The best peptides for muscle-growth research

This guide reflects our reading of the literature that was published in 2026. We assess each compound by its mechanism on the growth hormone axis and by the level of evidence behind it, and we point out where the data in humans are thin.

Peptides for muscle growth: the essentials

• Four peptides dominate research on the GH axis when it comes to lean-mass endpoints: CJC-1295, ipamorelin, tesamorelin and somatropin
• Each of them acts at a receptor node of its own (the GHRH receptor, GHS-R1a, or the GH receptor directly), which is why each one fits a different research question
• Only somatropin, as recombinant growth hormone, is a medicine that is subject to medical prescription; the other three are not authorised medicines and cannot be supplied for human use
• Combining CJC-1295 with ipamorelin activates two signalling pathways (the GHRH receptor and the ghrelin receptor) in order to study synergistic effects on the pulses of GH
• Before you buy, it is worth confirming ethics committee approval and checking the regulations that apply to you

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If you are evaluating compounds on the growth hormone axis in 2026, four peptides dominate the literature on protein synthesis and lean mass: CJC-1295, ipamorelin, tesamorelin and somatropin. Each of them acts at a node of its own within the GHRH-GH-IGF-1 cascade, because they address different receptor targets above and below the pituitary. Only one of them (somatropin) is authorised as a medicine and is subject to medical prescription [2].

This guide explains what each peptide does, how they differ from one another in mechanistic terms and which research endpoints each one is best suited to. You will find the differences at the level of the receptor that shape study design, the regulatory classification of each compound and some notes on purchasing for analytical research.

CJC-1295 (with DAC), a long-acting GHRH analogue; half-life of around 6-8 days through binding to albumin [6]

Ipamorelin, a GHRP that is selective for the ghrelin receptor; pulsatile release of GH without any rise in cortisol

Tesamorelin, a stabilised GHRH analogue; peptide half-life of 26-38 minutes [9], with a sustained rise in IGF-1 [7]

Somatropin, recombinant HGH of 191 amino acids; a medicine that is subject to medical prescription [2]

Regulatory framework: none of the four compounds is authorised for muscle growth or for the enhancement of performance; as soon as they are supplied with claims about human use, they are regarded as unauthorised medicines [1][2]

Top picks: the best peptides for research on muscle growth (2026)

Ranked by mechanistic completeness along the GHRH → GH → IGF-1 axis, these are the compounds that we rate most highly in 2026 for research into lean mass and protein synthesis. Each pick is a research peptide from the Body Pharm catalogue, for in vitro and analytical use only.

• Best overall / most complete mechanism: CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination pen. The most requested stack across two pathways, which pairs a long-acting GHRH analogue with a selective agonist of the ghrelin receptor in order to study GH pulses that are larger and more physiological than those produced by either compound on its own.
• Best for research on IGF-1 isolated through GHRH: Tesamorelin 32 mg. A GHRH analogue that is resistant to DPP-IV and the best clinically validated compound of its class; it isolates the contribution of the GHRH receptor to the kinetics of IGF-1 without touching the ghrelin axis at all.
• Best direct reference for the GH receptor: somatropin. Recombinant HGH of 191 amino acids; it is the clamp-type comparator for the JAK2/STAT5 pathways and for protein-synthesis endpoints whenever a defined, non-pulsatile exposure to GH is needed. Not currently available in the Body Pharm catalogue.

If you want to separate the contribution of the GHRH axis from that of the GHS axis before you move on to combined work, see the CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin comparison. The full details of each pick at the level of the receptor are set out further down.

What are GH-axis peptides and why are they studied for lean mass?

GH-axis peptides modulate the signalling cascade of growth hormone at one of three nodes: the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary or the systemic pool of GH/IGF-1. The axis itself is straightforward. Hypothalamic GHRH stimulates the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary so that they release growth hormone. That hormone then acts on the liver and on peripheral tissues and generates IGF-1. IGF-1 activates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which is the main intracellular signal for the synthesis of muscle protein. This cascade phosphorylates ribosomal S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, and in doing so releases the translational brakes on the building of myofibrillar proteins.

