{"id":"ghrp-2","name":"GHRP-2","aliases":["pralmorelin","KP-102","GH-releasing peptide-2"],"url":"https://lyoresearch.com/compounds/ghrp-2","class":{"id":"gh-secretagogues","name":"GH secretagogues (GHRPs)","url":"https://lyoresearch.com/classes/gh-secretagogues"},"summary":"GHRP-2, or pralmorelin, is a synthetic six-amino-acid growth-hormone-releasing peptide. It reliably and measurably raises growth hormone, and on that basis is approved in Japan as a diagnostic test for growth-hormone deficiency. Like natural ghrelin it also increases appetite in short human studies. What it does not have is any trial showing it builds muscle, burns fat or improves body composition — the uses it is actually sold for. It is banned in sport.","overall_grade":"C","overall_grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","human_trials":"Diagnostic-grade + small studies","regulatory_status":"Approved (diagnostic, Japan)","molecule":{"formula":"C45H55N9O6","molecular_weight":"818.0","cas":"158861-67-7","pubchem_cid":6918245,"note":null},"pharmacokinetics":{"basis":"human","route":"Intravenous (diagnostic use in Japan as pralmorelin)","half_life":"Human intravenous use is documented; no primary half-life figure was found","licensed_regimen":null,"product":null,"source":{"title":"Pralmorelin. Drugs R D 2004;5:236–239","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15230633/"}},"outcomes":[{"outcome":"Growth hormone release (diagnostic)","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"moderate","adverse":false,"human_studies":"Approval-grade diagnostic studies","evidence":"GHRP-2 produces a large, reproducible GH rise that cleanly separates GH-deficient from healthy people — the basis of its Japanese approval as a diagnostic agent.","references":[{"citation":"Chihara K, et al. A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency.","where":"Eur J Endocrinol, 2007;157:19–27","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17609397/"}],"verbatim":{"text":"Peak GH concentrations after GHRP-2 were significantly (P<0.001) lower in patients (1.36+/-2.60 microg/l) than the healthy group (84.6+/-60.9 microg/l) with no difference between hypothalamic and pituitary diseases.","citation":"Chihara K, et al. A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency.","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17609397/"}},{"outcome":"Appetite","grade":"C","grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","effect_size":"moderate","adverse":false,"human_studies":"Small crossover study (n=7)","evidence":"As a ghrelin mimic, GHRP-2 increased food intake in healthy men in a controlled infusion study — a real acute effect, studied in very few people.","references":[{"citation":"Laferrère B, et al. Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men.","where":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005;90:611–614","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15699539/"}],"verbatim":{"text":"Similar to what has been reported for ghrelin administration, our subjects ate 35.9 +/- 10.9% more when infused with GHRP-2 vs. saline, with every subject increasing their intake even when calculated per kg body weight (136.0 +/- 13.0 kJ/kg [32.5 +/- 3.1 kcal/kg] vs. 101.3 +/- 10.5 kJ/kg [24.2 +/- 2.5 kcal/kg], p = 0.008).","citation":"Laferrère B, et al. Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men.","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15699539/"}},{"outcome":"Body composition","grade":"D","grade_meaning":"no human evidence","effect_size":"not measurable","adverse":false,"human_studies":"None","evidence":"No controlled trial has tested whether repeated GHRP-2 changes muscle or fat in humans. The physique claims are extrapolation from the acute GH rise.","references":[{"citation":"Chihara K, et al. A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency.","where":"Eur J Endocrinol, 2007;157:19–27","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17609397/"}]},{"outcome":"Safety in humans","grade":"C","grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","effect_size":"small","adverse":true,"human_studies":"Diagnostic use","evidence":"As a single diagnostic dose it is well tolerated, with flushing the main effect. Safety of repeated self-dosing is not established, and it raises cortisol and prolactin more than the most selective secretagogues.","references":[{"citation":"Chihara K, et al. A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency.","where":"Eur J Endocrinol, 2007;157:19–27","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17609397/"}]}],"regions":[{"region":"European Union","status":"Not authorised","note":"No EMA authorisation. Supplying it for human use is an offence under national medicines law."},{"region":"United States","status":"Not approved","note":"Not an FDA-approved drug; sold as a research chemical. The FDA has flagged GHRPs among peptides that should not be in compounded products."},{"region":"United Kingdom","status":"Unlicensed medicine","note":"No MHRA licence; supply for human use is an offence."},{"region":"Australia","status":"Prescription-only / unapproved","note":"Not on the ARTG; imports without a prescription are seized."},{"region":"Japan","status":"Approved (diagnostic)","note":"Pralmorelin (GHRP Kaken) is approved as a diagnostic agent for growth-hormone secretion — not as a treatment."},{"region":"Sport (WADA)","status":"Prohibited at all times","note":"WADA class S2.2: GH-releasing peptides are banned in and out of competition."}],"faq":[{"q":"Is GHRP-2 approved?","a":"Only in Japan, and only as a diagnostic test (pralmorelin) for growth-hormone deficiency — a single injection to measure pituitary function. It is not approved anywhere as a treatment for muscle, fat or ageing."},{"q":"Does it build muscle?","a":"No trial has tested that. It reliably raises growth hormone acutely, but no controlled study has shown that repeated use changes body composition."},{"q":"Why does it make you hungry?","a":"It mimics ghrelin, the hunger hormone, at the same receptor — so it drives appetite as well as growth-hormone release."}],"references":[{"cite":"Chihara K, et al. A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency.","where":"Eur J Endocrinol, 2007;157:19–27","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17609397/","note":"77 healthy + 58 GH-deficient adults; the diagnostic basis."},{"cite":"Laferrère B, et al. Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men.","where":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005;90:611–614","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15699539/","note":"7 lean men; the appetite data."}],"last_reviewed":"2026-09-03","literature_searched_to":"2026-09-03","changelog":[{"date":"2026-09-03","note":"Initial publication. Grade A for the diagnostic GH response, D for the marketed physique use."}],"license":"CC BY 4.0 — cite as “LYO Research” with a link.","methodology":"https://lyoresearch.com/methodology"}