AICAR / Acadesine

AICAR is a nucleoside analog that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mimicking cellular energy depletion. It has been called 'exercise in a pill' due to its metabolic effects. Used clinically for cardiac protection during surgery. NOT a peptide.

PubMed results: 54 · Human studies: 28 · Animal studies: 47

Ranges reflect protocols studied in published research and animal-model extrapolation. Presented for research purposes only, not a recommendation or instruction for human use.

• Intravenous — standard range 0.25-0.5 mg/kg/min, Continuous infusion

Short (IV only) (moderate confidence)

• AMPK pathway activation (Strong preclinical): AICAR (acadesine) is converted intracellularly to ZMP and activates AMP-activated protein kinase, a central energy-sensing kinase studied across metabolic and cardiovascular models.
• Exercise-mimetic metabolic research (Strong preclinical): Animal studies indicate AICAR can shift skeletal-muscle gene expression and substrate utilization toward patterns associated with endurance training, supporting its use as an exercise-mimetic research tool.
• Perioperative cardiac protection research (Moderate clinical): Acadesine has been studied clinically for myocardial protection in the setting of cardiac surgery, with mixed outcomes across trials but established investigational use in that context.
• Glucose and lipid metabolism probe (Strong preclinical): Preclinical literature links AMPK activation by AICAR to improved insulin sensitivity markers and altered fatty-acid oxidation in experimental models.

• Hyperuricemia / purine-metabolite elevation — Moderate, Uncommon. As a nucleoside analog feeding purine pathways, AICAR exposure has been associated in research settings with elevations related to uric acid metabolism.
• Infusion-related or systemic effects in clinical protocols — Mild, Not established. Surgical and experimental clinical use reports variable systemic findings; a complete outpatient adverse-event profile outside controlled settings is not well standardized.

• Gout or uncontrolled hyperuricemia (Theoretical / Preclinical): Purine-pathway loading raises theoretical risk of exacerbating uric acid–related disease states.
• Severe hepatic or renal impairment (Theoretical / Preclinical): Metabolite clearance and systemic exposure concerns support theoretical caution where organ function is markedly reduced.

Lyophilized (powder): Refrigerated (2-8°C), Up to 24 months. Light sensitive: yes, store dark

Reconstituted (solution): Refrigerated (2-8°C), 4-6 weeks. Solvent: Bacteriostatic water