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SR9009 (Stenabolic) — synthetic REV-ERB agonist
A grey-market research chemical marketed as 'exercise in a bottle' — every result is from mice or cells, with NO human trials of any kind. SR9009 ('Stenabolic') is a synthetic agonist of REV-ERB, a circadian-clock nuclear receptor, and in mice it shifted metabolic gene expression, raised energy expenditure, reduced fat mass, and increased running capacity. But it has never been tested in a single human, it is essentially inactive when taken orally (poor bioavailability), and a 2019 PNAS study showed several of its effects persist in mice lacking REV-ERB entirely — meaning they are off-target, not the advertised mechanism. It is not an approved drug or a regulated supplement, it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and it is sold online with no quality control. This entry exists to inform, not to recommend.
Research compound — not a dietary supplement
SR9009 (Stenabolic) is a research compound, not a regulated dietary supplement. It is sold for research or off-label use. The evidence below is largely preclinical (animal and in-vitro) or early-stage, so no evidence score is assigned. This page is provided for transparency and education — it is not a recommendation to use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider, and be aware that purity, dosing, and legal status vary by jurisdiction.
What the evidence says
Most SR9009 (Stenabolic) studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality studies published 2012–2024.
Based on 5 studies
Confidence
Low confidenceBy outcome
An intriguing preclinical REV-ERB-agonist story — in mice, SR9009 shifted metabolic gene expression, raised energy expenditure, reduced fat mass, and increased running capacity — but there are zero human trials of any kind, oral bioavailability is poor, a 2019 PNAS study showed key effects persist without REV-ERB (off-target), and it is a WADA-banned grey-market research chemical.
SR9009 ('Stenabolic') is a synthetic small-molecule agonist of REV-ERB-α and REV-ERB-β, two nuclear-receptor components of the molecular circadian clock that repress the core clock gene Bmal1 and rhythmically regulate metabolic gene networks in liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.
It was discovered in the Burris lab and introduced in a 2012 Nature paper (Solt et al.) reporting that synthetic REV-ERB agonists, given to mice, altered circadian behaviour and clock-gene expression, shifted the rhythmic expression of metabolic genes, increased energy expenditure, and — in diet-induced-obese mice — reduced fat mass and improved dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia.
A companion line of work (Woldt et al., Nat Med 2013) showed REV-ERB-α governs skeletal-muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and that pharmacological REV-ERB activation increased exercise capacity in mice, which is the origin of the 'exercise mimetic' marketing.
Reviews frame REV-ERB as a genuinely interesting metabolic and anti-fibrotic drug target. Here is the load-bearing honesty, and it is substantial. First, ALL of the efficacy evidence is preclinical — mouse and cell only.
There has never been a published human trial of SR9009: no phase-I safety study, no pharmacokinetic study, nothing.
Second, SR9009 has poor pharmacokinetics — it is rapidly metabolised and has very low oral bioavailability, so oral dosing (the route grey-market sellers push) delivers little active compound; the mouse studies that 'worked' largely used injection.
Third, and most damning, a 2019 PNAS study (Dierickx et al.) generated mice lacking both REV-ERB-α and REV-ERB-β and showed that SR9009 still decreased cell viability, rewired metabolism, and altered transcription in cells with no REV-ERB at all — proving that a meaningful share of its effects are REV-ERB-independent (off-target), so SR9009's results cannot be read as clean 'REV-ERB activation.' Fourth, it is not approved by any regulator, it failed to advance as a drug, it is not a lawful dietary-supplement ingredient, and it is on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list (hormone/metabolic modulators) — athletes have been sanctioned for it.
The material sold online is an unregulated research chemical with no guarantee of identity, purity, or sterility.
The evidence here is therefore scored LOW: an intriguing circadian/metabolism mouse story with zero human data, a poor-bioavailability problem, mandatory off-target counter-evidence, and grey-market/anti-doping status — sandboxed out of all goal- and stack-based recommendations.
