Research background · Updated November 1, 2026
GHRP-2 Research: Publications, Study Types and Background
Short answer
GHRP-2 is listed as synthetic hexapeptide containing D-amino acids, C-terminal amide. As of November 1, 2026, PubMed indexes 213 records matching GHRP-2, the earliest from 1993; 9 were published in 2021–2025 and 20 are reviews. ClinicalTrials.gov lists 0 registered studies matching the compound.
- PubMed records
- 213
- Earliest record
- 1993
- Published 2021–2025
- 9
- Reviews
- 20
- Animal-only studies
- 64
- Registered studies
- 0
Publications per year, 2006–2025
36 records in 2016–2025 against 83 in 2006–2015; the busiest year was 2009, with 15.
See the numbers
| Year | PubMed records |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Study types
| All PubMed records | 213 |
|---|---|
| Reviews | 209% |
| Animal studies (no human subjects indexed) | 6430% |
| Indexed as clinical trials | 5626% |
| Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov | 0 |
Categories overlap and follow PubMed’s own indexing; recent records may not be indexed yet.
Primary research directions
What 7 of the most-cited and most recent GHRP-2 papers report, in their own authors’ terms. Each line links the paper it came from.
This narrative review covers unregulated GH-IGF-1 axis peptides, including GHRP-2, and summarizes reported adverse effects such as prolactin and cortisol elevations, appetite changes and dysglycaemia, while highlighting uncertainty about claimed performance benefits and product composition.
ReviewDominikowski A 2026Frontiers in endocrinologyPMID 42395176
This review summarizes that GHRPs, including GHRP-2, stimulate GH secretion in animals and humans via specific receptors, act synergistically with GHRH, undergo partial desensitization with prolonged exposure, and show GH-releasing activity that declines with age.
ReviewGhigo E 1997European journal of endocrinologyPMID 9186261
In rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis, GHRP-2 was reported to lower arthritis scores, paw volume and serum IL-6; in cultured peritoneal macrophages it prevented endotoxin-induced IL-6 release, which the authors suggest reflects ghrelin receptor action on immune cells.
RatsGranado M 2005American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolismPMID 15507538
In NPY-deficient and wild-type mice, GHRP-2 was associated with increases in body weight and food intake, with gains in fat and bone mass but not lean mass; the authors suggest hypothalamic agouti-related protein may partly mediate these effects.
MiceTschop M 2002EndocrinologyPMID 11796511
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with protracted critical illness, combined GHRP-2 and TRH was associated with reactivated GH and TSH secretion, higher IGF-I and anabolic markers, and reduced protein degradation, without a detectable change in cortisol.
HumansVan den Berghe G 1999The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolismPMID 10199772
In a randomized crossover study in critically ill adults, GHRP-2 was associated with a 4- to 6-fold increase in mean GH concentration and a rise in serum IGF-I, with larger increases when combined with GHRH and no change in elevated cortisol.
HumansVan den Berghe G 1997The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolismPMID 9024260
In studies in healthy younger men and women, GHRP-2, along with GHRP-6 and GHRP-1, was reported to release GH effectively, and the authors report that all three released GH more efficaciously than GHRH 1-44 in humans.
HumansBowers CY 1993The Journal of pediatric endocrinologyPMID 8374685
Most-studied topics
The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) PubMed indexers most often marked as a main topic, across 213 of the 213 records. They describe what the literature is about, not what GHRP-2 does.
- Human Growth Hormone64 papers
- Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone47 papers
- Growth Hormone40 papers
- Hormones28 papers
- Pituitary Gland18 papers
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I17 papers
- Substance Abuse Detection15 papers
- Estradiol15 papers
Key papers
Earliest indexed record
Bowers CY (1993). The Journal of pediatric endocrinology.
PMID 8374685Most-cited paper · 170 citations
Van den Berghe G (1999). The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.
PMID 10199772Most-cited #2 · 169 citations
Ghigo E (1997). European journal of endocrinology.
PMID 9186261Most-cited #3 · 167 citations
Van den Berghe G (1998). The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.
PMID 9467533
Citation counts from NIH iCite, among the 213 records sampled. Titles are left out; open each record on PubMed to read it.
Identity
| Synonyms and codes | Pralmorelin, KP-102 |
|---|---|
| Description | Synthetic hexapeptide containing D-amino acids, C-terminal amide |
| Supplied form | Lyophilized powder |
| CAS number | 158861-67-7 |
| Molecular formula | C45H55N9O6 |
| Molecular weight | 818.0 g/mol |
| Sequence | D-Ala-D-2-Nal-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 |
As published by Vanta Labs, with its sources, on the GHRP-2 page.
How these numbers were counted
- PubMed search, run November 1, 2026:
"GHRP-2"[tiab] OR "GHRP 2"[tiab] OR pralmorelin[tiab]re-run it. Study types add PubMed’s own filters (review, clinical trial, animals not humans). - Topics: MeSH major-topic headings counted across up to 400 of the matching records; headings for study set-up (species, sex, age) are left out.
- Citations: NIH iCite citation counts for the same records.
- ClinicalTrials.gov search:
"GHRP-2" OR pralmorelinre-run it. Any phase, any status.
This page reports what has been published and what papers say they found, with each source linked. It gives no dosing or usage information, and nothing here is a reason to use GHRP-2 outside a laboratory.
Wholesale supply
GHRP-2 for research, documented lot by lot.
5mg vials, with a published report printing 99.412% HPLC purity. Every wholesale lot comes with its certificate of analysis, and your quote names the lot. Pricing on inquiry.
GHRP-2 research questions
How much research has been published on GHRP-2?
PubMed indexes 213 records matching GHRP-2 (searched November 1, 2026), including 20 reviews and 56 records indexed as clinical trials. 9 were published in the five years 2021–2025.
When was GHRP-2 first described in the literature?
The earliest PubMed record matching GHRP-2 is from 1993 (Bowers CY, The Journal of pediatric endocrinology, PMID 8374685).
What topics does the GHRP-2 literature cover?
The subject headings PubMed indexers most often marked as a main topic of GHRP-2 papers are Human Growth Hormone, Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone, Growth Hormone, Hormones. These describe what the literature is about. Findings from individual papers, with their sources, are summarized on this page.
What is the regulatory status of GHRP-2?
GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) is not listed as an approved drug in the FDA's Drugs@FDA database (searched 24 September 2026).
Is GHRP-2 sold for human use?
No. Vanta Foundry supplies it for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use, and not a drug, food, cosmetic or dietary supplement.
Where can I buy GHRP-2 wholesale for research?
From the Vanta Foundry wholesale catalog: add it to your list, choose sizes and the number of vials, and send it on WhatsApp or by email. Every wholesale lot comes with a certificate of analysis.
Research materials supplied by Vanta Foundry are for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary use and are not drugs, foods, cosmetics or dietary supplements. Websites and payment processing are business services for research-supply brands.
All compounds: research peptide publication statistics.