SARM

Andarine

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Overview

One of the first SARMs studied preclinically; anecdotally and in early reports associated with a yellow-tinted vision side effect; not approved.

How it works

Andarine (S4) was one of the earliest SARMs, a non-steroidal androgen-receptor agonist developed before ostarine.

It activates the androgen receptor with some tissue selectivity in animal models. Its most distinctive feature is a side effect: a reversible yellow tint to vision, attributed to the compound's interaction with the retina.

Human data on it are minimal, it's banned in sport, and it has largely been superseded by other SARMs in research interest.

Mechanism · Detailed Analysis

Molecular targetAn early nonsteroidal AR agonist.

Signaling & downstream effectsTissue-selective AR activation in animal models; a retinal interaction is linked to a reversible yellow-tinted vision side effect.

CaveatsMinimal human data; banned in sport.

Published EvidenceFree · cited live from PubMed

Human Data 25

Study

Perspectives in Evaluating Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators in Human Hair: A Short Communication

Kintz P et al. · Therapeutic drug monitoring · 2021 — PMID 33337588 ↗

Review

Therapies for musculoskeletal disease: can we treat two birds with one stone?

Girgis CM et al. · Current osteoporosis reports · 2014 — PMID 24633910 ↗

Evaluation Study

Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator andarine (S-4) for routine doping control purposes

Thevis M et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2010 — PMID 20623476 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) have specific impacts on the mouse uterus

Simitsidellis I et al. · The Journal of endocrinology · 2019 — PMID 31319382 ↗

Study

Simultaneous detection of different chemical classes of selective androgen receptor modulators in urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based techniques

Stacchini C et al. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2021 — PMID 33383501 ↗

Study

A novel approach to the quantification of urinary aryl-propionamide-derived SARMs by UHPLC-MS/MS

Temerdashev A et al. · Biomedical chromatography : BMC · 2020 — PMID 31734960 ↗

Study

Development and validation of SARMs and metabolic modulators screening in hair using UHPLC-MS/MS: Application to a doping case and first identification of S23 in authentic human hair

Gheddar L et al. · Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences · 2021 — PMID 34814052 ↗

Study

A screening method for the quantitative determination of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in capsules by high resolution (19)F- and (1)H-NMR spectroscopy

Maccelli A et al. · Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications · 2024 — PMID 38517236 ↗

Study

SARMs, Metabolic Modulators and Growth Hormone Secretagogues in Suspected Illegal Medicines, Bought as Sport Performance Enhancers: A Retro- and Prospective Study Within the GEON

Barrios MM et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2025 — PMID 40551438 ↗

Review

Confiscated black market products and nutritional supplements with non-approved ingredients analyzed in the Cologne Doping Control Laboratory 2009

Kohler M et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2010 — PMID 21204286 ↗

Study

The forensic response after an adverse analytical finding (doping) involving a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) in human athlete

Kintz P · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022 — PMID 34715583 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Exploring the potentials of S4, a selective androgen receptor modulator, in glioblastoma multiforme therapy

Yavuz M et al. · Toxicology and applied pharmacology · 2024 — PMID 38997069 ↗

See all 25 on PubMed →

Animal 8

Validation Study

Development of a multi-residue high-throughput UHPLC-MS/MS method for routine monitoring of SARM compounds in equine and bovine blood

Ventura E et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2020 — PMID 32519780 ↗

Evaluation Study

Specific characterization of non-steroidal selective androgen peceptor modulators using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to ion-mobility mass spectrometry: application to the detection of enobosarm in bovine urine

Beucher L et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2017 — PMID 26990774 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Investigation of the selective androgen receptor modulators S1, S4 and S22 and their metabolites in equine plasma using high-resolution mass spectrometry

Hansson A et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2016 — PMID 26969924 ↗

Letter

Detection of the selective androgen receptor modulator andarine (S-4) in a routine equine blood doping control sample

Cawley AT et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2016 — PMID 26456227 ↗

Study

Effects of a novel selective androgen receptor modulator on dexamethasone-induced and hypogonadism-induced muscle atrophy

Jones A et al. · Endocrinology · 2010 — PMID 20534726 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Pharmacokinetics of S-3-(4-acetylamino-phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(4-nitro- 3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionamide in rats, a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator

Kearbey JD et al. · Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems · 2004 — PMID 15204699 ↗

Comparative Study

In vivo metabolism and final disposition of a novel nonsteroidal androgen in rats and dogs

Perera MA et al. · Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals · 2006 — PMID 16815963 ↗

In Vitro 5

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Selective androgen receptor modulators: in vitro and in vivo metabolism and analysis

de Rijke E et al. · Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment · 2013 — PMID 23883284 ↗

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Selective androgen receptor modulator treatment improves muscle strength and body composition and prevents bone loss in orchidectomized rats

Gao W et al. · Endocrinology · 2005 — PMID 16099859 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

In vitro anti-carcinogenic effect of andarine as a selective androgen receptor modulator on MIA-PaCa-2 cells by decreased proliferation and cell-cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase

Bölük A et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2023 — PMID 37302286 ↗

Evaluation Study

Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator andarine (S-4) for routine doping control purposes

Thevis M et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2010 — PMID 20623476 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator S-22 to identify potential targets for routine doping controls

Thevis M et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2011 — PMID 21710598 ↗

Search this category on PubMed →

Studies are surfaced live from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed). biohackr indexes and links the published record; it does not host or alter source articles.

