Ipamorelin
Research onlyAlso known as: 170851-70-4, NNC-26-0161, Y9M3S784Z6, Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, NNC-260161, NNC 26-0161, Aib-His-2Nal-Phe-Lys-NH2, 2-Methylalanyl-L-histidyl-3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanyl-D-phenylalanyl-L-lysinamide
Ipamorelin (170851-70-4, NNC-26-0161, Y9M3S784Z6) is classified under ghrelin / gh secretagogues, sold for research use only and not approved for human consumption.
Read the full guide: what the research shows on Ipamorelin →What the research says
Aggregated from the cited literature below. We summarize sources — we don't author claims.
Ipamorelin is described in the provided literature as a synthetic pentapeptide (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) with growth hormone (GH)-releasing properties. Reviews in orthopaedics/sports medicine discuss ipamorelin as a “growth hormone secretagogue” (GH/IGF-1 signaling–associated peptide) while noting that clinical evidence for musculoskeletal uses is limited.
Mechanism (as reported)
A pharmacology profile reported that ipamorelin stimulates GH release via a GHRP-like receptor (PMID 9849822). A PK/PD modeling study in humans described that ipamorelin induces episodic GH release after administration (PMID 10496658).
Key findings (each cites a source)
- Ipamorelin was described as a growth-hormone-releasing pentapeptide (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) with GH-releasing potency/efficacy assessed in vitro and in vivo, and its GH release profile was characterized as similar to GHRP-6 and mediated via a GHRP-like receptor (PMID 9849822). [PMID 9849822]
- In adult female rats, research reported that ipamorelin increased longitudinal bone growth rate in a dose-dependent manner and assessed several bone-related endpoints (PMID 10373343). [PMID 10373343]
- A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling study in human volunteers reported dose-proportional PK parameters, a short terminal half-life (~2 hours), and episodic GH release after ipamorelin exposure, with an indirect response model to describe the concentration–GH relationship (PMID 10496658). [PMID 10496658]
- In young adult female rats, research reported that continuous ipamorelin treatment increased bone mineral content in vivo (DXA measurements) and increased/altered bone dimensions and cortical bone cross-sectional area in analyses that were also reported as not changing certain volumetric density measures (PMID 10828840). [PMID 10828840]
- Orthopaedics-focused reviews described ipamorelin as a growth hormone secretagogue activating IGF-1 signaling and satellite-cell repair, while emphasizing a lack of clinical trials for orthopaedic applications (PMID 41490200). [PMID 41490200]
- A narrative review on injectable peptide therapy in orthopaedics/sports medicine noted that while growth-hormone secretagogue approaches (including CJC-1295 + ipamorelin in murine models) showed muscle-related effects in animal studies, limitations included that findings were limited to animal studies and that clinical parameters such as indications and dosing remain unknown (PMID 41476424). [PMID 41476424]