No. AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, also called acadesine) is a small-molecule AMP analogue, not a peptide, even though it is commonly sold alongside peptides. It works by being converted inside cells to ZMP, which activates AMPK.

Is AICAR banned by WADA?

Yes. AICAR is on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned at all times, in and out of competition, as an S4 hormone and metabolic modulator. Any athlete subject to anti-doping testing risks sanctions for its presence.

Does AICAR work as an exercise mimetic?

There is no human evidence that it does. The exercise-mimetic reputation comes from rodent studies reporting increased endurance and metabolic changes, which did not translate into demonstrated human benefit. No human evidence supports its marketed performance or fat-loss uses.

What happened in AICAR's human trials?

The large human trials were for cardioprotection during coronary artery bypass surgery, not for fitness. The pivotal RED-CABG randomised trial, enrolling roughly 3,000 patients, was stopped for futility and showed no benefit. Development as acadesine was discontinued, and it has never been approved.

Is AICAR approved or legal?

AICAR is not approved for human use in any jurisdiction, and its development as the drug acadesine was discontinued. It is sold on the research-chemical market, its legal status varies by country, and it is prohibited in sport regardless of local legality.

Where can I buy AICAR and compare vendors?

Use the vendor comparison on this page. It shows only checked, product-specific links and identifies vendor claims, independent documentation and affiliate relationships separately. Availability and legal status can vary by country.

Metabolic

Buy AICAR – Vendors, Prices, Testing and Evidence

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Also known as: Acadesine · AICA riboside · 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside

Evidence grade B — Human, limitedRisk flag

Short answer

An AMPK-activating small molecule (AICA ribonucleoside / acadesine), not a peptide, marketed as an 'exercise mimetic.' It went through large human cardiac-surgery trials that showed no benefit, is not approved anywhere, and is banned in sport by WADA.

Where can you buy AICAR?

Crystal Peptides. The table lists only product-specific offers that were checked and for which a real destination exists. Missing prices, quantities, stock and laboratory details are not inferred.

What is known?

AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside), also called acadesine, is a small-molecule AMP analogue that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). It is not a peptide. It is sold on the research-chemical market as an endurance / 'exercise-mimetic' and fat-loss agent, is unapproved for human use, and is on the WADA Prohibited List.

What is not established?

Safety

AICAR is unapproved for human use and prohibited in sport. In cardiac-surgery trials it was tolerated short-term under medical supervision, but higher-dose studies raised concerns such as kidney toxicity. Long-term safety outside a trial setting is not established.

Regulatory status

A small-molecule AMPK activator, not a peptide. Not approved for human use in any jurisdiction (development as acadesine was discontinued). Prohibited at all times in sport by WADA as an S4 hormone and metabolic modulator.

Not medical advice. This educational reference is not diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, dosing or emergency guidance. Consult a qualified professional before making health-related decisions.

Regulatory or safety concern: This substance may be unapproved for human use, affect the hormonal system, or be subject to regulator or anti-doping restrictions. Check the cited evidence and rules in your jurisdiction.

Vendor comparison

Buy AICAR: compare vendors

The table lists only product-specific offers that were checked and for which a real destination exists. Missing prices, quantities, stock and laboratory details are not inferred.

Vendor	Product	Documentation	Shipping	Checked	Action
Crystal Peptides Code PEPTIDES10 −10% · discount code details Sponsored	AICAR research product	Vendor-supplied data COA stated as available Not independently documented	Europe See the localized country store	Jul 18, 2026	View at vendor

Crystal Peptides

AICAR research product

Code PEPTIDES10 −10% · discount code details

What is it?

Research and evidence

AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside), also called acadesine or AICA riboside, is a small molecule, not a peptide, although it is sold on the same research-chemical market. It is an AMP analogue: inside cells it is converted to ZMP, which mimics AMP and activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular energy sensor. AMPK activation is reported to increase fatty-acid oxidation, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial biogenesis, which is where the exercise-mimetic marketing comes from. It is not approved for human use in any jurisdiction, development as acadesine was discontinued, and it is prohibited at all times in sport by WADA as an S4 hormone and metabolic modulator.

peptides.cx grades the evidence B, which is easy to misread: it reflects the existence of large, well-conducted human trials, not evidence that AICAR does what it is marketed to do. AICAR, as acadesine, was studied in large human trials of cardioprotection during coronary artery bypass surgery, not in athletes and not for body composition. The pivotal RED-CABG randomised trial, with roughly 3,000 patients, was stopped for futility and showed no benefit. The endurance story comes from rodent work reporting increased endurance and metabolic changes, which never translated into demonstrated human benefit. A systematic review also cautions that many AICAR effects are AMPK-independent, so its pharmacology is less clean than usually presented.