Published EvidenceLoading cited studies from PubMed…

Human Data ···

Searching the published record…

Animal ···

Searching the published record…

In Vitro ···

Searching the published record…

Educational aggregation of public literature. Not medical advice and not a recommendation to use any compound. Many compounds here are not approved for human use. Consult a licensed clinician.

Published EvidenceFree · cited live from PubMed

Human Data 25

Study

Perspectives in Evaluating Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators in Human Hair: A Short Communication

Kintz P et al. · Therapeutic drug monitoring · 2021 — PMID 33337588 ↗

Review

Therapies for musculoskeletal disease: can we treat two birds with one stone?

Girgis CM et al. · Current osteoporosis reports · 2014 — PMID 24633910 ↗

Evaluation Study

Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator andarine (S-4) for routine doping control purposes

Thevis M et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2010 — PMID 20623476 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) have specific impacts on the mouse uterus

Simitsidellis I et al. · The Journal of endocrinology · 2019 — PMID 31319382 ↗

Study

Simultaneous detection of different chemical classes of selective androgen receptor modulators in urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based techniques

Stacchini C et al. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2021 — PMID 33383501 ↗

Study

A novel approach to the quantification of urinary aryl-propionamide-derived SARMs by UHPLC-MS/MS

Temerdashev A et al. · Biomedical chromatography : BMC · 2020 — PMID 31734960 ↗

Study

Development and validation of SARMs and metabolic modulators screening in hair using UHPLC-MS/MS: Application to a doping case and first identification of S23 in authentic human hair

Gheddar L et al. · Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences · 2021 — PMID 34814052 ↗

Study

A screening method for the quantitative determination of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in capsules by high resolution (19)F- and (1)H-NMR spectroscopy

Maccelli A et al. · Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications · 2024 — PMID 38517236 ↗

Study

SARMs, Metabolic Modulators and Growth Hormone Secretagogues in Suspected Illegal Medicines, Bought as Sport Performance Enhancers: A Retro- and Prospective Study Within the GEON

Barrios MM et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2025 — PMID 40551438 ↗

Review

Confiscated black market products and nutritional supplements with non-approved ingredients analyzed in the Cologne Doping Control Laboratory 2009

Kohler M et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2010 — PMID 21204286 ↗

Study

The forensic response after an adverse analytical finding (doping) involving a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) in human athlete

Kintz P · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022 — PMID 34715583 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Exploring the potentials of S4, a selective androgen receptor modulator, in glioblastoma multiforme therapy

Yavuz M et al. · Toxicology and applied pharmacology · 2024 — PMID 38997069 ↗

See all 25 on PubMed →

Animal 8

Validation Study

Development of a multi-residue high-throughput UHPLC-MS/MS method for routine monitoring of SARM compounds in equine and bovine blood

Ventura E et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2020 — PMID 32519780 ↗

Evaluation Study

Specific characterization of non-steroidal selective androgen peceptor modulators using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to ion-mobility mass spectrometry: application to the detection of enobosarm in bovine urine

Beucher L et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2017 — PMID 26990774 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Investigation of the selective androgen receptor modulators S1, S4 and S22 and their metabolites in equine plasma using high-resolution mass spectrometry

Hansson A et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2016 — PMID 26969924 ↗

Letter

Detection of the selective androgen receptor modulator andarine (S-4) in a routine equine blood doping control sample

Cawley AT et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2016 — PMID 26456227 ↗

Study

Effects of a novel selective androgen receptor modulator on dexamethasone-induced and hypogonadism-induced muscle atrophy

Jones A et al. · Endocrinology · 2010 — PMID 20534726 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Pharmacokinetics of S-3-(4-acetylamino-phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(4-nitro- 3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionamide in rats, a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator

Kearbey JD et al. · Xenobiotica; the fate of foreign compounds in biological systems · 2004 — PMID 15204699 ↗

Comparative Study

In vivo metabolism and final disposition of a novel nonsteroidal androgen in rats and dogs

Perera MA et al. · Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals · 2006 — PMID 16815963 ↗

In Vitro 5

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Selective androgen receptor modulators: in vitro and in vivo metabolism and analysis

de Rijke E et al. · Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment · 2013 — PMID 23883284 ↗

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Selective androgen receptor modulator treatment improves muscle strength and body composition and prevents bone loss in orchidectomized rats

Gao W et al. · Endocrinology · 2005 — PMID 16099859 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

In vitro anti-carcinogenic effect of andarine as a selective androgen receptor modulator on MIA-PaCa-2 cells by decreased proliferation and cell-cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase

Bölük A et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2023 — PMID 37302286 ↗

Evaluation Study

Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator andarine (S-4) for routine doping control purposes

Thevis M et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2010 — PMID 20623476 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator S-22 to identify potential targets for routine doping controls

Thevis M et al. · Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2011 — PMID 21710598 ↗

Search this category on PubMed →

Studies are surfaced live from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed). biohackr indexes and links the published record; it does not host or alter source articles.