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Research onlyGrowth hormoneIntravenousEvidence 3/5

GHRP-2

Also known as: Pralmorelin, KP-102

GHRP-2 is a synthetic hexapeptide ghrelin mimetic that activates the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) at the hypothalamus and pituitary, amplifying GHRH and reducing somatostatin tone to drive a transient growth hormone pulse.

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GHRP-2
Drug class
Growth hormone secretagogue / ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist (synthetic hexapeptide)
Primary targets
Growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), Ghrelin receptor, Anterior pituitary somatotrophs, Hypothalamic GHRH/somatostatin neurons
Dose reference
Diagnostic use only (not a therapeutic recommendation): single 100 microgram IV bolus in adults, or ~2 micrograms/kg IV in children, for GH-deficiency provocative testing
Half-life
Short; GH response peaks ~15-60 min after IV dosing and clears within a few hours (precise human half-life not consistently reported)
Developer / origin
Kaken Pharmaceutical (Japan); compound originated from the GHRP work of Bowers and colleagues
Reference year
2004
Evidence score
3/5 - Validated GH-deficiency diagnostic; no established therapeutic use
Evidence 3/5

Validated GH-deficiency diagnostic; no established therapeutic use

GHRP-2 has solid primary-source human evidence as a single-bolus growth hormone secretagogue used to diagnose GH deficiency, including a regulatory approval in Japan. Evidence for any chronic therapeutic, body-composition or anti-aging use is absent, and off-target ACTH, cortisol, prolactin and appetite effects are documented.

Limited human pharmacology or small clinical evidence.

Evidence basis

  • Approved in Japan as a single-dose pralmorelin diagnostic for GH deficiency; validated GH cut-offs in adults (~15 ug/L) and children
  • Randomized human studies show GHRP-2 raises food intake like ghrelin in lean and obese subjects
  • Documented direct ACTH-releasing activity and cortisol/prolactin elevation in human pituitary testing
  • No FDA approval and no validated therapeutic indication; development for GHD/short-stature treatment did not reach market
  • Long-term, repeated-dose human safety data are lacking because approved use is a one-time provocative test

How to read this entry

Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.

Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.

GHRP-2 guides

Read the matching guide or adjacent research pages for more context.

GHRP-2 Peptide: Pralmorelin, GH Secretagogue Science and SafetyGHRP-2, or pralmorelin, is a ghrelin-receptor growth hormone secretagogue approved in Japan only as a GH-deficiency diagnostic, not as a consumer therapeutic.Sermorelin: What the GHRH Analog Does — and What It Doesn'tSermorelin is a GHRH (growth-hormone-releasing hormone) analog — not a GLP-1, despite being searched alongside them. What it does to growth hormone, and where it stands legally.HGH Fragment 176-191 Peptide: Lipolysis Claims and Honest EvidenceHGH Fragment 176-191 is the C-terminal lipolytic fragment of growth hormone with animal data, but no convincing human fat-loss evidence.Growth Hormone Peptide Side Effects: GH, IGF-1, Glucose and Safety LimitsGH-axis peptides can raise growth hormone or IGF-1 biomarkers, but side effects, glucose effects, product quality and evidence gaps differ sharply by compound.

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Selectively stimulates pituitary growth hormone release without significant cortisol or prolactin elevation seen with older GHRPs.

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A modified IGF-1 that binds IGF binding proteins far more weakly than native IGF-1, leaving it free to act as a potent, long-acting agonist at the IGF-1 receptor.

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Research & educational purposes only

The information on PeptideStat is for educational and research purposes only and is not medical advice. Many peptides discussed are research compounds not approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions. Articles may contain affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.