What is MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

An oral, non-peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist.

MK-677 (Ibutamoren) in the library · Growth Hormone Secretagogues · Human Trials · What are peptides?

7 registered trials · 19 indexed papers · 48 human / 43 animal studies

From the PeptideWhiz library entry. "As described" sections summarize claims made in the sources; they are not PeptideWhiz endorsements.

Mechanism (as described)

~24 h half-life, giving a constant, non-pulsatile GH trickle. "Blunt force" on ghrelin receptors.

Registered human trials (7)

Trial	Phase	Status	Year	Enrolled
The Impact of Ibutamoren on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease	Phase 2	completed	2022	12
Growth Hormone Secretagogue MK-0677's Effect on Lean Body Mass in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4/5 Subjects	Phase 2	withdrawn	2009
Growth Hormone Secretagogue MK-0677 Effect on IGF-1 Levels in ESRD Patients		completed	2006	49
Treatment of Sarcopenia in Post-Hip Fracture Patients (0677-032)	Phase 2	terminated	2005	83
Efficacy and Safety of an Oral Growth Hormone Drug in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia	Phase 2	completed	2005	64
Study of MK0677 for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (0677-030)(COMPLETED)	Phase 2	completed	2003	512
Effects of an Oral GH Secretagogue (MK-677) on Body Composition and Functional Ability of Older Adults	Phase 1/Phase 2	completed	1998	72

Peer-reviewed studies (19)

Paper	Authors	Journal	Year	Type
Oral ghrelin receptor agonist MK-0677 increases serum insulin-like growth factor 1 in hemodialysis patients: a randomized blinded study	Campbell GA et al.	Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association	2018	Randomized Controlled Trial
MK-0677 (ibutamoren mesylate) for the treatment of patients recovering from hip fracture: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIb study	Adunsky A et al.	Archives of gerontology and geriatrics	2011	Randomized Controlled Trial
Growth hormone secretagogue MK-677: no clinical effect on AD progression in a randomized trial	Sevigny JJ et al.	Neurology	2008	Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of an oral ghrelin mimetic on body composition and clinical outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized trial	Nass R et al.	Annals of internal medicine	2008	Randomized Controlled Trial
The effects of MK-0677, an oral growth hormone secretagogue, in patients with hip fracture	Bach MA et al.	Journal of the American Geriatrics Society	2004	Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of treatment with the oral growth hormone (GH) secretagogue MK-677 on GH isoforms	Svensson J et al.	Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society	2003	Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of oral administration of ibutamoren mesylate, a nonpeptide growth hormone secretagogue, on the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor I axis in growth hormone-deficient children	Codner E et al.	Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics	2001	Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of alendronate and MK-677 (a growth hormone secretagogue), individually and in combination, on markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic women	Murphy MG et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	2001	Randomized Controlled Trial
Discrepancy between serum leptin values and total body fat in response to the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677	Svensson J et al.	Clinical endocrinology	1999	Randomized Controlled Trial
Oral administration of the growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of bone turnover in healthy and functionally impaired elderly adults. The MK-677 Study Group	Murphy MG et al.	Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research	1999	Randomized Controlled Trial
Treatment of obese subjects with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 affects serum concentrations of several lipoproteins, but not lipoprotein(a)	Svensson J et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	1999	Randomized Controlled Trial
Growth hormone secretagogues: mechanism of action and use in aging	Fuh VL et al.	Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society	1998	Randomized Controlled Trial
Treatment with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of bone formation and bone resorption in obese young males	Svensson J et al.	Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research	1998	Randomized Controlled Trial
Two-month treatment of obese subjects with the oral growth hormone (GH) secretagogue MK-677 increases GH secretion, fat-free mass, and energy expenditure	Svensson J et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	1998	Randomized Controlled Trial
MK-677, an orally active growth hormone secretagogue, reverses diet-induced catabolism	Murphy MG et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	1998	Randomized Controlled Trial
Prolonged oral treatment with MK-677, a novel growth hormone secretagogue, improves sleep quality in man	Copinschi G et al.	Neuroendocrinology	1997	Controlled Clinical Trial
Oral administration of growth hormone (GH) releasing peptide-mimetic MK-677 stimulates the GH/insulin-like growth factor-I axis in selected GH-deficient adults	Chapman IM et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	1997	Randomized Controlled Trial
Stimulation of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I axis by daily oral administration of a GH secretogogue (MK-677) in healthy elderly subjects	Chapman IM et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	1996	Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a 7-day treatment with a novel, orally active, growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, MK-677, on 24-hour GH profiles, insulin-like growth factor I, and adrenocortical function in normal young men	Copinschi G et al.	The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism	1996	Randomized Controlled Trial

More cited research

Knowing the minimal detectable dose can facilitate the interpretation of a hair test result: II. Case example with ibutamoren (MK-677), a growth hormone secreta (2026, human observational)
Hepatotoxicity induced by MK-677 (2025, human case report)
SAT-675 The Impact of the Oral Growth Hormone Secretagogue Ibutamoren on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Adults With Overwei (2025, human observational)
SUN-658 Ibutamoren Mesylate, an Oral Growth Hormone (GH) Secretagogue, Modifies Body Composition in Healthy Older Adults by Increasing Both the Amount and the P (2025, human observational)
Ghrelin receptor agonist MK0677 and overnight fasting do not rescue deficient fear extinction in 129S1/SvImJ mice (2023, animal)
Equine metabolism of the growth hormone secretagogue MK-0677 in vitro and in urine and plasma following oral administration (2022, animal)
MK0677, a Ghrelin Mimetic, Improves Neurogenesis but Fails to Prevent Hippocampal Lesions in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology (2019, animal)
Effect of the Orally Active Growth Hormone Secretagogue MK-677 on Somatic Growth in Rats (2018, animal)

Conditions researched

Related compounds

FAQ

What is MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

An oral, non-peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist.

How many registered human trials study MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

The PeptideWhiz trial index lists 7 registered trials for MK-677 (Ibutamoren), the most recent from 2022.

How much published research exists on MK-677 (Ibutamoren)?

The PeptideWhiz paper index links 19 PubMed papers to MK-677 (Ibutamoren); by study type, 48 human and 43 animal studies.

Which conditions is MK-677 (Ibutamoren) researched for?

Muscle gain, sarcopenia & building muscle after 40, Menopause & perimenopause, Multiple sclerosis, Anti-aging & longevity, Chronic pain: fibromyalgia & CRPS, Dementia, Alzheimer's & cognitive decline, Fat loss, obesity & body recomposition, Fatty liver & elevated liver enzymes, Kidney protection (CKD, diabetic kidney, lupus kidney), Osteoporosis and bone density, Sleep problems (incl. insomnia on peptides).

Research and education only. Not medical advice. No dosing guidance. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov registry and PubMed via the PeptideWhiz index (204,289 studies).

Reported dosing ranges from research