Summary
GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) is a synthetic six amino acid peptide that stimulates growth hormone release by activating the ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptor, the receptor for the body's hunger hormone. Small human pharmacology studies (short studies of a drug's effects) show it reliably raises growth hormone, cortisol, and prolactin and increases food intake, and it is approved in Japan as a diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency, but there is no approved therapeutic use anywhere and no controlled trial of long term use in adults. FDA placed it in 503B Category 2 (ingredients flagged for significant safety risks in outsourcing facility compounding) in September 2023 for injectable and nasal routes, it has no 503A listing (the pathway for pharmacies compounding for individual patients), and it is prohibited by WADA.
What is GHRP-2?
GHRP-2 is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor agonist). It is also known as Growth hormone releasing peptide-2, Pralmorelin, KP-102, GHRP 2, D-Ala-D-beta-Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2.
How does it work?
GHRP-2 binds the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), the same receptor as ghrelin, on pituitary somatotrophs and hypothalamic neurons. Activation triggers a pulse of growth hormone that is additive with GHRH, and it also raises ACTH, cortisol, and prolactin. Because it mimics ghrelin it increases hunger. It contains D amino acids and an unnatural amino acid (D-beta-naphthylalanine), which resist enzymatic breakdown.
| Cluster | Metabolic and growth hormone axis |
|---|---|
| Routes | Intravenous bolus or infusion (diagnostic and research studies); Intranasal (research studies); Subcutaneous injection (as sold, not from published trials) |
| Conditions studied | Growth hormone deficiency and GH secretagogue use |
| Record | v2, draft, verified Sep 22, 2026 |
What does the evidence say about GHRP-2?
Human data consist of acute pharmacology studies and diagnostic test validation. Single doses of 1 ug/kg intravenous reliably release growth hormone in children and adults, a 2007 Japanese study established a 100 ug intravenous test with a peak GH cutoff of 9 ng/mL for diagnosing adult GH deficiency, and a placebo controlled crossover in 7 healthy men found a 1 ug/kg infusion raised food intake by about 36%. No randomized trial of chronic therapeutic use in adults has been published. The randomized crossover was a single dose physiology study of appetite, not a therapeutic trial; it is listed but does not raise the grade.
| Evidence type | Indexed studies | Participants (human) |
|---|---|---|
| Human randomized trials | 1 | 7 |
| Human observational studies | 4 | 96 |
| Animal studies | 0 | n/a |
| All indexed studies | 5 | 103 |
Human evidence
Pihoker 1995 (n = 34 short children) showed intravenous and intranasal GHRP-2 produced dose dependent GH release, with 1 ug/kg intravenously being a reliable stimulus. Arvat 1997 compared GHRP-2 and hexarelin in healthy adults and found both raised GH more than GHRH and also raised prolactin, ACTH, and cortisol. Laferrere 2005 gave 7 healthy men a 1 ug/kg per hour infusion in a double blind crossover and measured a 35.9% increase in ad libitum food intake. Chihara 2007 (n = 62 adults, plus controls) validated a 100 ug intravenous test for adult GH deficiency. Long term outcome data in adults are absent.
Animal evidence
GHRP-2 was developed from the original GHRP-6 series in rats and shown to release GH in rats, dogs, and primates and to act synergistically with GHRH. Rodent work established the ghrelin receptor as its target. Animal data are pharmacological rather than disease model based.
