--- title: "Ipamorelin 10mg" url: "https://lotuspeptide.com/peptide/ipamorelin" canonical: "https://lotuspeptide.com/peptide/ipamorelin" type: "product" brand: "LotusPeptide" strength: "10 mg" currency: "USD" price_low: "35.00" price_high: "260.00" availability: "in stock" ships_from: "United States" handling_time_business_days: 1 returns: "not accepted" replacements_and_refunds: "damaged or lost items" intended_use: "Laboratory research use only" image: "https://lotuspeptide.com/order/api/media/products/21.webp?size=full&v=1" updated: "2026-10-05" order_url: "https://lotuspeptide.com/order/p/21" synonyms: "NNC 26-0161; ipamorelin acetate (salt form); Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2" cas: "170851-70-4" formula: "C38H49N9O5" molecular_weight: "711.9 g/mol (free peptide)" sequence: "Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (Aib = 2-aminoisobutyric acid; D-2-Nal = 3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanine)" pubchem: "9831659" written_by: "LotusPeptide research team" --- # Ipamorelin 10mg > Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide, Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, described by Novo Nordisk scientists in 1998 as a selective agonist of the receptor now known as the ghrelin receptor. No FDA-approved drug contains it, and FDA lists ipamorelin acetate among bulk substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding. ## Packs and prices - Availability: In stock - Order: https://lotuspeptide.com/order/p/21 | Pack | Price | Per vial | |---|---|---| | Single Vial | $35 | $35 | | 5-Pack (5 vials) | $150 | $30 | | 10-Pack (10 vials) | $260 | $26 | ## At a glance - Strength: 10 mg - Also known as: NNC 26-0161; ipamorelin acetate (salt form); Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 - CAS number: 170851-70-4 - Molecular formula: C38H49N9O5 - Molecular weight: 711.9 g/mol (free peptide) - Sequence: Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (Aib = 2-aminoisobutyric acid; D-2-Nal = 3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanine) - PubChem CID: 9831659 - Availability: In stock - Ships from: United States - Intended use: Laboratory research use only - Page updated: 2026-10-05 Written by LotusPeptide research team. Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide, Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, described by Novo Nordisk scientists in 1998 as a selective agonist of the receptor now known as the ghrelin receptor. No FDA-approved drug contains it, and FDA lists ipamorelin acetate among bulk substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding. ## What ipamorelin is Ipamorelin is a member of the growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) family of small synthetic peptides. Novo Nordisk researchers reported it in 1998 as the outcome of a chemistry program based on GHRP-1, from which the central Ala-Trp dipeptide had been removed [1]. Its development code was NNC 26-0161 [2]. Three of its five residues are non-standard: 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) at the N-terminus, 3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanine (D-2-Nal) and D-phenylalanine. The C-terminal lysine carries an amide instead of a free carboxylic acid. In the original paper, the authors worked with primary rat pituitary cells, anesthetized rats and conscious swine. They reported that ipamorelin acted through a GHRP-like receptor and that, in swine, it did not raise ACTH or cortisol beyond the levels seen with growth hormone-releasing hormone [1]. On that basis they called it the first selective growth hormone secretagogue [1]. The receptor for this peptide family is GHSR1a, whose natural ligand is ghrelin, and a 2017 structure-activity study measured GHRP binding to it in a competitive assay against radiolabeled ghrelin [3]. ## Chemical identity and salt form PubChem (CID 9831659) gives ipamorelin the formula C38H49N9O5, a molecular weight of 711.9 g/mol and CAS number 170851-70-4. Those values describe the free peptide. PubChem also lists the name ipamorelin acetate, a salt form. A salt carries counter-ions, and a lyophilized peptide also holds some residual water. The mass of powder in a vial is therefore larger than the mass of ipamorelin itself. A certificate of analysis should say which salt is present and whether a stated amount is gross powder or net peptide content. The two D-residues matter for analysis. A variant with an L-residue at either position has exactly the same mass, so mass spectrometry alone cannot rule it out. FDA has noted that ipamorelin's unnatural amino acids add to the complexity of peptide characterization. ## Regulatory status Ipamorelin is not the active ingredient of any drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and Drugs@FDA lists no application for it. On September 29, 2023, FDA placed ipamorelin acetate in category 2 of its interim policy for outsourcing facilities under section 503B. Category 2 holds bulk substances that may present significant safety risks. FDA's stated concerns are immunogenicity linked to aggregation or peptide-related impurities, and the difficulty of characterizing a peptide built from unnatural amino acids. FDA's entry also states that a study published in the literature "identified serious adverse events including death" with ipamorelin, and that the agency lacks sufficient information to know whether the drug would cause harm in certain other circumstances of use. A nomination under section 503A, for pharmacy compounding, was withdrawn by its nominator. Growth hormone-releasing peptides, ipamorelin among them, are prohibited in sport, and anti-doping laboratories have validated urine tests for them [4]. The material sold here is not a medicine. It is supplied for laboratory research use only. ## Published research Most of the primary pharmacology dates from 1998 to 2014; later papers are mostly