) + ACE-031 · Largely failed

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Safety

Suppresses FSH/LH (reproductive); vascular risk (class); may lower bone density (GDF-11 block); muscle may outpace tendon; theoretical oncogenic concern; effects may not "cycle off"; gray-market product often mislabelled/contaminated; WADA-banned

Preclinical + gene-therapy + mechanism · Real concerns

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Disclosure

Vallydia sells its own cosmetic serums, and some ingredients graded here belong to the same categories as those products. Grades are drawn from the published evidence by the method we publish, and applied to our own ingredients on the same terms — our copper-peptide serum is graded no more kindly than the peptides it competes with. We disclose the interest so you can weigh it.

Trade names shown here (for example Matrixyl, Argireline, Syn-Ake) are the property of their respective owners and are used only to identify the ingredient under discussion. Their appearance implies no affiliation with, or endorsement by, the proprietor.

Evidence changes

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We track new research and update these grades as the evidence moves. Leave your email and we'll tell you if the evidence for Follistatin (FST-344) changes - nothing else.

The honest part

the myostatin story is real and thrilling — but the gap between "myostatin knockout doubles muscle in mice" and "inject this vial and grow" is enormous and unbridged. The compounds that tried to bridge it with rigorous trials mostly failed (function or safety), and what's sold online is a large, fragile protein you can't verify. Respect the biology; don't trust the product.

Identity

Follistatin is a naturally occurring glycoprotein produced in the gonads, pituitary and liver. At ~300+ amino acids it is a protein, well above the "peptide" range — which matters, because a large protein is far harder to synthesise, verify and keep stable than a short peptide. FST-344 (the 344-residue isoform sold online) is converted in the body to FST-315, the systemic circulating form.

Mechanism (as proposed)

follistatin binds and sequesters myostatin (GDF-8) plus activin A, GDF-11 and several BMPs, removing multiple TGF-β "brakes" on muscle → increased protein synthesis and reduced degradation → hypertrophy. Its breadth ("biological shotgun") is why it out-performs myostatin-only antibodies in animals — and also why its off-target effects (reproductive, vascular, bone) are a genuine concern. FST-344 converts in vivo to the systemic FST-315.

Sources — 4 cited

01Lee SJ. (Follistatin overexpression roughly doubles muscle mass; effect on a myostatin-null background.) PNAS, 2007.

02Mendell JR, et al. (AAV-follistatin gene therapy trials in muscular dystrophy / inclusion-body myositis.) Phase 1/2.

03Kota J, Sumner CJ, et al. Inhibition of myostatin, with emphasis on follistatin as a therapy for muscle disease. (Review; PMC2717722.)

04ACE-031 clinical-termination reports; myostatin-antibody trial reviews (MYO-029 and successors).

Updated 2026-07-13

Grades reflect the published evidence, not our interest. No dosing, reconstitution, or administration is published for research compounds — that restraint is deliberate.

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This site provides neutral scientific reference and sells only products lawful in your region. Nothing here is medical advice, a recommendation, or an offer to supply unapproved medicines. No dosing or administration is published for research compounds. Cosmetic peptides per Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. Unapproved injectable peptides are neither sold nor advertised in the EU (Directive 2001/83/EC, Title VIII). © 2026 Vallydia.