Key studies
| Study | Design and population | Outcome | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic studies with intravenous and intranasal growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 in children of short stature1995 PMID 7559885 | Dose response pharmacology studyn = 34 Children with short stature | Intravenous 1 ug/kg and intranasal doses produced dose dependent GH release; intravenous route was the more reliable diagnostic stimulus | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| Effects of GHRP-2 and hexarelin, two synthetic GH-releasing peptides, on GH, prolactin, ACTH and cortisol levels in man. Comparison with the effects of GHRH, TRH and hCRH1997 PMID 9285939 | Crossover pharmacology study in healthy volunteersHealthy young adults | GHRP-2 and hexarelin released more GH than GHRH and also raised prolactin, ACTH, and cortisol | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men2005 PMID 15699539 | Double blind, placebo controlled crossovern = 7 Healthy lean men | A 1 ug/kg per hour intravenous infusion increased ad libitum food intake by 35.9% versus saline | Evidence: Human RCT evidence |
| A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency2007 PMID 17609397 | Diagnostic validation studyn = 62 Adults with suspected GH deficiency and healthy controls in Japan | A 100 ug intravenous GHRP-2 test with a peak GH cutoff of 9 ng/mL discriminated severe adult GH deficiency | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)1998 PMID 9893708 | Narrative review by the discoverer of the GHRP seriesAnimal and human pharmacology of GHRP-6, GHRP-2, and related peptides | Summarizes receptor mechanism, synergy with GHRH, and human GH release data | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
Conditions studied
| Condition | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Growth hormone deficiency and GH secretagogue use | Not graded | Tesamorelin is FDA approved to reduce abdominal fat in HIV associated lipodystrophy, and sermorelin was previously approved for pediatric GH deficiency. Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, and MK-677 raise growth hormone in small human studies but are not approved for any indication and are WADA prohibited. |
Is GHRP-2 legal in the United States?
FDA and compounding status
Not FDA approved for any use. FDA added GHRP-2 (for injectable and nasal routes) to the 503B Category 2 list on September 29, 2023, citing immunogenicity risk, an unnatural amino acid that complicates characterization, and reports of serious adverse events. As of the FDA page current to April 22, 2026, GHRP-2 remains in 503B Category 2 and has no 503A nomination or listing, so licensed compounding pharmacies have no lawful basis to compound it. It was not among the peptides withdrawn from Category 2 in April 2026. Pralmorelin is approved in Japan only as a diagnostic agent.
WADA status
WADA prohibited. Athletes subject to anti-doping testing should treat this as prohibited at all times unless the current prohibited list says otherwise.
Regulatory timeline
- WADA
WADA publishes the 2027 Prohibited List
WADA published the 2027 Prohibited List on September 21, 2026, and it takes effect January 1, 2027. The S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes are unchanged. BPC-157 is still named under S0, and MOTS-c is still named under S4.4 as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase. WADA added a note that many peptides without approval for human use fall under S0 or another section, and that a peptide not named on the list may still be prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are still not on the list.
- WADA
WADA 2026 Prohibited List takes effect
The 2026 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2026 and continues to prohibit the S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes (GHRH analogs, growth hormone secretagogues, GH fragments, IGF-1 and analogs, MGF, thymosin beta-4 and derivatives, hCG and GnRH-class releasing factors in males), myostatin inhibitors, insulin and the AMPK activator MOTS-c under S4, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 under S0. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are not on the list.
- WADA
WADA 2025 Prohibited List keeps peptide hormones and growth factors banned at all times
The 2025 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2025. Section S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics) covers GHRH analogs such as CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin, growth hormone secretagogues such as ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, and ibutamoren (MK-677), growth hormone fragments such as AOD-9604, growth factors including IGF-1 and its analogs, MGF, and thymosin beta-4 (TB-500), and chorionic gonadotropin and releasing factors such as gonadorelin and kisspeptin (prohibited in males). Myostatin inhibitors such as ACE-031 fall under S4, insulin under S4 metabolic modulators, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 remains an S0 non-approved substance.
- FDA
FDA places GHRP-2, GHRP-6, and ipamorelin in 503B Category 2
On September 29, 2023 FDA added growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2, for injectable and nasal routes), GHRP-6, and ipamorelin acetate to Category 2 under the 503B interim policy, citing immunogenicity risk from aggregation and peptide related impurities and, for GHRP-2, reports of serious adverse events. Outsourcing facilities may not compound a substance while it is in 503B Category 2. All three remain listed on the FDA page current as of April 22, 2026.
What published studies of GHRP-2 used
Ranges below are reported from published studies and labeling only. PeptideAgent does not recommend doses or protocols.
Diagnostic use only: single intravenous doses of 1 ug/kg in children (Pihoker 1995) and 100 ug in adults (Chihara 2007), or a 1 ug/kg per hour intravenous infusion in the food intake study (Laferrere 2005). No chronic therapeutic dose has been established in human literature; subcutaneous regimens sold online are not from any published trial.
