Ipamorelin
NNC 26-0161
A peptide that raises growth hormone. Not approved in the EU or US.
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- Type
- Raises growth hormone
- Stage
- Work stopped
- Safety
- Little data
- Risk of fakes
- High
- Checked
- Not yet
Safety. An early study after bowel surgery and little else. A 2026 review says very little is known about the safety of peptides like this one in people. Sources: study 1, study 2.
Risk of fakes. An altered black-market version, Gly-Ipamorelin, has turned up. Sources: study 1.
Is it legal
| Where | Status | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL | No approval | The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. Source | Not yet |
| EU | No approval | The European medicines database (EMA), which covers EU and national approvals, lists no such medicine (9 October 2026). Source | Not yet |
| US | No approval | The FDA drug register has no such medicine. Source | Not yet |
How much research exists
These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.
What studies show
- EMuscle mass
Not clear. Nobody measured muscle. Rats grew longer bones and gained weight, and in ferrets on chemotherapy it reduced weight loss. There are no studies of muscle in people.
Reported side effects
What doctors, patients and companies reported to the US medicines agency (FDA), and single cases described in medical journals. A report says what happened to someone after taking the substance. It does not prove the substance caused it, and it does not say how often it happens. Reports do not change any grade.
Reports to the FDA (USA)
- Reports
- 13
- Of these, serious
- 6
| Most often reported | Reports |
|---|---|
| Rash | 2 |
| Pain in the upper belly | 1 |
| Sudden kidney damage | 1 |
| Severe allergic reaction | 1 |
| Joint pain | 1 |
| High blood sugar | 1 |
| More HIV in the blood | 1 |
| Low potassium in the blood | 1 |
Serious means the person went to hospital, their life was in danger, they were left with lasting harm, or they died. One report can list several side effects.
Cases described in medical journals
We found no published case of harm.
FDA reports come from openFDA, cases from a PubMed search. The editors have not read these cases yet. Titles stay in the original language. As of 3 Nov 2026.
Studies we have read
| Studies | Kind of study | Who was studied | People | Duration | Dose as studied | Who paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | In animals | ferret, Ferrets given cisplatin chemotherapy | – | 0.5 wk | – | Unknown |
| Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats. | In animals | rats, Adult female rats | – | 2 wk | – | Unknown |
More papers we found
We found these papers automatically in PubMed. The editors have not read them yet, and they do not affect any grade. Titles stay in the original language.
Short answers
- Does ipamorelin work?
- A peptide that raises growth hormone. Not approved in the EU or US. Muscle mass: grade E, not clear. Nobody measured muscle. Rats grew longer bones and gained weight, and in ferrets on chemotherapy it reduced weight loss. There are no studies of muscle in people.
- Is Ipamorelin legal?
- PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. EU: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA), which covers EU and national approvals, lists no such medicine (9 October 2026). US: No approval. The FDA drug register has no such medicine.
- Is ipamorelin banned in sport?
- Banned in sport, WADA 2026.
- Is Ipamorelin safe?
- Little data. An early study after bowel surgery and little else. A 2026 review says very little is known about the safety of peptides like this one in people.