# Ipamorelin References: The Cited Literature | Ipamorelin

> Ipamorelin references: the full cited source list — founding selectivity paper, human PK study, the failed Phase 2 trial, rodent and ferret work, and recent reviews.

Every quantitative claim on this site maps to one of these. DOIs and PubMed links throughout.

## How to read this list

Each entry below carries a number used inline across the site (for example, [1] is the founding selectivity paper). The list runs from the primary pharmacology through the human data, the preclinical findings, the anti-doping analyses, and the recent reviews. Where a digital object identifier (DOI) or PubMed ID exists, it is given so any claim can be traced to source.

## Primary pharmacology and human data

[1] Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(5):552-561. PMID 9849822.

[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. PMID 10496658.

[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. PMID 25331030.

## Preclinical findings

[4] Johansen PB, Nowak J, Skjaerbaek C, et al. Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats. Growth Horm IGF Res. 1999;9(2):106-113. PMID 10373343.

[5] Lu Z, Ngan MP, Liu JYH, et al. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a agonists, anamorelin and ipamorelin, inhibit cisplatin-induced weight loss in ferrets. Physiol Behav. 2024;284:114644. PMID 39043357.

[6] Stokes AH, Falls JG, Yoon L, et al. Integrated approach to early detection of cardiovascular toxicity induced by a ghrelin receptor agonist. Int J Toxicol. 2015;34(2):151-161. PMID 25722321.

## Class context and anti-doping analyses

[7] Camilleri M, et al. Actions and therapeutic pathways of ghrelin for gastrointestinal disorders. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009;6:343-352. PMID 19434096.

[8] Zatorski H, et al. Relamorelin and other ghrelin receptor agonists — future options for gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia and proton pump inhibitors-resistant non-erosive reflux disease. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2017;68:797-805. PMID 29550791.

[9] Krug O, et al. Analysis of new growth promoting black market products. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2018;41:1-6. PMID 29864719.

[10] Gajda PM, et al. Glycine-modified growth hormone secretagogues identified in seized doping material. Drug Test Anal. 2019;11:350-354. PMID 30136411.

[11] Coutinho LFD, et al. A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2026. PMID 41880199.

## Recent reviews (2026)

[12] Mavrych V, et al. Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging. Front Aging. 2026. PMID 42021992.

[13] Mendias CL, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2026. PMID 41966639.

[14] Renke G, et al. Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions. Int J Mol Sci. 2026. PMID 42123471.

[15] Villegas Meza AD, et al. Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications. JBJS Rev. 2026. PMID 42160466.

## References

[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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/
[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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10496658/
[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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25331030/
[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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10373343/
[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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39043357/
[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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25722321/
[7] Camilleri M, et al. Actions and therapeutic pathways of ghrelin for gastrointestinal disorders. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009;6:343-352. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19434096/
[8] Zatorski H, et al. Relamorelin and other ghrelin receptor agonists - future options for gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia and proton pump inhibitors-resistant non-erosive reflux disease. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2017;68:797-805. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29550791/
[9] Krug O, et al. Analysis of new growth promoting black market products. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2018;41:1-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29864719/
[10] Gajda PM, et al. Glycine-modified growth hormone secretagogues identified in seized doping material. Drug Test Anal. 2019;11:350-354. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30136411/
[11] Coutinho LFD, et al. A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41880199/
[12] Mavrych V, et al. Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging. Front Aging. 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42021992/
[13] Mendias CL, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41966639/
[14] Renke G, et al. Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci. 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42123471/
[15] Villegas Meza AD, et al. Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications. JBJS Rev. 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42160466/

---

A terminal-plain readout of where ipamorelin stands with regulators — never approved, banned in sport, compounding restricted, each line logged to source; no clinic behind the console and nothing here stocked, dispensed, or sold.
