Growth hormone axis

GHRH analogues, ghrelin-receptor agonists and IGF-1 analogues.

• CJC-1295

  CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). The name properly refers to a version with a drug affinity complex (DAC) that binds albumin, but is also applied to modified GRF(1-29), which lacks DAC.

• Follistatin-344

  Follistatin-344 is a glycoprotein isoform of follistatin, a protein that binds and neutralizes activin, myostatin and related growth factors. It is a full-size protein of about 344 residues, not a short peptide, and is not approved for any use.

• GHRP-2

  GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide that stimulates growth hormone release by activating the ghrelin receptor. It has been studied in human endocrine testing and is not approved by the FDA.

• GHRP-6

  GHRP-6 is a synthetic hexapeptide that stimulates growth hormone release by activating the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). It was one of the first growth hormone secretagogues and is not approved for any use.

• Hexarelin

  Hexarelin is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue that activates the ghrelin receptor. It has been studied in small human studies of growth hormone release and in cardiovascular research, and is not approved for any use.

• IGF-1 LR3

  IGF-1 LR3 is a recombinant analogue of insulin-like growth factor 1 with an arginine substitution at position 3 and a 13-residue N-terminal extension. It binds IGF-binding proteins weakly and is widely used in cell culture.

• Ipamorelin

  Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue that acts as a selective agonist of the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). It is investigational and not approved for any use.

• MK-677 (ibutamoren)

  MK-677 (ibutamoren) is an orally active small-molecule agonist of the ghrelin receptor that raises growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. It is not a peptide, and it is not approved for any use.

• PEG-MGF

  PEG-MGF is a PEGylated synthetic peptide based on the E-peptide of mechano growth factor, a splice variant of insulin-like growth factor 1. The PEGylated form itself has little published characterization and no human evidence.

• Sermorelin

  Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide consisting of the first 29 amino acids of human growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). It was previously FDA-approved as Geref but has been discontinued in the US.

• Tesamorelin

  Tesamorelin is a stabilized synthetic analogue of human growth hormone releasing hormone. It is FDA-approved as Egrifta for reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Comparisons in this area

• Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295

  Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist; CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH analogue, in some versions with an albumin-binding DAC group. This page compares their receptors, structures, research history and analytical considerations.

• Sermorelin vs Tesamorelin

  Sermorelin and tesamorelin are both analogues of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Sermorelin is the 29-residue active fragment and was once FDA-approved; tesamorelin is the full 44-residue sequence with an N-terminal modification and remains FDA-approved as Egrifta.

• GHRP-2 vs GHRP-6

  GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone releasing peptides that act at the ghrelin receptor. This page compares their sequences, receptor pharmacology, human physiology studies, regulatory and WADA status, and the oxidation risks shared by their tryptophan-containing structures.

• CJC-1295 vs sermorelin

  CJC-1295 and sermorelin are both GHRH(1-29) analogues that act at the GHRH receptor. This page compares the native-sequence sermorelin with the substituted, optionally albumin-binding CJC-1295, covering structure, stability, evidence, regulatory and WADA status, and identity testing.

• Ipamorelin vs MK-677

  Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide and MK-677 (ibutamoren) an orally active small molecule, yet both are agonists at the ghrelin receptor GHS-R1a. This page compares their chemistry, pharmacology, clinical research, regulatory and WADA status, and the different analytical methods each requires.