Hormonal & endocrine research
This hub covers compounds that act on the hypothalamic-pituitary axes, including growth hormone, thyroid, reproductive and posterior pituitary signalling. Many have human physiological or diagnostic studies, though few have trials with clinical endpoints.
Approved or human trial evidence
TesamorelinHuman trial evidence · FDA-approvedGHRH analogue that raises growth hormone and then IGF-1 per its label; studied in randomized placebo-controlled trials in HIV-infected adults with abdominal fat accumulation.
OxytocinHuman trial evidence · FDA-approvedPosterior pituitary hormone approved for obstetric uses; human evidence covers labour-related indications, while intranasal behavioural uses remain unapproved.
TRH (Thyrotropin)Human trial evidence · Approved, no longer marketedHypothalamic hormone used in humans mainly as a diagnostic stimulus of pituitary thyrotropin reserve; both former US products are listed as discontinued.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)Human trial evidence · FDA-approvedPlacental hormone FDA-approved for specific fertility and hypogonadism uses; its labels state it has not been shown to help treat obesity.
LeuprolideHuman trial evidence · FDA-approvedGnRH agonist FDA-approved for prostate cancer, endometriosis, fibroid-related anemia and central precocious puberty.
TriptorelinHuman trial evidence · FDA-approvedGnRH agonist FDA-approved for advanced prostate cancer and central precocious puberty.
Limited human data
GHRP-2Limited human data · Approved outside the USGhrelin-receptor agonist used in humans as a diagnostic growth hormone stimulation test in Japan, validated in 77 healthy adults and 58 adults with GH deficiency.
GonadorelinLimited human data · Approved, no longer marketedNative GnRH, historically used in humans as a test of pituitary LH and FSH reserve and in pulsatile treatment of hypogonadotropic states.
CJC-1295 (with DAC)Limited human data · Not approved — research use onlyAlbumin-binding GHRH analogue studied in short placebo-controlled trials in healthy adults, which reported multi-day rises in growth hormone and IGF-I.
GHRP-6Limited human data · Not approved — research use onlyStudied in humans as a growth hormone provocation test; in one study it was highly specific but less sensitive than the insulin tolerance test.
HexarelinLimited human data · Not approved — research use onlySmall physiological human studies reported rises in growth hormone, prolactin, ACTH and cortisol, plus acute cardiac effects in bypass surgery patients.
IpamorelinLimited human data · Not approved — research use onlyIn pigs it raised growth hormone without the ACTH and cortisol rises seen with GHRP-6 and GHRP-2; human infusion produced a single growth hormone episode.
Kisspeptin-10Limited human data · Not approved — research use onlyIn healthy men, intravenous and subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 raised LH, FSH and testosterone; continuous infusion over several days lost the gonadotropin effect.
Kisspeptin-54Limited human data · Not approved — research use onlyPlacebo-controlled human studies showed LH and FSH rises in men and women, with desensitization after repeated use in hypothalamic amenorrhoea.
SermorelinLimited human data · Not approved — research use onlyGHRH(1-29) analogue studied in an open-label trial of 110 children with growth hormone deficiency; its former US products were discontinued in 2008.
Animal and laboratory research
Comparisons in this area
Guides
Questions people ask
What is the difference between GHRH analogues and ghrelin-receptor agonists?
GHRH analogues such as sermorelin, tesamorelin and CJC-1295 act at the pituitary GHRH receptor, while GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin and ipamorelin act at the growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin) receptor. A review described the secretagogues as functional somatostatin antagonists that potentiate GHRH.
Which growth hormone-releasing peptides are FDA-approved?
Tesamorelin is FDA-approved only for excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy. Sermorelin's Geref products were approved but discontinued in 2008, and GHRP-2 is labelled in Japan as a diagnostic, not approved in the US.
Does CJC-1295 research apply to both the DAC and no-DAC versions?
No. The published human studies used the DAC (albumin-binding) form, and FDA found no nonclinical or clinical data to assess the no-DAC forms. FDA also described the common name CJC-1295 as ambiguous.
For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Not a drug, food, or dietary supplement. Listing a compound under a research goal describes published research in the stated model. It is not a claim that the compound works, and it is not medical advice.