SARMs provide the opportunity to design molecules that can be delivered orally, but that selectively target the androgen receptors in different tissues differently. The goal of research in this area is to allow a customized response: tissues that are the target of the therapy will respond as they would to testosterone; other tisses where undesirable side effects are produced will not. For example, if the target is bone growth in elderly men with osteopenia or osteoporosis, but with no overt signs of hypogonadism, an SARM targeting bone and muscle tissue, but with lesser activity on the prostate or testes would be more desirable.
