Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin — Selective GH Secretagogue by Dragon Pharma

Ipamorelin is Dragon Pharma's formulation of the selective ghrelin receptor agonist Ipamorelin at 5mg per vial — the most selective growth hormone secretagogue available and a foundational peptide in any GH optimisation protocol. Its defining characteristic is the ability to produce a clean GH pulse without elevating cortisol, prolactin or ACTH — a selectivity profile unique among GHRPs.

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What Is Ipamorelin and Why Does Its Selectivity Matter?

Ipamorelin (NNC 26-0161) is a synthetic pentapeptide developed by Novo Nordisk in Denmark, first described in a landmark 1998 paper by Raun et al. in the European Journal of Endocrinology. Its name reflects its mechanism — "ipa" from isobutyric acid, a structural component — and its receptor target is GHS-R1a (the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, also known as the ghrelin receptor).

The 1998 Raun et al. study established Ipamorelin's critical advantage over other GHRPs: in rat studies, Ipamorelin produced significant GH release without elevating cortisol or ACTH even at doses more than 200× the ED50 for GH release. By contrast, GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 both elevate cortisol significantly — a relevant limitation during caloric deficits or cutting phases where elevated cortisol accelerates catabolism.

Ipamorelin vs Other GHRPs — The Selectivity Comparison

This selectivity is why Ipamorelin is consistently described as the "cleanest" GHRP — every other GH secretagogue in the same class produces cortisol elevation as a side effect, while Ipamorelin does not. For users in caloric deficits, during cutting phases, or simply prioritising clean GH release without hormonal side effects, this distinction is clinically meaningful.

Effects and Benefits

• Clean pulsatile GH release without cortisol, prolactin or ACTH elevation
• Improved sleep quality — Ipamorelin amplifies the largest natural nocturnal GH pulse that occurs during slow-wave sleep
• Body recomposition support through elevated GH and downstream IGF-1
• Minimal appetite stimulation compared to GHRP-6, allowing use during caloric deficits without increased hunger
• No suppression of natural testosterone — does not require Post Cycle Therapy

Dosage and Administration

At 5mg per vial, dosing at 200mcg per injection provides 25 injections — approximately 25 days at once-daily dosing or 8-12 days at three-times-daily dosing. Pre-sleep dosing on an empty stomach is the most important injection of the day — insulin significantly blunts GH release, and the body's largest natural GH pulse occurs during slow-wave sleep.