Growth-Hormone Secretagogue Peptides

An orally active ghrelin-receptor (GHSR-1a) agonist developed for cancer cachexia and anorexia. Approved in Japan (Adlumiz) for cancer-related wasting, but not FDA-approved in the United States — research-only in the US.

A 16-amino-acid fragment of the C-terminus of human growth hormone (residues 176–191), marketed for fat-loss lipolytic activity but weak in controlled human trials.

A long-acting GHRH (1-29) analog with a Drug Affinity Complex that binds serum albumin, giving an estimated half-life of about 6–8 days and sustained GH and IGF-1 increases in healthy adults; research-only in the US.

The most widely used GHRH + GHRP stack — CJC-1295 extends GHRH half-life while Ipamorelin selectively amplifies GH pulses without disturbing cortisol or prolactin.

A tetrasubstituted GHRH (1-29) analog — CJC-1295 without the albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex, often sold as Modified GRF 1-29; it has very little published human data and is research-only in the US.

The body's own 28-amino-acid 'hunger hormone' released mainly by the stomach — the only well-established circulating peptide that stimulates appetite, and the natural ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR-1a).

A synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hexapeptide and ghrelin-receptor agonist that produces strong GH release in humans but also raises prolactin, ACTH and cortisol; research-only in the US.

The original synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hexapeptide (His-DTrp-Ala-Trp-DPhe-Lys-NH2): a potent GH secretagogue in humans that also raises prolactin and cortisol and stimulates eating in animal studies; research-only in the US.

A synthetic decapeptide identical to endogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) — used diagnostically to assess pituitary gonadotroph reserve and therapeutically to stimulate LH/FSH release.

A synthetic analog of endogenous GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) used clinically to evaluate pituitary gonadotropin reserve and investigated for fertility and hormonal optimization protocols.

A potent synthetic GH-releasing hexapeptide that also binds the cardiac receptor CD36; it showed GH-independent cardioprotection in rat ischemia models and acute effects on heart function in small human studies.

A modified fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 176-191) that retains GH's lipolytic activity without its growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects. The most targeted fat-loss peptide in research use.

An oral, non-peptide growth hormone secretagogue that mimics ghrelin at the GHSR-1a receptor — produces sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation without injections. Extensively studied in human trials.

The most selective GHRP (growth-hormone-releasing peptide) — amplifies GH pulses via ghrelin/GHSR receptor without meaningful cortisol, prolactin, or aldosterone crosstalk.

The full-length 54-amino-acid product of the KISS1 gene — the master upstream regulator of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator, central to puberty onset, reproductive cyclicity, and fertility.

Lanreotide is an FDA-approved synthetic cyclic octapeptide somatostatin analog marketed as Somatuline Depot (US) and Somatuline Autogel (EU/UK). It binds primarily to SSTR2 and SSTR5, and is approved for acromegaly (2007) and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs, 2014), with the landmark CLARINET trial establishing its antiproliferative effect in NETs.

An FDA-approved oral ghrelin receptor agonist used as a diagnostic test for adult growth hormone deficiency — the first and only oral GH stimulation test approved in the United States.

Octreotide is an FDA-approved synthetic cyclic octapeptide analog of somatostatin used to treat acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors (VIPomas). Marketed as Sandostatin (immediate-release) and Sandostatin LAR (long-acting depot), it inhibits growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin secretion by binding to somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5.

Pasireotide is an FDA-approved cyclohexapeptide somatostatin analog with uniquely broad receptor binding across SSTR1, 2, 3, and 5. Marketed as Signifor (subcutaneous) and Signifor LAR (long-acting depot), it is approved for Cushing's disease (2012) and acromegaly (2014), distinguished from older somatostatin analogs by its highest affinity for the SSTR5 subtype critical in corticotroph adenomas.

An investigational injectable ghrelin-receptor (GHSR-1a) agonist studied as a prokinetic for diabetic gastroparesis. It accelerates gastric emptying and showed positive phase 2b results, but is not approved anywhere — research-only.

The first synthetic GHRH analog approved for clinical use — GHRH (1-29) NH₂, the minimum active sequence. Shorter-acting than tesamorelin or CJC-1295.

FDA-approved synthetic GHRH analog (Egrifta) indicated to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy; also studied in HIV-associated fatty liver disease and cognition in older adults.