What is Ipamorelin?
A selective ghrelin-receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue) studied in human pharmacology and a postoperative ileus trial.
Ipamorelin in the library · Growth Hormone Secretagogues · Human Trials · What are peptides?
2 registered trials · 2 indexed papers · 17 human / 27 animal studies
From the PeptideWhiz library entry. "As described" sections summarize claims made in the sources; they are not PeptideWhiz endorsements.
What it is
Ipamorelin is described as a synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue. Its 1998 discovery paper called it the first selective GH secretagogue because, in animal testing, it released GH without the large cortisol or prolactin rises seen with GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 (Raun et al., 1998).
It is often paired with CJC-1295 (no DAC) in sold blends; that combination has its own page. This page covers ipamorelin by itself.
Mechanism (as described)
- It activates the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a, the ghrelin receptor) on the pituitary, producing a pulse of growth hormone.
Evidence (as described)
- A randomized, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial tested intravenous ipamorelin for postoperative ileus after bowel resection and did not show a significant benefit on the main endpoint (Beck et al., 2014).
- No trial is described as establishing muscle, fat-loss, sleep or anti-aging effects in people.
Status
Never approved; clinical development stopped after phase 2.
Registered human trials (2)
| Trial | Phase | Status | Year | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Efficacy of Ipamorelin Compared to Placebo for the Recovery of Gastrointestinal Function | Phase 2 | completed | 2011 | 320 |
| Safety and Efficacy of Ipamorelin for Management of Post-Operative Ileus | Phase 2 | completed | 2008 | 117 |
Peer-reviewed studies (2)
| Paper | Authors | Journal | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients | Beck DE et al. | International journal of colorectal disease | 2014 | Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers | Gobburu JV et al. | Pharmaceutical research | 1999 | Randomized Controlled Trial |
More cited research
- Analysis of new growth promoting black market products (2018, human observational)
- Peptidomimetic growth hormone secretagogue derivatives for positron emission tomography imaging of the ghrelin receptor (2018, human observational)
- The growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a agonists, anamorelin and ipamorelin, inhibit cisplatin-induced weight loss in ferrets: Anamorelin also exhibits anti (2024, animal)
- The influence of ghrelin agonist ipamorelin acetate on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in a cichlid fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (2024, animal)
- Efficacy of ipamorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, on gastric dysmotility in a rodent model of postoperative ileus (2012, animal)
- Efficacy of ipamorelin, a novel ghrelin mimetic, in a rodent model of postoperative ileus (2009, animal)
Conditions researched
- Anti-aging & longevity
- Fat loss, obesity & body recomposition
- Fatigue & low energy (incl. midlife)
- Gut: IBD (Crohn's, colitis), leaky gut, IBS & ulcers
- Low testosterone (without or alongside TRT)
- Lyme disease & chronic infections
- Muscle gain, sarcopenia & building muscle after 40
- PCOS
- Sleep problems (incl. insomnia on peptides)
- Tendon, ligament, muscle & joint injuries (incl. athletes)
- Post-surgical inflammation and surgery recovery
Related compounds
- CJC-1295 (no DAC) (with/without DAC) + Ipamorelin
- Leuprolide
- ACTH (Corticotropin)
- BPC-157
- Ghrelin
- L-Carnitine
- Octreotide
- Oxytocin
- Parathyroid Hormone (PTH 1-84)
- Vasopressin
FAQ
What is Ipamorelin?
A selective ghrelin-receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue) studied in human pharmacology and a postoperative ileus trial.
How many registered human trials study Ipamorelin?
The PeptideWhiz trial index lists 2 registered trials for Ipamorelin, the most recent from 2011.
How much published research exists on Ipamorelin?
The PeptideWhiz paper index links 2 PubMed papers to Ipamorelin; by study type, 17 human and 27 animal studies.
Which conditions is Ipamorelin researched for?
Anti-aging & longevity, Fat loss, obesity & body recomposition, Fatigue & low energy (incl. midlife), Gut: IBD (Crohn's, colitis), leaky gut, IBS & ulcers, Low testosterone (without or alongside TRT), Lyme disease & chronic infections, Muscle gain, sarcopenia & building muscle after 40, PCOS, Sleep problems (incl. insomnia on peptides), Tendon, ligament, muscle & joint injuries (incl. athletes), Post-surgical inflammation and surgery recovery.
Research and education only. Not medical advice. No dosing guidance. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov registry and PubMed via the PeptideWhiz index (204,289 studies).