SR9009 is a synthetic agonist of the circadian-clock nuclear receptors REV-ERB-α/β, which repress Bmal1 and rhythmically regulate metabolic gene networks. Demonstrated in cell and mouse systems — never measured in humans. Critically, a 2019 study showed some SR9009 effects occur even without REV-ERB present, so 'REV-ERB agonism' is not the whole story.
In mice, REV-ERB activation shifted the rhythmic expression of metabolic genes in liver, muscle and adipose tissue and increased energy expenditure, reducing fat mass in diet-induced-obese animals. A rodent finding — no human confirmation, and confounded by off-target activity.
REV-ERB-α controls skeletal-muscle mitochondrial number and oxidative function via the LKB1–AMPK–SIRT1–PGC-1α pathway; pharmacological activation increased running capacity in mice. This is the basis of the 'exercise mimetic' claim — established only in rodents, and undermined by SR9009's poor oral bioavailability.
How SR9009 (Stenabolic) works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Avoid — there are no human trials, no approved use, no quality-controlled product, and oral SR9009 is poorly bioavailable. The mouse evidence does not justify human self-experimentation.
Avoid — SR9009 is on the WADA prohibited list and has triggered anti-doping sanctions.
Avoid entirely — completely unstudied.
There are no human drug-interaction data of any kind. SR9009 perturbs circadian/metabolic gene networks and has off-target activity, so interactions cannot be predicted.
Combining SR9009 with metabolic drugs or chronotherapeutics has never been studied in humans; effects on the clock and on metabolism are unpredictable.
Tip: No human has ever been studied — the side-effect profile in people is genuinely unknown. This is itself the warning.
Tip: SR9009 alters metabolism even without REV-ERB present; the consequences of these off-target actions in humans are uncharacterized.
Tip: Grey-market material has no identity/purity/sterility guarantees; contaminants are possible.
SR9009 (Stenabolic) has an evidence score of 3/10 — emerging evidence based on 5 indexed studies. A grey-market research chemical marketed as 'exercise in a bottle' — every result is from mice or cells, with NO human trials of any kind. SR9009 ('Stenabolic') is a synthetic agonist of REV-ERB, a circadian-clock nuclear receptor, and in mice it shifted metabolic gene expression, raised energy expenditure, reduced fat mass, and increased running capacity. But it has never been tested in a single human, it is essentially inactive when taken orally (poor bioavailability), and a 2019 PNAS study showed several of its effects persist in mice lacking REV-ERB entirely — meaning they are off-target, not the advertised mechanism. It is not an approved drug or a regulated supplement, it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and it is sold online with no quality control. This entry exists to inform, not to recommend. Representative study: PMID 22460951.
The commonly studied dose of SR9009 (Stenabolic) is No legitimate or recommended dose — SR9009 is an unapproved grey-market research chemical with no human dosing data and no quality control. We do NOT provide a dosing protocol. The only published dosing is in mice (and largely by injection, because oral SR9009 is poorly bioavailable), which does not translate to a human dose.. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
Timing is flexible for SR9009 (Stenabolic) — consistent daily use matters more than the time of day. There is no validated human dosing schedule because the compound has never been tested in humans, and oral bioavailability is poor regardless.
SR9009 (Stenabolic) should be used with caution — talk to a healthcare provider before taking it. The most commonly reported side effects are unknown human side-effect profile, unpredictable off-target metabolic effects, harm from an unregulated, impure product. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Not an approved medicine and not a regulated dietary supplement — unapproved grey-market research chemical; do not self-source; No human safety data exists — every safety conclusion would be an extrapolation from mice; Competitive athletes (WADA-prohibited substance).
Caffeine
Likely helpsBlocks adenosine receptors to boost alertness, reaction time, and endurance — one of the most proven ergogenic aids.
CoQ10
Likely helpsA lipid-soluble antioxidant central to mitochondrial energy production, with the strongest trial support for fertility/IVF outcomes and heart failure.
Berberine
Likely helpsActivates AMPK to regulate blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and support lipid metabolism — comparable to metformin in some trials.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Likely helpsProven ergogenic aid that buffers lactic acid, extending high-intensity exercise capacity by 1-3%.
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Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 5 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
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