Manufacturer: Hilma Biocare, Europe
Pharmaceutical name: Pegylated Mechano Growth Factor
Pack: 1 vial (2 mg)
PEG-MGF, or PEGylated Mechano Growth Factor, is a novel and cutting-edge variant of MGF that significantly surpasses natural MGF. MGF is a splice variant of the IGF gene that enhances the quantity of stem cells within muscle, facilitating the fusion and maturation of muscle fibers—an essential process for the development of adult muscle. Natural MGF is produced locally and does not circulate in the bloodstream. Synthetic MGF, on the other hand, is water-soluble and, when administered intramuscularly, enters the bloodstream. However, MGF remains stable in the bloodstream for only a brief period.
PEGylation refers to the process of attaching a Polyethylene glycol (PEG) structure to a larger molecule, in this instance, MGF. The PEG serves as a protective barrier and the premise is that it will enable MGF to travel through the bloodstream without degradation.
MGF has localized effects on skeletal muscle and cannot disseminate throughout the body without alterations. The challenge with synthetic MGF is that, when introduced intramuscularly as a water-based solution, it quickly enters the bloodstream but only maintains stability for a matter of minutes. Endogenously produced MGF is synthesized locally and does not circulate in the bloodstream, and its transient nature means stability is not a concern. By PEGylating the MGF, it becomes nearly as effective as naturally produced MGF when administered intramuscularly. This process involves encasing part of the peptide in a polyethylene glycol structure that can bind to a protein molecule. The polyethylene glycol segments protect the peptide while still allowing the active sites to function biologically. In this context, the PEG shell acts as a negatively charged barrier against positively charged substances that might interfere with the protein.
Neuroscientific studies have demonstrated that the use of PEGylated MGF leads to a longer-lasting and more stable form of the MGF peptide in serum/blood.