Growth-hormone axis
GHRH analogues, ghrelin-receptor secretagogues, growth-hormone fragments and IGF-1 analogues.
Monographs in this series
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The proposed mechanism is stimulation of lipolysis and inhibition of lipogenesis in adipose tissue without the growth-hormone-receptor-mediated effects on IGF-1, glucose tolerance or tissue growth. The Institute notes that no…
Very low17 Sep 2025 -
Both variants are GHRH receptor agonists that increase pulsatile growth-hormone secretion and, downstream, IGF-1. The DAC variant achieves sustained exposure by covalently bonding to albumin in vivo, producing a continuous rather…
Low14 Jul 2024 -
Ghrelin receptor agonism producing growth-hormone release. Its approved use is a single-dose provocative diagnostic test, for which the acute pharmacodynamic effect is the entire basis of the indication and questions of chronic…
Low17 Apr 2024 -
Ghrelin receptor agonism with pronounced growth-hormone release, marked appetite stimulation, and concomitant elevation of cortisol and prolactin. Its historical importance is substantial — it was the pharmacological tool that…
Very low21 Sep 2025 -
Hexarelin is a potent ghrelin receptor agonist producing marked growth-hormone release. Unlike ipamorelin it also stimulates adrenocorticotropin, cortisol and prolactin, which the Institute regards as a material disadvantage…
Very low10 Mar 2024 -
IGF-1 receptor agonism with greatly reduced binding-protein sequestration. The consequence is a sustained, unbuffered IGF-1 receptor signal. Because the IGF-binding proteins normally constrain free IGF-1 to a small fraction of…
Very low18 Jun 2024 -
Ipamorelin activates the ghrelin receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, producing growth-hormone release through a pathway distinct from and complementary to GHRH receptor signalling. Its defining pharmacological characteristic…
Low20 Feb 2026 -
Sermorelin stimulates pituitary growth-hormone release through the GHRH receptor. Its very short half-life confines the pharmacodynamic effect to a single secretory pulse, which is why its established clinical use was diagnostic…
Low15 Jun 2026 -
Tesamorelin stimulates the pituitary to release endogenous growth hormone in a pulsatile pattern, preserving the physiological feedback architecture that exogenous growth hormone bypasses. Downstream IGF-1 elevation drives…
Moderate01 Sep 2024