Research library

GH Secretagogues

Ipamorelin

Early clinicalGrowth hormone secretagogue, ghrelin receptor agonist

Also published as NNC 26-0161

A pentapeptide agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor GHS-R1a. It is the most selective of the common secretagogues, releasing growth hormone with comparatively little effect on cortisol, ACTH or prolactin.

Where it came from

Developed at Novo Nordisk in the 1990s and later investigated for postoperative ileus.

What the literature examines

  • GHS-R1a binding and growth hormone release in animals and humans
  • Selectivity against ACTH, cortisol and prolactin release
  • Postoperative ileus and gastrointestinal motility, in registered human trials
  • Bone mineral content in rodent models

State of the evidence

Furthest it has gotEarly clinical

It reached Phase 2 in humans for postoperative ileus. The programme was discontinued.

What a buyer should know

Selectivity is a real and documented property, and it is also the entire marketing story. Selectivity says what a compound does not do, not that what it does do has been shown to be useful. It is on the WADA prohibited list under S2.

Handling and stability

Water soluble, lyophilised. Standard cold chain once reconstituted.

Sequence

Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2

Read it yourself

We do not publish a curated citation list, because a hand picked list of papers is a sales tool. These links run a live query against the public databases, so you see everything, including the results that do not suit us.

Supplied for laboratory research use only. Nothing on this page is a dose, a protocol or a claim of effect in humans, and nothing here is medical advice. Read our research use policy.