AICAR is unapproved for human use and banned in sport, and both facts matter practically. In the cardiac-surgery trials it was tolerated short-term under medical supervision, but kidney toxicity was reported in clinical studies at the higher exposures tested, and long-term safety outside a trial setting is not established. Anti-doping authorities also note potential risks from excessive or inappropriate AMPK activation. For any tested athlete it is prohibited in and out of competition, and its full adverse-effect profile for non-medical use is not established. This page is an educational reference summarising what the science does and does not show; it is not medical advice, and it does not provide dosing, protocols, or sourcing guidance.

Evidence grade: B

AICAR (as acadesine) has been studied in large human trials — but for cardioprotection during coronary artery bypass surgery, not fitness. The pivotal RED-CABG randomised trial (~3,000 patients) was stopped for futility and showed no benefit. No human evidence supports its marketed performance or fat-loss uses, and it has never been approved. Rodent studies popularised AICAR as an 'exercise mimetic,' reporting increased endurance and metabolic changes. These animal findings drove interest but did not translate into demonstrated human benefit.

Human evidence

Animal and preclinical evidence

Rodent studies popularised AICAR as an 'exercise mimetic,' reporting increased endurance and metabolic changes. These animal findings drove interest but did not translate into demonstrated human benefit.

Proposed mechanisms

Converted inside cells to ZMP, an AMP mimetic that activates AMPK, a cellular energy sensor
AMPK activation is reported to increase fatty-acid oxidation, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial biogenesis, which underlies the 'exercise-mimetic' marketing
A systematic review cautions that many AICAR effects are in fact AMPK-independent, so its pharmacology is less clean than often presented

Safety concerns and known side effects

Kidney toxicity reported in high-dose clinical studies
Anti-doping authorities note potential risks from excessive or inappropriate AMPK activation
The full adverse-effect profile for non-medical use is not established

Regulatory status

Frequently asked questions about AICAR

Is AICAR a peptide?: No. AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, also called acadesine) is a small-molecule AMP analogue, not a peptide, even though it is commonly sold alongside peptides. It works by being converted inside cells to ZMP, which activates AMPK.
Is AICAR banned by WADA?: Yes. AICAR is on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned at all times, in and out of competition, as an S4 hormone and metabolic modulator. Any athlete subject to anti-doping testing risks sanctions for its presence.
Does AICAR work as an exercise mimetic?: There is no human evidence that it does. The exercise-mimetic reputation comes from rodent studies reporting increased endurance and metabolic changes, which did not translate into demonstrated human benefit. No human evidence supports its marketed performance or fat-loss uses.
What happened in AICAR's human trials?: The large human trials were for cardioprotection during coronary artery bypass surgery, not for fitness. The pivotal RED-CABG randomised trial, enrolling roughly 3,000 patients, was stopped for futility and showed no benefit. Development as acadesine was discontinued, and it has never been approved.
Is AICAR safe?: Long-term safety outside a trial setting is not established. It was tolerated short-term under medical supervision in cardiac-surgery trials, but kidney toxicity was reported in clinical studies at the higher exposures tested, and anti-doping authorities note potential risks from excessive AMPK activation. This is educational information, not medical advice.
Is AICAR approved or legal?: AICAR is not approved for human use in any jurisdiction, and its development as the drug acadesine was discontinued. It is sold on the research-chemical market, its legal status varies by country, and it is prohibited in sport regardless of local legality.
Where can I buy AICAR and compare vendors?: Use the vendor comparison on this page. It shows only checked, product-specific links and identifies vendor claims, independent documentation and affiliate relationships separately. Availability and legal status can vary by country.

Common discussion areas

Widely discussed as an 'exercise in a pill' or endurance enhancer, mostly on the basis of mouse studiesKnown in sport as a banned doping agent (WADA)Discussion often overlooks that its large human trials were for heart surgery and failed

Sources

Editorial review and transparency

Written by: peptides.cx Editorial Team
Scientific reviewer: No named medical reviewer is currently assigned
Last editorial review: July 18, 2026
Last vendor check: July 18, 2026
Review method: Source review, claim verification, vendor-data separation and regulatory-context review.
Commercial disclosure and conflicts: Vendor relationships do not determine evidence or safety ratings. No named reviewer conflict is recorded because no named reviewer is assigned.

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