Routes reported
| # | Route |
|---|---|
| 1 | Intravenous bolus or infusion (diagnostic and research studies) |
| 2 | Intranasal (research studies) |
| 3 | Subcutaneous injection (as sold, not from published trials) |
What are the side effects and interactions of GHRP-2?
Side effects
| # | Reported side effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Increased hunger (36% increase in food intake in a controlled study) |
| 2 | Transient flushing, warmth, and sweating after intravenous dosing |
| 3 | Rise in cortisol and prolactin with each dose |
| 4 | Reduced insulin sensitivity and higher blood glucose (FDA cites reports of increased insulin requirements) |
| 5 | FDA notes reports of pancreatitis, infection, and death in critically ill study subjects without established causality |
| 6 | Water retention and numbness or tingling reported with growth hormone secretagogues generally |
Interactions
| # | Interaction |
|---|---|
| 1 | Insulin and oral diabetes medications: GH secretagogues raise blood glucose and can increase insulin requirements |
| 2 | Glucocorticoids: GHRP-2 raises ACTH and cortisol, so stacking adds to steroid exposure |
| 3 | GHRH analogs (sermorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin): synergistic GH release, untested for long term safety |
| 4 | No formal human drug interaction studies exist |
Contraindications
| # | Contraindication |
|---|---|
| 1 | Active cancer (GH and IGF-1 stimulation is a theoretical tumor growth concern) |
| 2 | Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance without monitoring |
| 3 | Pregnancy and breastfeeding (no data) |
| 4 | Athletes subject to WADA testing (prohibited at all times under S2) |
How do people access GHRP-2 legally?
Typical cost: Not available through licensed US channels. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity.
Verified access options
Step 1
No lawful United States access path identified on the last verified date.
Step 2
Not available as an FDA approved product; FDA placed GHRP-2 in 503B Category 2 on September 29, 2023 and it has no 503A nomination or listing.
Step 3
Products labeled research use only are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity.
Access paths are verified against public regulatory records and prescriber licensing. We never list unlicensed vendors.
Compare GHRP-2
What's actually offered, and what that means for you
Licensed compounding pharmacies, clinics, and telehealth prescribers openly offer many unapproved peptides, and prescribers write prescriptions for them. That does not make GHRP-2 lawful. GHRP-2 is not FDA approved and not on the 503A bulks list, so a pharmacy has no lawful basis to compound it. [6] [7]
Enforcement is uneven. FDA mostly acts through warning letters to compounders and online sellers, Category 2 safety listings, and import alerts that let it detain shipments, rather than stopping every pharmacy. State pharmacy boards oversee pharmacies day to day, and their rules differ. [6] [9] [10] [11] [12]
What changes for you
- No FDA review of the product: FDA does not check a compounded drug's safety, effectiveness, or quality before it is sold. [12]
- Identity, purity, sterility, and dose accuracy can vary from batch to batch. [6]
- Insurance rarely covers it, so you usually pay cash.
- For tested athletes, GHRP-2 is prohibited at all times on the WADA list, whatever the source. [8]
What to check
These checks lower some risks, but they do not make an unlawfully compounded product lawful or safe. Check for:
- A 503A pharmacy licensed in your state (your state board of pharmacy publishes license lookups). [12]
- A real evaluation by a licensed prescriber, not just an online form.
- A certificate of analysis for the specific batch.
Frequently asked questions
Is GHRP-2 legal in the United States?
It is not an FDA approved drug and cannot be lawfully compounded (custom-made by a pharmacy). FDA placed GHRP-2 in 503B Category 2 (substances with significant safety risks, under the rules for large outsourcing facilities) on September 29, 2023 for injectable and nasal use, and it has no 503A nomination (the pathway for pharmacies compounding for individual patients), so no licensed pharmacy can compound it. Possession is not a crime, but products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use. In Japan it is approved only as a diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency. [4] [6] [7]
Does GHRP-2 work for muscle growth or fat loss?
