GHRPs & ghrelin mimetics
Agonists at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the target of endogenous ghrelin.
8 compounds in this class. 1 approved by the FDA for at least one indication. 0 have no published human trial data.
Guides in this class
All 8 gHRPs & ghrelin mimetics compared
| Compound | Evidence | Reported range | Half-life | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anamorelin An orally active ghrelin-receptor agonist approved in Japan for cancer cachexia, and the most clinically advanced compound in the class. | Clinical trials | 50-100 mg | ~7 hours | Research only |
| GHRP-2 A potent ghrelin-receptor agonist approved in Japan as a diagnostic agent, with a stronger GH pulse than ipamorelin and more hormonal spillover. | Clinical trials | 100-300 mcg | ~30 minutes | Research only |
| GHRP-6 The original growth-hormone-releasing hexapeptide, now used as much for its pronounced appetite stimulation as for GH release. | Clinical trials | 100-300 mcg | ~15-30 minutes | Research only |
| Hexarelin The most potent GH-releasing hexapeptide of the group, with documented cardiac effects and the fastest receptor desensitisation. | Clinical trials | 100-200 mcg | ~55 minutes | Research only |
| Ipamorelin The most receptor-selective of the growth-hormone-releasing peptides, notable for leaving cortisol and prolactin essentially unchanged. | Preliminary human | 200-300 mcg | ~2 hours | Research only |
| Lenomorelin Endogenous ghrelin itself, the 28-amino-acid gut hormone that every compound in this class was designed to imitate. | Clinical trials | 100-300 mcg | ~30 minutes | Research only |
| Macimorelin An orally administered ghrelin-receptor agonist and the only compound in this class with a current FDA approval. | Regulator approved | 500 mg | ~4 hours | Approved |
| MK-677 An orally active, long-acting ghrelin-receptor agonist. Frequently grouped with peptides but chemically a non-peptide small molecule. | Clinical trials | 10-25 mg | ~24 hours | Research only |
Head-to-head comparisons
GHRPs & ghrelin mimetics: common questions
What are gHRPs & ghrelin mimetics?
Agonists at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the target of endogenous ghrelin. This class has 8 compounds in our directory.
Which gHRPs & ghrelin mimetics are FDA approved?
Macimorelin is FDA approved for at least one indication. The others are not approved.
Which gHRPs & ghrelin mimetics have the strongest evidence?
By evidence level and number of human studies: Macimorelin (regulator approved, ~8 human studies); Lenomorelin (clinical trials, ~30 human studies); MK-677 (clinical trials, ~22 human studies).
Can compounding pharmacies make these?
GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Ipamorelin are in FDA Category 2 (substances that may present significant safety risks), so US compounding pharmacies should not prepare them. Anamorelin, Hexarelin, MK-677 are not FDA approved and not on the 503A bulks list, so there is no routine legal path to compound them. Material sold online is labelled for research use only. Status checked against FDA lists in October 2026.
References
Regulatory and primary sources
- FDA: Bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks (Category 2 and withdrawn nominations) ↗ · content current as of April 22, 2026; checked October 18, 2026
- FDA: Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A ↗ · how the 503A categories work
- FDA: Unapproved drugs ↗ · status of products sold "for research use only"
- WADA Prohibited List ↗ · peptide hormones and growth factors, class S2
- PubMed (National Library of Medicine) ↗ · source of every literature reference on this site
Published literature
- Anamorelin for cancer cachexia.Drugs Today (Barc) 2022.PubMed 35274629 · doi:10.1358/dot.2022.58.3.3381585
- What is next after anamorelin?.Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2017.PubMed 28957883 · doi:10.1097/SPC.0000000000000299
- The effect of anamorelin (ONO-7643) on cachexia in cancer patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Oncol Pharm Pract 2023.PubMed 37525932 · doi:10.1177/10781552231189864
- [Overview of Cancer-Associated Cachexia].Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2019.PubMed 31879394
- Anamorelin for the Treatment of Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome.Curr Oncol Rep 2024.PubMed 38771469 · doi:10.1007/s11912-024-01549-y
- Anamorelin in Japanese patients with cancer cachexia: an update.Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2023.PubMed 37389636 · doi:10.1097/SPC.0000000000000658
- Clinical results in cachexia therapeutics.Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2016.PubMed 26974316 · doi:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000274
- Anamorelin hydrochloride for the treatment of cancer-anorexia-cachexia in NSCLC.Expert Opin Pharmacother 2015.PubMed 25945893 · doi:10.1517/14656566.2015.1041500
- Growth hormone-releasing peptides.Eur J Endocrinol 1997.PubMed 9186261 · doi:10.1530/eje.0.1360445
- Adult growth hormone deficiency: current concepts.Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2014.PubMed 25070016 · doi:10.2176/nmc.ra.2014-0088
- Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN.Drugs R D 2004.PubMed 15230633 · doi:10.2165/00126839-200405040-00011
- Growth hormone-releasing peptides and their analogs.Front Neuroendocrinol 1998.PubMed 9465289 · doi:10.1006/frne.1997.0158
- Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists.Horm Metab Res 2016.PubMed 26551992 · doi:10.1055/s-0035-1564149
- Growth hormone-releasing peptides and the cardiovascular system.Ann Endocrinol (Paris) 2000.PubMed 10790589
Literature retrieved from PubMed on October 16, 2026, favouring human studies and reviews. Numbered markers in the text show which paper supports which statement; uncited entries are background reading.