RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-270

ACP-105

May 9, 2026 Kodiac biolabs Research Revised May 30, 2026 2 min read

Our opinion on this compound

36/100

Acadia non-steroidal SARM with very limited published data and even less practical characterization

ACP-105 is one of the SARMs where being honest about how thin the literature is matters more than trying to write 400 words of color. It came out of Acadia Pharmaceuticals as part of their SARM exploration in the mid-2000s, with the principal published work being a couple of in vitro characterization papers and limited animal pharmacology. The compound never reached formal clinical development, and the public pharmacology data is sparse.

What we know mechanistically is that ACP-105 is a small-molecule non-steroidal AR partial agonist with the typical tissue-selectivity claims for the class: preferential muscle and bone activity relative to prostate in receptor-binding and reporter assays. The published characterization establishes that it binds AR and produces tissue-selective signaling in standard models, but the depth of the characterization is well below what exists for ostarine or even LGD-4033.

What we like for research use, narrowly, is that ACP-105 is occasionally useful as a chemical-diversity comparator in studies trying to characterize the structural determinants of SARM tissue selectivity. The chemical scaffold is distinct from the GTx-series compounds and from the LGD-series compounds, which makes it useful for SAR analysis if you're doing that kind of work.

What we dont like is essentially the entire epistemic situation. There is no controlled human pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, or safety data on ACP-105 that we've seen published in peer-reviewed literature. Animal data is limited to a small number of studies, mostly focused on basic AR pharmacology rather than efficacy or safety endpoints. The gray-market sale of ACP-105 as a SARM for athletes is essentially marketing built on top of an empty evidence base.

Sourcing is gray-market with substantial variability. The compound's relative obscurity has meant fewer counterfeit reports than for more popular SARMs, but also less analytical infrastructure for verifying identity and purity. Research-grade material with documented purity is harder to find than for the better-known SARMs.

Honestly we havent characterized this one in any depth ourselves and the published literature is thin enough that we'd hedge any strong claim. Useful as a chemical-diversity SAR probe; treat anything else as speculation. Researchers thinking about working with ACP-105 should expect to do meaningful analytical work upfront and not rely on anecdotal characterization from the gray market.

Evidence: 15
Mechanism: 50
Reliability: 40
Safety: 45
Sourcing: 40
Value: 40
Signal: 30
Staying power: 25

Plain-language summary Intrigue 38 / 100

ACP-105 is a tricyclic SARM from Acadia Pharmaceuticals that binds the androgen receptor with high affinity and shows the typical SARM profile of muscle and bone effects with reduced prostate activity in castrated rat models. Acadia briefly explored cognitive applications based on androgen receptor expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, but development never reached human trials. There are no published pharmacokinetic data in people. It is sold as a research chemical primarily on the strength of its name appearing in old patent literature. The evidence base is thin even by SARM standards. Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.

Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.

Selective androgen receptor modulator

A non-steroidal SARM developed by Acadia Pharmaceuticals; investigated for muscle wasting and as a potential cognitive enhancer.

Abstract

ACP-105 (CAS 899821-23-9; molecular formula C16H15ClN2O2; molecular weight 302.76) is a non-steroidal SARM developed by Acadia Pharmaceuticals. The compound is a tricyclic quinolinone with high-affinity AR binding and tissue-selective agonism similar to other SARMs. Preclinical studies demonstrated muscle and bone anabolic activity in castrated rat models. Acadia investigated potential cognitive applications based on AR distribution in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, but clinical development did not proceed beyond preclinical evaluation. Plasma half-life and human pharmacokinetic data are sparse. The compound is occasionally used recreationally and is banned by WADA in sport.

Mechanism of action

Non-steroidal SARM (tricyclic quinolinone scaffold); tissue-selective AR agonism. Preclinical investigation of CNS effects.

Reported research dose ranges

Recreational use commonly 5 to 15 mg in the published literature; no clinical trial data.

References

Schlienger N, et al. Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and characterization of novel nonsteroidal and selective androgen receptor modulators. J Med Chem 2009.
Solomon ZJ, et al. Selective androgen receptor modulators: current knowledge and clinical applications. Sex Med Rev 2019.

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The full reference document is available as a research-use-only PDF download. Note: PDFs for newly added compounds may take a few hours to propagate after this article was published.

KDC-MN-270

The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.

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FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.

Kodiac sells research compounds for investigative use only.

ACP-105

Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

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Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

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