5-Amino-1MQ

All data come from mice and cells, largely from one research group.

Strengths: 10, 20, 50 mg
Also known as: 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium, 5A1MQ, NNMTi
Molecule: Small molecule (quinolinium), not a peptide; usually the iodide salt
Formula: C10H11IN2 (iodide salt)
Mol. weight: 286.11 g/mol (salt); 159.21 g/mol (cation)
CAS: 42464-96-0 (iodide salt)

Origin

Designed by a University of Texas Medical Branch research group as a selective, membrane-permeable inhibitor of the enzyme NNMT. It is grouped under GLP-1 & Metabolic by the catalog but is not a GLP-1 drug.

How it works

Blocks NNMT, an enzyme abundant in fat tissue that uses up SAM and nicotinamide. In cultured fat cells, inhibitors from this series lowered the NNMT product 1-MNA, raised NAD+ and SAM, and suppressed fat synthesis.

What the research shows

Mouse studies reported lower body weight and fat-cell size in diet-induced obese mice without reduced food intake, better insulin sensitivity and less fatty liver, and improved muscle repair and grip strength in aged mice. It has also been studied in kidney fibrosis models. No human studies exist, so human pharmacokinetics, safety and effects are unknown, and independent replication is limited.

Key studies

Neelakantan et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2018 Obese mice: weight fell about 7% and fat-cell size about 30%, with unchanged food intake.
Neelakantan et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2019 Aged mice: activated muscle stem cells and about 70% higher peak torque after injury.
Babula et al., Diabetes Obes Metab 2024 Obese mice: limited weight and fat gain, improved insulin sensitivity, less fatty liver.
Dimet-Wiley et al., Sci Rep 2024 Aged mice: grip strength about 40% higher, with added benefit on top of exercise.

Safety findings

Human side effects are unknown; no adverse effects were reported in the 2018 mouse study. Theoretical concerns include shifts in methylation (SAM) balance, NAD+ effects outside fat tissue and iodide load from the salt form.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved for any use and never tested in people. Not on FDA's Category 2 safety list or the 503A bulks list, so it has no clear compounding pathway. Not named on WADA's list, but as an unapproved substance it may fall under S0.

Catalog notes

Available in 10, 20 and 50 mg; the 50 mg strength has a certificate (lot 5AM1MQ50-0803, 99.87% purity), and none is published for 10 or 20 mg. Supplied as a lyophilized vial; the active cation is about 56% of the iodide salt's mass.