Ipamorelin
Also known as: NNC 26-0161
A pentapeptide ghrelin receptor agonist. Acts at GHS-R1a, a different receptor from the GHRH analogues it is frequently paired with in discussion.
Development status: Preclinical — laboratory and animal studies only
Identifiers and molecular characteristics
- CAS number
- Not verified
- Molecular formula
- Not verified
- Molecular mass
- Not verified
- Amino-acid sequence
- Not verified
- PubChem CID
- Not verified
Identifiers are published only with a source and a check date. Fields marked “not verified” have not yet been confirmed against a primary source — we show the gap rather than an unchecked figure. Always confirm against the certificate of analysis for the specific lot you hold.
Biological targets
- Growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a)
Mechanism of action
Agonism at GHS-R1a, the receptor for ghrelin. Reported in the literature as relatively selective compared with earlier secretagogues such as GHRP-6, which have more pronounced effects on other pituitary hormones.
Research evidence and its limits
Preclinical pharmacology and limited early human work. Development did not proceed to approval.
Safety considerations
No regulatory authority has assessed this compound as safe or effective for any human indication. The published record is predominantly laboratory and animal work, which does not establish human safety. Supplied and discussed here strictly as a laboratory research material. Not a medicine, not for human or veterinary administration, and nothing on this page should be read as a dosing, treatment or safety recommendation.
Analytical identification and quality testing
Identity by high-resolution mass spectrometry against the expected mass, purity by RP-HPLC with UV detection. For a sequence-defined peptide, enzymatic digestion followed by peptide mapping gives far stronger identity evidence than mass alone, because isomers and closely related sequences can share a mass. A short peptide, so full sequence confirmation by tandem mass spectrometry is practical.
Regulatory status
Not an approved medicine.
Frequently asked questions
Why is ipamorelin grouped with GHRH analogues if it acts on a different receptor?
Because both converge on growth hormone release from the pituitary, by separate routes. The category reflects the axis, not the receptor — which is why every entry names its receptor explicitly.
References
Related compounds
CJC-1295
A growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue. The name is used for two materially different compounds — one bearing a drug-affinity complex (DAC) that greatly extends half-life, and one without it — and conflating them is the most common error in writing about this molecule.
GHRP-2
A synthetic hexapeptide ghrelin receptor agonist, used in some jurisdictions as a diagnostic agent for growth hormone secretion.
Hexarelin
A synthetic hexapeptide secretagogue, also studied for reported cardiac effects independent of growth hormone release.
Entry last reviewed 2026-10-11. Regulatory status and scientific understanding change; verify against primary sources before relying on anything here.