Educational Reference · Research-Use-Only
Ipamorelin: Mechanism, Research, and Use Cases
A research-grade overview of Ipamorelin — what it is, how it works at the molecular level, what published studies have shown, and answers to the questions researchers ask most.
What is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue pentapeptide that acts as a partial agonist at the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a), stimulating pulsatile GH release from pituitary somatotrophs. Unlike older GH secretagogues, ipamorelin demonstrates high selectivity with minimal effects on ACTH, cortisol, aldosterone, or prolactin.
Research highlights
What published peer-reviewed research and preclinical studies have established about Ipamorelin:
- 01Selective growth hormone secretagogue pentapeptide acting on the ghrelin/GHS receptor (GHS-R1a)
- 02Preclinical studies demonstrate dose-dependent GH release with minimal effects on cortisol and prolactin compared to other GH secretagogues
- 03Animal models suggest favorable selectivity profile with lower impact on ACTH and aldosterone release
- 04Investigated in clinical settings for post-operative ileus recovery (Phase 2/3 trials completed)
Published clinical and preclinical research
Ipamorelin for post-operative ileus (Phase 2 RCT)
Phase 2 RCT · 2014Ipamorelin significantly reduced GI recovery time vs placebo; no cortisol or prolactin elevation
Frequently asked questions about Ipamorelin
Is ipamorelin selective for GH vs cortisol?+
Yes. Ipamorelin was specifically developed and characterized for its high GHS-R1a selectivity without stimulating ACTH or cortisol release, which distinguishes it from GHRP-2 and GHRP-6. This selectivity was confirmed in Phase 1 human data.
How is ipamorelin typically used in combination with CJC-1295?+
See the ipamorelin-cjc-1295 combination product entry for detailed combination research data.
References
- [1]Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al.. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. European Journal of Endocrinology. 1998. PMID: 9820618 DOI: 10.1530/eje.0.1390552
- [2]Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD.. Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients. International Journal of Colorectal Disease. 2014. PMID: 24986137 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-014-1937-7
Regulatory status
Ipamorelin is an investigational compound not approved for therapeutic use by the FDA or any regulatory agency. WADA classifies GH secretagogues as prohibited (S2). For research purposes only.
Researching Ipamorelin?
We carry Ipamorelin for laboratory research.
99%+ HPLC purity, third-party tested, same-day US shipping. Every batch ships with a published certificate of analysis.