The literature

Ipamorelin references: every study cited on this site

Each numbered citation maps to a claim elsewhere in the digest. PubMed and DOI links throughout.

About these references

Every quantitative claim about ipamorelin on this site maps to one of the numbered studies below. The list spans the founding selectivity characterization, the human pharmacokinetic and Phase 2 trial data, the rodent body-composition and bone work, the class-level safety literature, and the most recent combination review. Paywalled entries are marked by their journal; PubMed and DOI links are provided so any claim can be checked against its source. This is the complete citation set for the digest.

  1. Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, Thogersen H, Madsen K, Ankersen M, Andersen PH. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(5):552-561.
  2. Gobburu JV, Agerso H, Jusko WJ, Ynddal L. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers. Pharm Res. 1999;16(9):1412-1416.
  3. Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD; Ipamorelin 201 Study Group. Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2014;29(12):1527-1534.
  4. Johansen PB, Nowak J, Skjaerbaek C, Flyvbjerg A, Andreassen TT, Wilken M, Orskov H. Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats. Growth Horm IGF Res. 1999;9(2):106-113.
  5. Lu Z, Ngan MP, Liu JYH, Yang L, Tu L, Chan SW, Giuliano C, Lovati E, Pietra C, Rudd JA. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a agonists, anamorelin and ipamorelin, inhibit cisplatin-induced weight loss in ferrets: Anamorelin also exhibits anti-emetic effects via a central mechanism. Physiol Behav. 2024;284:114644.
  6. Stokes AH, Falls JG, Yoon L, Cariello N, Faiola B, Colton HM, Jordan HL, Berridge BR. Integrated approach to early detection of cardiovascular toxicity induced by a ghrelin receptor agonist. Int J Toxicol. 2015;34(2):151-161.
  7. Lall S, Tung LY, Ohlsson C, Jansson JO, Dickson SL. Growth hormone (GH)-independent stimulation of adiposity by GH secretagogues. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2001;280(1):132-138.
  8. Lawrence CB, Snape AC, Baudoin FM, Luckman SM. Acute central ghrelin and GH secretagogues induce feeding and activate brain appetite centers. Endocrinology. 2002;143(1):155-162.
  9. Welle S, et al. Growth hormone and growth hormone secretagogue effects on nitrogen balance and urea synthesis. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2009;19(3):260-265.
  10. Johansen PB, et al. Growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion and GH receptor resistance in streptozotocin diabetic mice in response to a GH secretagogue. Exp Diabesity Res. 2003;4:73-81.
  11. Johansen PB, Hansen KT, Andersen JV, Johansen NL. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ipamorelin and other peptidyl growth hormone secretagogues with emphasis on nasal absorption. Xenobiotica. 1998;28(11):1083-1091.
  12. Malmlof K, Johansen PB, Haahr PM, Wilken M, Oxlund H. Methylprednisolone does not inhibit the release of growth hormone after intravenous injection of a novel growth hormone secretagogue in rats. Growth Horm IGF Res. 1999;9(6):396-403.
  13. Ankersen M, Johansen NL, Madsen K, Hansen BS, Raun K, Nielsen KK, Thogersen H, Hansen TK, Peschke B, Lau J, Lundt BF, Andersen PH. A new series of highly potent growth hormone-releasing peptides derived from ipamorelin. J Med Chem. 1998;41(19):3699-3704.
  14. Sondergaard LG, et al. The use of pigs as an animal model to evaluate the efficacy, potency and specificity of growth hormone secretagogues. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2001;11(5):278-285.
  15. Adeghate E, Ponery AS. Mechanism of ipamorelin-evoked insulin release from the pancreas of normal and diabetic rats. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2004;25(6):403-406.
  16. Mayfield CK, et al. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians. Am J Sports Med. 2026.