The company I just left used to sell IGF-1 R3...we would get it form JRH. I would usually sell it in a package deal to companies using it for cell research..(sold it along with buffers, cell media, an other biochemicals) JRH is now owned by Sigma Aldrich, the biggest player in the industry.. and have the exclusive on selling it. It is NOT ILLEGAL. It is nothing. It is not a drug so that is why the FDA has not approved it. It is viewed as a chemical compound, like NaCl or trypsin. The issue you may have is JRH are cocksuckers and know why the average joe is calling them to purchase it..depending on the rep, they may or may not sell it to you. Also, they may or may not jack up the price...again, they have the exclusive rights to sell this in the USA, and they know they have others by the balls....Please remember, this is IGF-1 R3, not the older IGF-1, which you can pretty much get from any biochemical, cell culture supplier. (MP Bio, Fisher Sci, Promega) More then likley they will not sell this to you unless you present yourself as a lab end user or re-seller. Ususally you have to set up an account like a legit company and they will do a credit check and so forth. They are NOT looking for legal things at this point..they are looking to make sure the "company" you claim to be pays their bills.
Trust me...I have done both with IGF....made big commision checks and have also had in-the bag deals go south all on the count if IGF.
Here is something to think about too.
I asked my purchasing agent about the times he contacted JRH when getting IGF-1 R3...and the purchasing agent had no clue what I was asking him about..his responce was, "I ordered what ever chemicals you requested, I do this for 50 to 100 chemcials and agents for you a day....I don't know the difference between IGF or potassium".