Synthetic pentapeptide described in 1998 by Novo Nordisk researchers as a selective ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor agonist; researched for growth-hormone release. Not approved for human therapeutic use.
Clinical-stageLyophilised vialAlso known as:NNC 26-0161
2 hours (terminal half-life, human IV-infusion study; Gobburu et al. 1999)
Storage
Lyophilised powder below −15 °C in a tightly closed container, shielded from light; equilibrate the sealed vial to room temperature before opening. Reconstituted vials 2–8 °C.
Sizes
2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
What it is
The compound. Origin, research and regulatory reality.
Ipamorelin (development code NNC 26-0161) is a synthetic pentapeptide (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) derived from GHRP-1. Its development and pharmacology were described in 1998 by researchers at Novo Nordisk (Raun et al.), who characterised it as a selective agonist of the ghrelin/growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a); it was later investigated by Helsinn Therapeutics in a Phase II human trial.
Preclinical rodent studies have examined ipamorelin's effect on pulsatile GH release, longitudinal bone growth and body-weight gain. Preclinical comparisons (Raun et al., 1998) reported a receptor-selectivity profile with no measurable rise in cortisol, ACTH, prolactin, FSH or LH. A Phase II trial (NCT00672074, 117 patients enrolled) examined ipamorelin for postoperative ileus after bowel resection; there were no significant differences between ipamorelin and placebo in the key and secondary efficacy analyses (Beck et al., 2014).
Ipamorelin has not been approved as a medicine in any jurisdiction and is sold under research-use-only labelling only, with no dosing or safety data applicable to human therapeutic use. It is named on the WADA Prohibited List under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics — growth hormone releasing factors), prohibited at all times for tested athletes.
It is sold research-use-only in most markets: legally supplied for laboratory research, not for human consumption or self-administration. RUO status is not a safety approval and does not make personal use legal everywhere.
How is ipamorelin different from GHRP-6 or GHRP-2?
All three are ghrelin-receptor agonists. In preclinical comparisons (Raun et al., 1998) ipamorelin was the more receptor-selective: no measurable rise in cortisol, ACTH or prolactin where GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 produced one.
What should a CoA show for ipamorelin?
HPLC purity plus LC-MS mass confirmation matching C38H49N9O5 (MW ~711.9), the batch or lot number, an independent third-party lab name and a test date. A single undated in-house CoA is a red flag.