Ipamorelin — compound monograph
Growth-hormone secretagogue, selective ghrelin receptor agonist (pentapeptide). Discontinued. The Institute assesses 3 outcomes for this compound and grades the strongest at low certainty.
§1Identification and status
§1.1Nomenclature
- Preferred name
- Ipamorelin
- Compound class
- Growth-hormone secretagogue, selective ghrelin receptor agonist (pentapeptide)
- Assessment series
- Growth-hormone axis
- Synonyms and codes
- NNC 26-0161 · ipamorelin (INN)
- Route as evaluated
- Subcutaneous
§1.2Chemistry
Chemical identifiers are reproduced where they are public. Where a structure has not been published the monograph records not disclosed rather than constructing one.[1]
- CAS registry number
- 170851-70-4
- Molecular formula
- C38H49N9O5
- Average mass
- 711.85
- Monoisotopic mass
- 711.38
- ATC classification
- not assigned
§1.3Sequence and structural notes
A pentapeptide growth-hormone secretagogue containing α-aminoisobutyric acid, D-2-naphthylalanine and D-phenylalanine. The unnatural and D-amino-acid content confers metabolic stability and is also what makes analytical characterisation demanding: the D-enantiomers are chromatographically resolvable from their L-counterparts only with deliberate method design, and are isobaric by mass spectrometry.
§1.4Assessment status
The Institute assesses Ipamorelin across 3 indications and grades the strongest of them at low certainty. Clinical development was terminated. The Institute treats a discontinued programme as evidence.
Table 1. Assessed outcomes for Ipamorelin, ordered by certainty. Each row links to the per-indication evidence extract.
| Indication | Effect as recorded | Certainty | Trials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delayed gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility effects | A phase 2 programme in post-operative ileus did not meet its primary endpoint and development was discontinued | Moderate | 1 |
| Growth hormone deficiency and growth-hormone secretagogue pharmacology | Dose-dependent growth-hormone release demonstrated in preclinical models and in early human study | Low | 2 |
| Sarcopenia and lean-mass preservation during weight reduction | No randomised human evidence identified | Very low | 0 |
| Effects are reproduced as the contributing trials reported them. Where a confidence interval is held it appears on the per-indication extract rather than in this summary table. | |||
References cited on this page
References are numbered in order of first citation in this document. Each superscript in the text links to its entry below.
- International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for Biotechnological/Biological Products. ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline 1999;Step 4 version. identifier not held by the Institute
Identifiers are reproduced only where the Institute holds them. Where a digital object identifier or PubMed identifier is not shown, the Institute has recorded the journal and year and has not constructed an identifier.