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GHRP-2

Growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor agonist)

Also known as Pralmorelin, KP-102, GPA-748

A ghrelin receptor agonist with real human pharmacology behind it, approved in Japan as a diagnostic agent, and zero registered trials for anything people actually use it for.

Guide updated Sep 2, 2026Literature checked Sep 2, 20263 curated studies19 literature recordsBaseline editorial

Overview

In shortA synthetic peptide that triggers growth hormone release. It is better characterised in humans than most in this family, because it went through a real development programme and is approved in Japan as a diagnostic test. That it releases growth hormone is not in doubt. Whether repeated use does what people take it for has never been tested.

GHRP-2 is a synthetic hexapeptide that stimulates growth hormone release by acting at the ghrelin receptor. It is better characterised in humans than most of the growth hormone secretagogues in this compendium, because it went through a real development programme and reached approval in Japan as a diagnostic agent for growth hormone deficiency.

The gap in this entry is specific and worth stating plainly. Its pharmacology as a GH-releasing stimulus is not in doubt. What has never been tested in a registered trial is whether repeated use produces any of the body composition, recovery or anti-ageing outcomes it is used for. At the time of writing the trial registry returns nothing for it.

Mechanism

In shortIt acts on the same receptor as ghrelin in the pituitary and hypothalamus, producing a pulse of growth hormone and downstream IGF-1. Because it works through your own pathway rather than replacing the hormone, the response is still subject to feedback and your pituitary's own capacity sets a ceiling that injected growth hormone does not have. It also raises appetite, cortisol and prolactin.

Agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the same receptor ghrelin acts on, in the pituitary and hypothalamus. This produces a pulse of growth hormone release, and downstream IGF-1.

Because it works through the endogenous pathway rather than replacing growth hormone directly, the response is subject to feedback, and the pituitary's own capacity sets a ceiling that exogenous GH does not have. It also stimulates appetite and raises cortisol and prolactin, which is a real difference between secretagogues rather than a footnote.

Evidence

In shortEstablished as a diagnostic trigger: it reliably provokes growth hormone release, and that is what its Japanese approval covers. For everything else, nothing. No registered trial has tested repeated use for muscle, fat loss, recovery, sleep or ageing. The plausibility is real and the outcome evidence does not exist, and those are two different statements frequently merged into one.

Established as a diagnostic stimulus: it reliably provokes GH release, and that is what its Japanese approval covers.

For everything else, nothing. No registered trial has tested repeated administration for muscle mass, fat loss, recovery, sleep or ageing. The pharmacological plausibility is real and the outcome evidence does not exist, and those are two different statements that are frequently merged into one.

Safety

In shortA single dose is well tolerated in the diagnostic setting. The known off-target effects, raised cortisol and prolactin, matter most with repeated use, which is exactly what has not been studied. Keeping growth hormone and IGF-1 raised carries the whole family's concerns: insulin resistance, fluid retention, joint pain, and feeding an existing cancer.

Acute administration is well tolerated in the diagnostic setting. The known off-target effects, elevated cortisol and prolactin, are the ones that matter most with repeated use, and repeated use is exactly what has not been studied.

Sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 carries the concerns that apply to the whole class: insulin resistance, fluid retention, joint pain, and a theoretical concern about promoting the growth of an existing malignancy.

Regulatory status

In shortApproved in Japan for diagnostic use. Not approved for anything anywhere else, and sold as research-use-only material. Banned in sport at all times.

Approved in Japan for diagnostic use. Not approved for any indication elsewhere, and sold as research-use-only material.

Prohibited in sport at all times under WADA's S2 category, which covers growth hormone secretagogues explicitly.

The literature

3 studies indexed. Findings and limitations get equal weight, on purpose.

Always check the primary source

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The GHRP-2 literature needs an account

Everything above is free to read. What an account opens is the evidence underneath it: 3 studies with their limitations, and the regimen each trial actually reported.

  • Every study, with what it found and what it cannot show
  • The limitations, given the same weight as the findings
  • The dose each named trial administered, where recorded
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The wider literature

19 indexed papers and 0 registered trials mentioning GHRP-2, straight from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov. These have not been read by us. Unlike the studies above, they carry no findings and no limitations written by anyone here, because writing either would mean claiming a reading nobody has done. They are a starting point for yours.

Papers (19)

  1. Pharmacotherapy in Cachexia: A Review of Endocrine Abnormalities and Steroid Pharmacotherapy.

    Celichowska M, et al.Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy2022PMID 35758863

    journal articlereview

  2. Determination of the immunostimulatory drug-glucosoaminyl-muramyl-dipeptide-in human plasma using HPLC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

    Moskaleva NE, et al.Biomedical chromatography : BMC2020PMID 32652605

    journal article

  3. Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males.

    Sinha DK, et al.Translational andrology and urology2020PMID 32257855

    journal articlereview

  4. Glycine-modified growth hormone secretagogues identified in seized doping material.

    Gajda PM, et al.Drug testing and analysis2019PMID 30136411

    journal article

  5. Detection of black market follistatin 344.

    Reichel C, et al.Drug testing and analysis2019PMID 31758732

    journal article

  6. Identification of a novel growth hormone releasing peptide (a glycine analogue of GHRP-2) in a seized injection vial.

    Popławska M, et al.Drug testing and analysis2019PMID 30051972

    journal article

  7. Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists.

    Vodnik M, et al.Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme2016PMID 26551992

    journal articlereview

  8. Detection of GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 in urine samples from athletes.

    Cox HD, et al.Drug testing and analysis2015PMID 25809000

    journal article

  9. Adult growth hormone deficiency: current concepts.

    Fukuda I, et al.Neurologia medico-chirurgica2014PMID 25070016

    journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov'treview

  10. Growth hormone secretagogues: out of competition.

    Pinyot A, et al.Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry2012PMID 22083629

    evaluation studyjournal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't

  11. Determination of growth hormone secretagogue pralmorelin (GHRP-2) and its metabolite in human urine by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

    Okano M, et al.Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM2010PMID 20552695

    evaluation studyjournal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't

  12. GHRP-2 attenuates burn-induced dysfunctions in rodents.

    Balasubramaniam A, et al.Advances in experimental medicine and biology2009PMID 19400318

    journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't

  13. Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN.

    Drugs in R&D2004PMID 15230633

    journal articlereview

  14. Pharmacological characteristics of KP-102 (GHRP-2), a potent growth hormone-releasing peptide.

    Doi N, et al.Arzneimittel-Forschung2004PMID 15646370

    journal article

  15. Gateways to clinical trials.

    Bayes M, et al.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology2002PMID 12092009

    journal articlereview

  16. Body composition, physical exercise, growth hormone and obesity.

    Weltman A, et al.Eating and weight disorders : EWD2001PMID 11706505

    journal articlereview

  17. New GH secretagogues and potential usefulness in thalassemia.

    Karydis I, et al.Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM1998PMID 10091157

    journal articlereview

  18. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue.

    Raun K, et al.European journal of endocrinology1998PMID 9849822

    journal article

  19. Growth hormone-releasing peptides.

    Ghigo E, et al.European journal of endocrinology1997PMID 9186261

    journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov'treview

Discussion

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For Research & Educational Discussion Only. Not Medical Advice

This guide is educational reference material compiled from published literature. It is not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not a substitute for a clinician who knows your history. Nothing here should be used to make a decision about your own health without one.

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