Identity
What is GHRP-2?
- Type
- Synthetic hexapeptide (GHRP family)
- Also known as
- Pralmorelin
- Amino acids
- 6
- Primary target
- Growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a)
- Research family
- GH secretagogue
- Use classification
- Research Use Only
Science Library · Ghrelin-receptor agonist
GHRP-2 the science.
GHRP-2 (growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, also called pralmorelin) is a small synthetic hexapeptide studied as an agonist of the growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor — the same receptor activated by the natural hormone ghrelin. Research has examined how it stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone, including early-phase human pharmacokinetic studies. The summary below reflects published research.
View the GHRP-2 product page →
6 aa
Peptide length
GHS-R1a
Primary target
Phase I
Human PK data
Investigational
Regulatory status
How it works
Mechanism at a glance
Compound
GHRP-2
Action
Agonizes the ghrelin receptor
Effect
Stimulates GH release
Studied in
Healthy-volunteer studies
Evidence to date
In vitro
Animal
Human
Evidence to date: preclinical plus early-phase human studies. Not FDA-approved.
What it is
GHRP-2 is a synthetic peptide of six amino acids belonging to the growth-hormone-releasing-peptide (GHRP) family. Unlike GHRH analogs, GHRPs act on the growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) — the receptor for ghrelin — representing a distinct upstream route into the GH axis. It is used in research as a tool for probing GH-secretagogue signaling and has also been employed as a diagnostic provocative agent in GH-stimulation testing.
The research interest lies in how a ghrelin-mimetic peptide engages the GHS receptor to evoke GH release, and how that pathway interacts with GHRH signaling. GHRP-2 is an investigational compound, not an approved medicine in the United States.
The pathway under study: the ghrelin (GHS) receptor
GHRP-2 research centers on the ghrelin-receptor route to GH release:
- GHS-R1a activation — binding the ghrelin receptor on pituitary somatotrophs is studied for how it triggers GH secretion.
- Synergy with GHRH — investigators examine how combined ghrelin-receptor and GHRH-receptor activation produces a larger GH response than either alone.
- Appetite signaling — because the target is the ghrelin receptor, downstream effects on appetite pathways are also studied.
What research has explored
GHRP-2 has both preclinical and early-phase human research:
- Phase I pharmacokinetics (1998). A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism characterized the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of GHRP-2 in humans, reporting dose-related GH release.
- Provocative GH testing. Subsequent research examined GHRP-2 as a stimulus in GH-secretion assessment, including studies in younger and adolescent cohorts.
These human studies are early-phase and investigational. GHRP-2 is not FDA-approved, and this material is supplied for research use only.
Current state of the evidence
GHRP-2 is an investigational ghrelin-receptor agonist. Published evidence includes early-phase human pharmacokinetic and provocative-testing studies alongside preclinical work, but it is not FDA-approved and no approved indication, dosing, or therapeutic claim applies. GHRP-2 is supplied strictly as a research material for laboratory investigation.
Compound Snapshot
At a glance
Evidence base
Research maturity
Investigational
Human PK data
Not FDA-approved
Maturity
Clinical (early phase)
Preclinical work plus published early-phase human pharmacokinetic studies; still investigational.
Status
Not FDA-approved
No approved indication, dosing, or therapeutic claim. Supplied for research use only.
Sources & References
Peer-reviewed research and database records
J. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism / PubMed
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2: a phase I study
1998 · PMID 9543135 · DOI 10.1210/jcem.83.4.4744 View SourcePubChem
GHRP-2 / pralmorelin compound search
NIH PubChem lookup for molecular identity and structure records. View SourcePubMed
GHRP-2 literature search
NCBI PubMed index for primary papers, reviews, and PMID-linked records. View SourceFor research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. These products have not been evaluated by the FDA. Nothing on this page is medical advice or a therapeutic claim.
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