Reviewed & approved by Dr. Nova Reyes · Last checked 2026-10-26. ← Back to Evidence Library

GHRP-2: what the evidence says

Name: GHRP-2
Creator: Dr. Nova Reyes
Published: 2026-10-26

At a glance

What it is: a lab-made 6-amino-acid peptide (D-Ala-D-β-Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2), also called pralmorelin or KP-102, from Cyril Bowers' group at Tulane. It activates the ghrelin receptor and makes the pituitary release growth hormone (GH). ^{R1, R2}

What the evidence says: it is the only GH-releasing peptide reported to have a clinical approval, as a one-time hospital test for GH deficiency used in Japan. ^{R3, R4} In healthy men it raised GH and made them eat about 36% more at a buffet meal. ^R5 No controlled trial has tested repeated use for muscle, fat loss or anti-aging.

Biggest risks: strong hunger; raises ACTH and cortisol in animals. FDA lists reports of higher insulin needs, deaths in critically ill study subjects, infection and pancreatitis (causality not established). ^{R5, R6, R7}

Rating


Human Human evidence	Moderate for the one-time GH-deficiency test ^{R4, R8} · Limited for short-term GH release and appetite ^R5 · Very limited for long-term use (one retrospective chart review) ^R9 · No controlled data for muscle, fat loss, anti-aging
Animal Animal / lab evidence	Rat and pituitary-cell studies of GH and ACTH release ^{R2, R6}
Regulatory	Not FDA-approved · 503A Category 3 · 503B Category 2 (injectable and nasal) and Category 1 (other routes) · WADA 2026: prohibited at all times (S2.2.4) ^{R10, R11, R7, R12}
Established human dose	None outside the diagnostic test. Study details lists what studies used

Evidence verdict: One-time IV diagnostic test for GH deficiency (approved use in Japan): Moderate · Short-term GH release and hunger: Limited · Muscle gain, fat loss, anti-aging: No controlled human data Card verdict: Moderate (diagnostic GH test, Japan) · Short-term GH release: Limited · Muscle, fat loss, anti-aging: No human data Card note: Varies by use, see page

This page reports what studies used. It is not dosing advice.

Legend: HUMAN data · ANIMAL / LAB data · UNKNOWN · UNVERIFIED: not yet confirmed against a primary source

About the evidence: the diagnostic studies are from Japanese hospital endocrine departments. The appetite study is a small US academic crossover. The muscle-related human data is one retrospective men's-health clinic chart review with no control group. ^{R4, R5, R9}

What is it?

GHRP-2 is a synthetic ghrelin-receptor activator. It is more potent than GHRP-6 and is sold widely on the gray market. Related pages: GHRP-6, Hexarelin, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin, MK-677.

Does it work?

Human GH-deficiency test (Japan): used to grade adult GH deficiency in pituitary patients, including 76 people with non-functioning adenomas and 65 people aged 65+. ^{R4, R8} Also studied to help diagnose TSH-secreting adenomas (5 patients). ^R13 UNVERIFIED the Japanese brand name and approval date were not checked against a PMDA record.
Human Appetite (Laferrère 2005): 7 lean healthy men; GH rose sharply and every man ate more than on saline. ^R5
Human Clinic chart review (2017): 105 men on testosterone who were prescribed GHRP-2, GHRP-6 or sermorelin; IGF-1 rose. No control group, no body-composition outcome reported in the abstract. ^R9
Animal Animal work: stronger GH release than GHRH in rats; ACTH release through CRF. ^{R2, R6}
Unknown No trial shows muscle gain, fat loss or anti-aging benefit.

Is it safe?

Human Strong hunger in healthy men. ^R5
Animal Raises ACTH in rats. ^R6
Human FDA: risk of immune reactions from clumping and impurities; contains an unnatural amino acid; reports of higher insulin need, deaths in critically ill study subjects, infection and pancreatitis, causality not established. ^R7
Unknown No data on repeated long-term use.

Gray-market "research use only" GHRP-2: extra risks

A gray-market vial has no quality control and no guarantee of identity, strength or sterility. We test retail vials blind under the Open Peptide Standard; see /tests/. A passing test covers one batch on one date and does not mean the compound is safe. GHRP-2 has been found in a "nutritional supplement," and a glycine analog of GHRP-2 turned up in a seized vial. Black-market "follistatin" vials have contained GHRP-2 instead. ^{R14, R3, R15}

What we don't know

Unknown Whether repeated use changes muscle, fat or function in people
Unknown Long-term safety, including blood sugar and cortisol

Is it legal?

US (FDA): not approved. 503A list: Category 3 (nominated without adequate support). 503B list: Category 2 "significant safety risks" for injectable and nasal routes (Sept 29, 2023), Category 1 for other routes. ^{R10, R11, R7}
Japan: approved as a diagnostic agent, per the published literature. ^R3 UNVERIFIED not checked against PMDA.
Athletes: WADA 2026 S2.2.4 names GHRP-2 (pralmorelin); prohibited at all times. Detectable in urine and dried blood spots. ^{R12, R16}

Study details

These are amounts researchers used, not recommendations. | Study | People / model | Route | Amount used | Follow-up | Reported | Citation | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Laferrère 2005 | 7 healthy men | Subcutaneous infusion | 1 µg/kg/h for 270 min | Same day | GH up; 36% more food eaten | [PMID 15699539](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15699539/) | | Japanese GHRP-2 test | Pituitary patients | IV, once | UNVERIFIED standard test amount not in abstracts | 60 min Caution | Peak GH cutoff ≤9 ng/mL for severe deficiency | [PMID 31776295](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31776295/) | | Clinic review 2017 | 105 men | Subcutaneous | 100 mcg of GHRP-2, GHRP-6 or sermorelin Caution frequency | Months | IGF-1 rose | [PMID 28830317](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28830317/) |

Full reference list (PubMed, CT.gov, FDA and WADA checked Oct 26, 2026)

^R1 Anon. Drugs R D. 2004. PMID 15230633
^R2 Doi N, et al. Arzneimittelforschung. 2004. PMID 15646370
^R3 Popławska M, et al. Drug Test Anal. 2019. PMID 30051972
^R4 Soga A, et al. Endocr J. 2020. PMID 31776295
^R5 Laferrère B, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005. PMID 15699539
^R6 Hirotani C, et al. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2005. PMID 15645295
^R7 FDA, Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (content current Apr 22, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
^R8 Teramoto S, et al. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2023. PMID 37295337
^R9 Sigalos JT, et al. Am J Mens Health. 2017. PMID 28830317
^R10 FDA, 503A bulk drug substances categories list (updated May 14, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/media/94155/download
^R11 FDA, 503B bulk drug substances categories list (updated Mar 21, 2025). https://www.fda.gov/media/94164/download
^R12 WADA. The 2026 Prohibited List, S2.2.4. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf
^R13 Kageyama K, et al. Endocr J. 2018. PMID 29973439
^R14 Thomas A, et al. Drug Test Anal. 2010. PMID 20878896
^R15 Reichel C, et al. Drug Test Anal. 2019. PMID 31758732
^R16 Cox HD, et al. Drug Test Anal. 2015. PMID 25809000

Disclaimer

This page is for education and harm reduction, not medical advice or a recommendation to use GHRP-2. Talk to a clinician you trust, especially if you have diabetes, a pituitary or adrenal condition, a history of cancer, are pregnant, or are a tested athlete. Report problems to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).