In healthy adults, endogenous GH is released in around 6-12 discrete pulses every 24 hours. The largest pulse appears during deep sleep, because pulsatility preserves the sensitivity of the receptor. A tonic elevation of GH downregulates receptor sensitivity, and that is why research protocols with GHRPs are designed around pulsed administration rather than continuous infusion. Pulsed dosing preserves the dynamic range of the GH receptor.

Three classes are relevant here:

GHRH analogues: CJC-1295 and tesamorelin are synthetic reproductions of endogenous GHRH. They bind to the GHRH receptor on the somatotroph cells, raise intracellular cAMP and drive the secretion of GH by the pituitary from upstream.

GH secretagogues (GHS / GHRP): ipamorelin acts on the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) to trigger a pulsatile release of GH through a parallel pathway. That is the mechanistic basis for combining it with a GHRH analogue. See CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison for the distinction at the level of the receptor.

Recombinant GH: somatropin bypasses the pituitary altogether by supplying exogenous HGH of 191 amino acids. It acts directly on the hepatic and peripheral GH receptors instead of inducing endogenous release.

The four compounds on this page are discussed exclusively in the context of in vitro research and animal-model research on protein synthesis, gains in lean mass and tissue repair. None of them is intended for human use.

Best peptides for research on muscle growth (2026)

The four GH-axis research peptides covered in this guide span, in 2026, every node of the GHRH → GH → IGF-1 cascade that is relevant to the study of lean mass and protein synthesis. Three of them come together in two pens from the Spanish catalogue; the fourth, somatropin, appears only as a mechanistic reference:

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination pen, synergistic pulsatile release of GH from pairing a GHRH analogue with a selective agonist of the ghrelin receptor. The two peptides are co-dissolved 50/50 in a single cartridge, so one pen covers both pathways. It is the most requested stack for lean-mass research with a combined mechanism, because activating both pathways generates larger GH pulses than either of the compounds does on its own.

Tesamorelin 32 mg, a stabilised GHRH analogue with a sustained elevation of IGF-1. Its resistance to DPP-IV prolongs the GHRH signal and makes it the reference compound for models of visceral fat distribution and lean mass.

Somatropin, recombinant HGH of 191 amino acids. It is used as the direct GH-replacement comparator in trials of tissue repair and hypertrophy, because it fixes the exposure to GH at a defined level instead of depending on pulsatile secretion. It is dosed in IU and does not form part of the Spanish catalogue: it appears in this guide purely as a mechanistic contrast.

Why these four

Each compound answers a mechanistic question of its own. CJC-1295 (modified GRF 1-29) extends the half-life of GHRH, so that the pituitary receives a longer stimulatory signal. The DAC modification binds covalently to circulating albumin. Ipamorelin acts on GHS-R1a with no appreciable rise in ACTH or cortisol, which is why it remains the cleanest GHS for isolating the effects on GH pulses from the confounders of the stress axis. Raun et al. (1998) showed that, unlike GHRP-6, ipamorelin produces a release of GH without raising the stress hormones [5]. Combining the two makes it possible to study whether parallel activation generates a larger pulse amplitude than each substance on its own: the mechanistic basis that is explained in CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison.

Tesamorelin sits alongside CJC-1295 as a GHRH analogue, but it carries a modification with trans-3-hexenoic acid that resists cleavage by DPP-IV. That acylation protects the peptide from rapid enzymatic degradation. Its elimination half-life is around 26-38 minutes [9], with effects on IGF-1 further downstream that last longer [7]. Somatropin bypasses the pituitary altogether, which is essential in any protocol that models states of pituitary insufficiency or that studies the saturation of the GH receptor directly. It provides agonism at the level of the receptor on demand, rather than by way of endogenous secretion.

