Glossary · Pharmacology

SARM

In short

SARM stands for selective androgen receptor modulator: a substance that binds to the androgen receptor like testosterone but mainly targets muscle and bone. So far, no SARM has been authorized as a medicine.

The idea: the muscle-building effect of testosterone without its side effects on prostate, skin and hair. SARMs were developed against muscle wasting in cancer and old age. But the selectivity is relative — the body’s own testosterone production can drop, blood lipids shift, and there are case reports of liver injury.

SARMs are mostly sold on the gray market as research chemicals. In sport they are prohibited at all times under the WADA list; some, such as ostarine, are also named in the German Anti-Doping Act.

Not everything traded under the name is a SARM: cardarine, for example, acts via a completely different receptor.

Selective means preferentially, not exclusively.

Where this comes up in the fact checks

Ostarine – Increases lean mass in placebo-controlled trials; whether that translates into more strength is a separate question.
RAD140 – The only human study was in 22 breast cancer patients; none on muscle building.
Cardarine – Often counted among them, but it is a PPAR-delta agonist, not a SARM.

Sources

WADA – Prohibited List

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Information only, not medical advice. The BK-Score is a subjective assessment according to disclosed rules – not a scientific evaluation. Scoring rules