Independent · non-commercial · publishes on a quarterly cycle|Current cycle 2026 Q3
Compound Evidence InstituteEvidence synthesis · established 2023Graded assessments of compounds, trials, methods and supply
Document set current to 30 July 2026
Compound monograph · §3

Ipamorelin — clinical evidence

Assessed outcomes with certainty ratings, contributing trials and the reasoning for each rating.

Document identifier
CEI-MN-024/3
Series
Compound monograph
Version
3.3
Published
20 Feb 2026
Last reviewed
20 Feb 2026
Next review
20 Feb 2028
Identifier
10.71829/cei.mono.24
Certainty
Low
Cycle
2026 Q1

§3Clinical evidence

Assessed outcomes for IpamorelinPoint estimates with confidence intervals for each contributing study, plotted against the line of no effect.0.00.20.40.60.81.0Standardised direction and relative magnitude of the recorded effectIndicationEffect as recordedGastric emptying1 trial · ModerateA phase 2 programme in post-operative…GH axis2 trials · LowDose-dependent growth-hormone release…Lean-mass preservation0 trials · Very lowNo randomised human evidence identified
Moderate or high certaintyLow or very low certainty
Figure 3. Illustrative. Assessed outcomes plotted on a common standardised axis so that direction and relative magnitude can be compared at a glance. The estimates are not on a common natural scale and the intervals are the Institute's standardised representation of the reported precision, not the published confidence intervals. Published intervals appear in the per-indication extracts and in the text below.

§3.1Delayed gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility effects

Anchor outcome. Gastric emptying half-time by scintigraphy or breath test.

Effect as recorded. A phase 2 programme in post-operative ileus did not meet its primary endpoint and development was discontinued; negative result.[1,2]

Certainty. Moderate certainty The Institute regards the existence of a discontinued phase 2 programme with a negative primary endpoint as the most clinically informative fact about this compound, and notes that it is almost never mentioned in supply-side material.

Contributing trials. IPA-PH2-POI. Full structured abstracts are published for each.

Full evidence extract for delayed gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility effects · Indication assessment

§3.2Growth hormone deficiency and growth-hormone secretagogue pharmacology

Anchor outcome. Peak stimulated growth hormone.

Effect as recorded. Dose-dependent growth-hormone release demonstrated in preclinical models and in early human study; pharmacodynamic; no confirmatory human efficacy estimate.[2,3]

Certainty. Low certainty The preclinical pharmacology is well characterised. Human data are limited to early-phase work.

Contributing trials. IPA-PH1-GH · IPA-PH2-POI. Full structured abstracts are published for each.

Full evidence extract for growth hormone deficiency and growth-hormone secretagogue pharmacology · Indication assessment

§3.3Sarcopenia and lean-mass preservation during weight reduction

Anchor outcome. Change in appendicular lean mass by DXA.

Effect as recorded. No randomised human evidence identified; —.[3,4]

Certainty. Very low certainty Body-composition claims are not supported by trial evidence.

Contributing trials. None identified. The rating reflects an absence of controlled evidence rather than conflicting evidence.

Full evidence extract for sarcopenia and lean-mass preservation during weight reduction · Indication assessment

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.

  1. Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, Thøgersen H, Madsen K, Ankersen M, Andersen PH. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. European Journal of Endocrinology 1998;139(5):552–561. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1390552 · PMID 9849822
  2. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2006;91(3):799–805. doi:10.1210/jc.2005-1536 · PMID 16352683
  3. D’Hondt M, Bracke N, Taevernier L, Gevaert B, Verbeke F, Wynendaele E, De Spiegeleer B. Related impurities in peptide medicines. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 2014;101:2–30. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2014.06.012 · PMID 25044089
  4. Thevis M, Thomas A, Schänzer W. Detecting peptidic drugs, drug candidates and analogs in sports doping: current status and future directions. Expert Review of Proteomics 2019;11(6):663–673. doi:10.1586/14789450.2014.965158

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