IPAMORELIN
A lab-made 5-block peptide that copies the hunger hormone ghrelin's signal to release growth hormone. Its one real patient trial did not work.
What it's made of
[Aib] H [D-Nal] [D-Phe] K, with a capped end. Three of the five blocks are lab-made or mirror-image forms, not standard amino acids.
Load it in the Peptide builder →Where it comes from
Made to copy ghrelin, the "hunger hormone", which also triggers growth hormone release. Developed by Novo Nordisk in the 1990s.
What it's studied for
- ○ Animal / lab only
In lab and pig studies, it released growth hormone without raising stress hormones the way older peptides did.
- ◐ Reported
A phase 2 trial after bowel surgery (114 patients, versus placebo) did not meet its goal. Development was stopped.
Studied for ≠ proven to work. Check the stamp.
What we don't know
- ?
No long-term human safety data, and no trial showing benefits for muscle, fat or recovery.
- ?
In 2024 a US FDA advisory committee voted 12 to 0 against allowing pharmacies to make it.
- ?◌ Theory
Raising growth hormone for a long time could raise blood sugar or cause water retention, as growth hormone itself can. Not studied for ipamorelin.
Status
- Not approved anywhere.
- Vietnam: no registration found.
- Sport: banned at all times (World Anti-Doping Agency, 2026 list).