Investigational / not FDA-approved

GHRP-2 (pralmorelin)

GHS-R agonist hexapeptide (pralmorelin / KP-102) — investigational; not FDA-approved.

Editorial review:

What evidence says

Evidence snapshot

This drawer marks papers. It is not a plan, a dose, or a source. A paper is a bounded report. It is not a protocol. Grades name the object. They are not a safety rating.

Identity lock. GHRP-2 is pralmorelin (INN): hexapeptide D-Ala-D-β-Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂ (also KP-102 in developmental literature). PubChem CID 6918245; formula C45H55N9O6; MW ~818.0; CAS 158861-67-7. It is a GHS-receptor / ghrelin-mimetic GH secretagogue. It is not hexarelin, not GHRP-6, and not ipamorelin. Historically studied as a GH provocative test (including oral/diagnostic contexts in some jurisdictions). No approved bodybuilding or anti-aging indication in this framing. Off-label does not apply. There is no label to be off of. Mark diagnostic GH-axis stimulation or appetite/endocrine papers as named endpoints.

Bottom line

Human evidence centers on GH provocation / adult GHD diagnostic alternatives, healthy-volunteer appetite work, and a substantial anti-doping / urine detection literature. Preclinical myocyte and inflammation models exist. That is a GH-secretagogue object — not a controlled physique-efficacy pack. Do not merge grades with hexarelin, GHRP-6, or ipamorelin.

Papers

Identity / pharmacology overview

PMID 15230633 — 2004 (Adis profile)

Tested: drug-profile summary of pralmorelin / GHRP-2 / KP-102 developmental designations.

Does not show: a new pivotal efficacy RCT for recreational or anti-aging use.

PMID 15646370 — Doi 2004

Tested: pharmacological characteristics of KP-102 (GHRP-2) as a potent GH-releasing peptide (mechanism/pharmacology oriented).

Does not show: human body-composition treatment success.

Early human — GH release / combination with GHRH

PMID 7586605 — Tiulpakov 1995

Tested: IV bolus GHRH and GHRP-2 separately and combined in adult volunteers; GH responses.

Does not show: chronic outpatient therapy or physique claims.

PMID 7666796 — Tuilpakov 1995

Tested: GH-releasing effects of GHRP-2 and GHRH(1-29)-NH₂ in children with GH insufficiency / related short-stature contexts.

Does not show: equivalence to hexarelin or GHRP-6, or adult anti-aging use.

PMID 23079545 — Kinoshita 2013

Tested: arginine and GHRP-2 tests as alternatives to insulin tolerance testing for diagnosis of adult GH deficiency in Japanese patients.

Does not show: approved replacement therapy with GHRP-2, or recreational GH-axis use as “treatment.”

Healthy men — appetite / ghrelin-like effect

PMID 15699539 — Laferrère 2005

Tested: GHRP-2, like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men.

Does not show: a weight-loss indication (signal is orexigenic), or chronic safety/efficacy for physique goals.

Preclinical (not human efficacy)

PMID 18191156 — Yamamoto 2008

Tested: GHRP-2 (GHS-R agonist) on myocytes attenuating dexamethasone-induced atrophy-related ubiquitin ligase expression (cell/mechanism).

Does not show: a human muscle-building or anti-catabolic clinical trial grade.

Context, not a grade — detection / doping

PMID 20552695 — Okano 2010

Tested: LC-ESI-MS/MS determination of pralmorelin (GHRP-2) and metabolite in human urine.

Does not show: therapeutic efficacy.

PMID 25809000 — Cox 2015

Tested: detection of GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 in athlete urine samples.

Does not show: clinical benefit. Detection ≠ indication.

PMID 33197153 — Reverter-Branchat 2021

Tested: dried-blood-spot sampling for anti-doping detection of GHRP-2 abuse.

Does not show: efficacy or safety of unsupervised use.

What is not established

Approved anti-aging, bodybuilding, or fat-loss use. Equivalence to hexarelin, GHRP-6, or ipamorelin. Chronic outpatient secretagogue therapy as a treatment grade. Identity between diagnostic/trial material and unlabeled vials. Orexigenic acute effects are not a cutting claim.

Selected sources

15230633 15646370 7586605 7666796 23079545 15699539 18191156 20552695 25809000 33197153

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