GHRP-2
pralmorelin, pralmorelin hydrochloride, KP-102, GHRP Kaken
REC PPT-GHRP-2 // REV 2026-10-04 // assessment changes are logged, never silent
The only GH-releasing peptide holding a real regulatory approval — a single-injection diagnostic test in Japan, not a therapy, and not an FDA approval.
What it is
A synthetic hexapeptide agonist at the ghrelin receptor, also called the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor. It is registered in Japan as pralmorelin hydrochloride under the trade name GHRP Kaken.
What it does
Used as a probe of pituitary growth-hormone reserve. Beyond that, small human infusion studies have examined food intake and the neuroendocrine changes seen in prolonged critical illness.
Does it work?
Human data genuinely exists, but nearly all of it is small-n pharmacology asking whether GHRP-2 raises growth hormone — not whether raising it produces an outcome. The most cited human work is a 7-subject crossover reporting higher ad libitum food intake during infusion, and 5-day infusions in 14 intensive-care patients, co-administered with TRH, that measured biochemical shifts rather than clinical endpoints. Europe PMC returns 430 records for the term and ClinicalTrials.gov holds no registered interventional study; the Japanese registration covers a single diagnostic injection, not repeated administration.
Claims vs data
Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.
| Raises circulating growth hormone in humans | supported |
| Holds a national regulatory approval as a diagnostic agent | supported |
| Increases appetite and food intake | partially true |
| Builds muscle and reduces fat in healthy adults | overreach |
Reference figures
Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.
molecular data — PubChem CID 6918245
The evidence, counted
Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.
439 publications indexed, including 50 randomised controlled trials. 0 interventional studies registered. This is a well-tested compound.
SRC // EUROPE PMC + CTGOV // "GHRP-2" // FETCHED 2026-10-04 // 439 RECORDS
Most-cited literature
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[01]
Ghrelin
Müller TD, Nogueiras R, Andermann ML, Andrews ZB, Anker SD, Argente J, · Mol Metab 2015 · 806 citations · DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2015.03.005
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[02]
Ghrelin inhibits leptin- and activation-induced proinflammatory cytokine expression by human monocytes and T cells
Dixit VD, Schaffer EM, Pyle RS, Collins GD, Sakthivel SK, Palaniappan · J Clin Invest 2004 · 636 citations · DOI 10.1172/jci21134
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[03]
Thyroid function in critically ill patients
Fliers E, Bianco AC, Langouche L, Boelen A. · Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2015 · 284 citations · DOI 10.1016/s2213-8587(15)00225-9
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[04]
Hypothalamic growth hormone secretagogue receptor regulates growth hormone secretion, feeding, and adiposity
Shuto Y, Shibasaki T, Otagiri A, Kuriyama H, Ohata H, Tamura H, Kamega · J Clin Invest 2002 · 213 citations · DOI 10.1172/jci13300
Regulatory status
Formal, dated regulatory actions.
WADA — Prohibited List 2026
Prohibited in sport — WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances)
Japan PMDA 2025-07
Approved and currently marketed in Japan as pralmorelin hydrochloride (GHRP Kaken 100 for injection, Kaken Pharmaceutical) — a diagnostic agent given as a single intravenous injection in testing for growth-hormone deficiency. Package insert current as of July 2025. This is a diagnostic registration, not a therapeutic one, and it does not extend to the US FDA, the EMA or the Saudi FDA.
Common questions
Is GHRP-2 approved by the FDA?
No. The approval that exists is Japanese: pralmorelin hydrochloride is registered with the PMDA as a diagnostic agent used in testing for growth-hormone deficiency. There is no US FDA approval, no EMA approval and no Saudi FDA approval, and the Japanese registration is diagnostic rather than therapeutic.
Does raising growth hormone mean better body composition?
That link is exactly what the GHRP-2 human literature does not establish. Those studies measured hormone concentrations over hours; they were not designed or sized to measure muscle, fat, strength or recovery.
What did the critical-illness studies actually show?
In a small group of patients ill for weeks, a 5-day infusion of GHRP-2 together with TRH was reported to restore blunted pituitary hormone pulses and to shift markers of protein breakdown. The endpoints were biochemical, the peptide was not given alone, and no survival or functional outcome was demonstrated.
Is GHRP-2 allowed in competitive sport?
No. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) explicitly under section S2.2.4, among the GH-releasing peptides, prohibited at all times both in and out of competition.
Related compounds
GHRP-6
That it releases growth hormone in humans is established. Everything downstream of that is where the evidence stops.
Hexarelin
The GH-releasing peptide whose most distinctive human finding is cardiac rather than muscular — and it is an acute, small-n pharmacology finding.
Ipamorelin
Selective growth-hormone secretagogue. Raises GH; downstream benefits less proven.
Sermorelin
GHRH fragment with a long clinical history, once used diagnostically.