Format and traceability

In 2026, Body Pharm supplies the compounds in its catalogue as pens with a certificate of analysis for every batch. Traceability at batch level makes it possible to assign specific physiological observations to defined production batches. When you move from selection to the design of the protocol, see How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin for the standard pulsed-administration scheme used in current research models. All five are discussed exclusively within the framework of in vitro and analytical research, not for human use.

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination pen: research on synergistic GH pulses

Combining CJC-1295 with ipamorelin is, in 2026, the most studied GH-axis stack among research purchases, because the two compounds work through parallel pathways. CJC-1295 increases the amplitude of the GH pulses by activating the GHRH receptor. Ipamorelin increases the frequency of the pulses by way of GHSR-1a. Together they approximate a more physiological pulsatile profile than either of the two substances on its own, because the somatotroph cell responds to both signals at the same time.

The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) modification of CJC-1295 conjugates a maleimide group that binds covalently to circulating albumin and extends the functional half-life to around 6-8 days according to published clinical and technical summaries [6]. The original data from Teichman et al. support that figure and, as of 2026, no new primary pharmacokinetic dataset has replaced it [6]. The Body Pharm pen carries the form with DAC. For research designs that call for a shorter GHRH signal there is modified GRF 1-29 (CJC-1295 without DAC, with a half-life of around 30 minutes), which is not in the Spanish catalogue: it lacks the modification that binds to albumin. The trade-offs are set out in CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison.

The value of ipamorelin in this combination lies in its receptor selectivity. Raun et al. (1998) showed that, unlike GHRP-6, ipamorelin produces a release of GH with no appreciable rise in ACTH, cortisol or prolactin [5]. That removes important confounders of the stress axis from any measurement of GH pulses. In research on protein synthesis, where cortisol antagonises the mTOR signal, that clean profile is the reason why ipamorelin remains the GHS of choice over hexarelin or GHRP-2. Elevated cortisol would suppress precisely the anabolic signal that is being measured.

Body Pharm ships to Spain a single pre-filled multi-dose pen of CJC-1295 + ipamorelin, with 20 mg of total peptide in a 3 ml cartridge. The two peptides are co-dissolved 50/50, so the dose dial shows a single dose in milligrams and that figure is the dose of each one: dial 0.1 mg and you get 0.1 mg of each peptide, 0.2 mg of the mixture per injection, and the pen delivers 100 doses. There is nothing to mix and no device to prepare. It is supplied with a certificate of analysis for every batch and exclusively for in vitro and analytical use. When you move from selection to the schedule, see How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin: the formulation carries CJC-1295 with DAC, so the reference schedule is a single daily dose in the evening.

Important: no peer-reviewed study from 2024 to 2026 has tested the combination specifically on lean-mass endpoints. The claims of synergy rest on mechanistic reasoning and on pharmacokinetic data for the compounds taken separately, not on randomised trials of the combination [3].

Tesamorelin 32 mg: a GHRH analogue for research on IGF-1

Tesamorelin is an analogue of GHRH(1-44) modified with trans-3-hexenoyl. Its N-terminal acylation blocks cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and extends the plasma half-life relative to native GHRH, while at the same time preserving full agonism of the GHRH receptor at the somatotroph cell of the pituitary. The acyl group sterically shields the peptide from enzymatic attack. The elimination half-life of the peptide is 26 minutes in healthy subjects and 38 minutes in HIV-infected patients according to the US prescribing information [9]. The subsequent elevation of IGF-1 is maintained for considerably longer, because hepatic production of IGF-1 continues after the peptide itself has been degraded [7][8].

Its relevance to the question of lean mass is indirect, but mechanistically clean. Tesamorelin drives the endogenous, pulsatile release of GH solely through the GHRH receptor, without touching the ghrelin/GHS-R1a axis that ipamorelin targets. That makes it the GHRH analogue of choice when a research design needs to isolate the contribution of the GHRH receptor to the kinetics of IGF-1 from the contribution of the GHS, a distinction that is set out in CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison.