Nobody has tested that. The human studies are acute pharmacology and diagnostic studies: a single 1 ug/kg intravenous dose reliably releases a pulse of growth hormone, and GHRP-2 raises GH more than GHRH alone. There is no randomized trial measuring body composition, strength, or fat loss with repeated dosing in adults, so any such benefit is extrapolated from growth hormone physiology rather than shown. [1] [2]
What are the side effects of GHRP-2?
The best documented effect is hunger: in a double blind crossover, a 1 ug/kg per hour infusion raised food intake in healthy men by about 36%. Each dose also raises cortisol and prolactin. FDA's Category 2 rationale cites reports of increased insulin requirements, pancreatitis, infection, and deaths in critically ill study subjects, without established causality. Flushing and sweating are common after intravenous doses. [2] [3] [6]
How is GHRP-2 taken?
In published studies it was given intravenously as a bolus (1 ug/kg in children, 100 ug in adults) or as an infusion, and intranasally in one pediatric study. Products sold online are subcutaneous injection vials, a route and schedule that has not been studied in any published human trial. [1] [4]
How much does GHRP-2 cost?
There is no licensed US price because no pharmacy can lawfully compound it. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity. [6]
Is GHRP-2 banned by WADA?
Yes. Growth hormone secretagogues, including growth hormone releasing peptides such as GHRP-2, are prohibited at all times under section S2 of the WADA Prohibited List. GHRP-2 is one of the peptides most commonly detected in doping controls. [8]
GHRP-2 vs GHRP-6: what is the difference?
Both are synthetic hexapeptides acting on the ghrelin receptor. GHRP-2 is generally reported as the more potent GH releaser and is the one validated as a diagnostic test, while GHRP-6 was the original compound and produces the stronger hunger response in most reports. Both raise cortisol and prolactin, both are in FDA 503B Category 2 since September 2023, and both are WADA prohibited. Neither has long term human trial data. [2] [5] [6]
Is GHRP-2 the same as pralmorelin?
Yes. Pralmorelin (KP-102) is the international nonproprietary name for GHRP-2. Under that name it is approved in Japan as a single dose intravenous diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency, which is the only regulatory approval the molecule holds anywhere. [4]
Decisions about starting, stopping, or combining any treatment belong with a licensed clinician who knows your history.
Sources
Numbered citations above point to these primary sources. PubMed entries link to the indexed abstract.
- [1]Pihoker C et al. Diagnostic studies with intravenous and intranasal growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 in children of short stature. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995PubMed 7559885, 1995
- [2]Arvat E et al. Effects of GHRP-2 and hexarelin on GH, prolactin, ACTH and cortisol levels in man. Peptides 1997PubMed 9285939, 1997
- [3]Laferrere B et al. Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005PubMed 15699539, 2005
- [4]Chihara K et al. A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency. Eur J Endocrinol 2007PubMed 17609397, 2007
- [5]Bowers CY. Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP). Cell Mol Life Sci 1998PubMed 9893708, 1998
- [6]FDA: Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding may present significant safety risks (Category 2 list, content current as of April 22, 2026)FDA, 2026
- [7]FDA: Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A of the FD&C ActFDA, 2026
- [8]WADA Prohibited List, section S2 peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimeticsWADA, 2026
- [9]FDA: Compounding inspections, recalls, and other actions (warning letters to compounders)FDA
- [10]FDA warning letters database: July 30, 2019 letter to a 503A pharmacy that compounded BPC-157 acetate outside section 503AFDA, 2019
- [11]FDA Import Alert 66-41: Detention without physical examination of unapproved new drugs promoted in the U.S. (includes peptide entries)FDA
- [12]FDA: Compounding and the FDA, questions and answersFDA
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Free to cite and quote with a link. Data is licensed CC BY 4.0 with attribution to PeptideAgent.
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PeptideAgent. (2026, September 22). GHRP-2: evidence, legality, and access. https://peptideagent.ai/peptides/ghrp-2- HTML link
<a href="https://peptideagent.ai/peptides/ghrp-2">GHRP-2: evidence, legality, and access</a>, PeptideAgent, updated September 22, 2026.