analytical chemistry and reviews. Animal work includes the original rat and swine characterization [1] and a rat pharmacokinetic study that compared ipamorelin with GHRP-2 and GHRP-6. In that study, the authors reported a plasma clearance five-fold lower than that of GHRP-6 and excretion mainly in urine [2]. In humans, a 1999 study in healthy male volunteers measured plasma ipamorelin and growth hormone at five administration rates, with eight men at each level, and used the data to build a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model [5]. A 2015 anti-doping study gave each of five growth hormone-releasing peptides, ipamorelin among them, to one volunteer and identified their metabolites in urine [6]. Anti-doping work also produced structure-activity data: the 2017 study above compared several GHRPs and shortened analogs in a receptor-binding assay [3]. ## What is not known Published human data are limited; other human studies exist and are not summarized on this page. No long-term human safety study was found in PubMed. FDA's entry, quoted above, lists safety concerns and gaps in its information for this substance. The make-up of material sold outside regulated supply chains is also uncertain. Danish forensic chemists who analyzed seized powders found analogs of several growth hormone secretagogues, ipamorelin among them, each carrying an extra glycine at the N-terminus [7]. Material sold under a peptide's name is therefore not guaranteed to be that peptide without analytical confirmation. ## Laboratory storage and handling Ipamorelin is handled as a lyophilized solid. Store it as stated on the certificate of analysis and product label, keep the vial sealed and dry, and protect it from light. Let a cold vial reach room temperature before opening it, so that moisture from the air does not condense on the powder. Record the lot number with each experiment, so results can be traced back to a certificate. PubMed holds no stability study of dry ipamorelin powder, so these are general good practices rather than compound-specific data. ## Quality testing A certificate for ipamorelin should confirm identity by mass spectrometry. PubChem gives a monoisotopic mass of 711.386 Da for the free peptide. Purity should come from HPLC, with the column, gradient and detection wavelength stated. Because L-epimers at the two D-positions share the same mass, the HPLC method should be shown to separate them. Mass spectrometry does detect sequence variants such as the glycine-extended analog found in seized material [7]. Further useful lines are net peptide content, counter-ion content, water content and the lot number. Purity results belong to each batch's certificate, not to this page. ## Questions ### Is ipamorelin the same as GHRP-2 or GHRP-6? No. GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are hexapeptides [2], while ipamorelin is a pentapeptide from a series derived from GHRP-1 by removing its central Ala-Trp dipeptide [1]. The three peptides differ in sequence and mass. In rats, ipamorelin and GHRP-6 also differed in clearance and in their main excretion pathway [2]. ### What is the difference between ipamorelin and ipamorelin acetate? Ipamorelin acetate is the same peptide paired with acetate counter-ions, a common form for synthetic peptides. The PubChem molecular weight of 711.9 g/mol refers to the free peptide. Counter-ions and residual water add mass, which is why a certificate should report net peptide content. ### Has FDA approved ipamorelin? No. No FDA-approved drug contains ipamorelin. FDA has placed ipamorelin acetate in category 2 of its 503B bulk substances interim policy, the category for substances that may present significant safety risks. ## References 1. [Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/) 2. [Johansen PB, Hansen KT, Andersen JV, et al. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ipamorelin and other peptidyl growth hormone secretagogues with emphasis on nasal absorption. Xenobiotica. 1998.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9879640/) 3. [Ferro P, Krotov G, Zvereva I, et al. Structure-activity relationship for peptídic growth hormone secretagogues. Drug Test Anal. 2017.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26811125/) 4. [Thomas A, Höppner S, Geyer H, et al. Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRP) and their major metabolites in human urine for doping controls by means of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2011.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21298258/) 5. [Gobburu JV, Agersø H, Jusko WJ, et al. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers. Pharm Res. 1999.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10496658/) 6. [Semenistaya E, Zvereva I, Thomas A, et al. Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin. Drug Test Anal. 2015.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25869809/) 7. [Gajda PM, Holm NB, Hoej LJ, et al. Glycine-modified growth hormone secretagogues identified in seized doping material. Drug Test Anal. 2019.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30136411/) _This page summarises published laboratory research and cites its sources. It is not medical advice and makes no claim that the compound treats, cures or prevents any condition. LotusPeptide sells it for laboratory research use only._ ## Shipping and returns - Orders are processed and shipped within 1 business day. - Returns are not accepted. - Replacements and refunds are offered on damaged or lost items. ## Related products - [BPC-157+TB500 (Blend) 10mg](https://lotuspeptide.com/peptide/bpc-157-tb500-blend.md): from $35 - [GHK-Cu](https://lotuspeptide.com/peptide/ghk-cu.md): from $20 - [Retatrutide](https://lotuspeptide.com/peptide/retatrutide.md): from $25 --- For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Prices are in US dollars and can change without notice.