Hormone · Investigational
GHRP-2
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
A synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue (also called pralmorelin) that acts on the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) in the hypothalamus and pituitary to stimulate growth hormone release. It is a powerful stimulus for GH secretion in humans (PMID 38958228) and, unlike more selective agents, also raises ACTH and cortisol, as shown in swine (PMID 9849822) and in clinical testing (PMID 35795807).
It is not FDA approved.
02 · Research summary & key findings
In swine, GHRP-2 was more potent but less efficacious than GHRP-6 and raised ACTH and cortisol (PMID 9849822). In Japan the GHRP-2 test is widely used to diagnose GH deficiency (PMID 35795807). Healthy men ate about 36% more during GHRP-2 infusion, showing ghrelin-like appetite effects (PMID 15699539). It is otherwise sold as an unregulated research compound (PMID 42395176).
03 · Regulatory status
GHRP-2 is in the investigational stage. While preclinical and early-phase data exist, it has not received regulatory approval for clinical use in the United States.
No lawful pathway today
GHRP-2 is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for hormone optimization?
GHRP-2 is an investigational compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on hormone optimization, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
- Intravenous
References
- [1]Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005. PMID 15699539
- [2]Clinical Usefulness of the Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide-2 Test for Hypothalamic-Pituitary Disorder J Endocr Soc, 2022. PMID 35795807
- [3]Robust growth hormone responses to GH-releasing peptide 2 in adolescents J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab, 2024. PMID 38958228
- [4]The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2026. PMID 42395176
- [5]Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue Eur J Endocrinol, 1998. PMID 9849822
Primary literature
- PubMed: "GHRP-2"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "GHRP-2"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "GHRP-2"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.