Its history of clinical research establishes it as the best validated GHRH analogue of its class. The FDA authorised it in 2010 for visceral adiposity associated with HIV [9]. The pooled analysis by Falutz et al. in J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2010) documented in that population an elevation of IGF-1 at 26 weeks and a reduction in visceral fat that was maintained over 52 weeks, with an improved lipid profile and no clinically meaningful changes in glucose parameters [8]. As of 2026, tesamorelin holds no authorisation for indications of muscle growth or performance [2].

For research planning in 2026 there are two limitations to the evidence. The long-term body-composition datasets come from HIV-infected patients and date from before 2023; they should be regarded as potentially out of date for as long as there are no more recent studies [7][8]. No new primary pharmacokinetic study has replaced the half-life values in the 2010 prescribing information [9].

Body Pharm supplies tesamorelin as a 32 mg multi-dose pen for subcutaneous injection, with shipping to Spain and a certificate of analysis for every batch, exclusively for in vitro and analytical use.

Somatropin (HGH): recombinant growth hormone for research models

Somatropin is recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), a polypeptide of 191 amino acids whose sequence is identical to the endogenous 22 kDa pituitary isoform of GH. It acts directly on the hepatic and peripheral GH receptors because it bypasses the hypothalamic-pituitary axis altogether. That is the mechanistic line that separates it from every other peptide in this guide. CJC-1295 and tesamorelin act upstream on the GHRH receptor. Ipamorelin acts on GHS-R1a. Somatropin provides agonism at the level of the receptor on demand.

In research models this distinction matters. Direct administration of rhGH is the standard tool when a protocol needs to fix the exposure to GH at a defined concentration rather than depend on pulsatile secretion. That makes it the reference compound for studies of GH-receptor activation, JAK2/STAT5 signalling assays, curves of hepatic IGF-1 output and protein-synthesis endpoints in cultured myotubes. The researcher controls the concentration of GH with precision. Models based on secretagogues, by contrast, retain the negative feedback of somatostatin and are of no use when the research question demands a non-pulsatile exposure profile.

In research models somatropin is dosed in IU, not in milligrams. It does not form part of the Spanish catalogue and is treated here solely as a reference compound.

Its regulatory classification is stricter than that of the secretagogues discussed above. Somatropin is a medicine subject to medical prescription for its authorised endocrinological indications [2]. Supplying it for non-medical human use is unlawful [2]. If you are comparing agonism of the GH receptor with the pulsatility induced by secretagogues, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison for the contrast of the upstream axis.

Peptide comparison table: mechanism, half-life and application in research

How to read this table for study design

The half-life determines the dosing frequency of your protocol. The receptor target determines what the data actually mean, because different receptors activate different signalling cascades. A GHRH analogue (CJC-1295, tesamorelin) and a GHS-R1a agonist (ipamorelin) study different arms of the axis, and that is why the combination is studied in search of additive pulse amplitude rather than dismissed as redundant. Somatropin sits outside both arms and is the appropriate reference when the question concerns signalling at the GH receptor and not the dynamics of the secretagogues.

The in vivo half-lives in humans quoted above come from studies and product labels from before 2020 [6][9][10][11] and may differ from the in vitro stability in your own assay buffer. The composition of the buffer, the pH and the temperature all influence the degradation kinetics of peptides.

If you are narrowing down the dual-secretagogue approach, the CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin comparison deals in detail with the contrast of the upstream axis. How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin describes the schedule and the protocols for analytical use.

Why combine a GHRH analogue with a GH secretagogue?

The two arms of the GH axis are mechanistically distinct. Studying them at the same time makes the combination analytically interesting rather than redundant, because they activate different intracellular cascades and converge on the somatotroph cell to reinforce each other's signal.

GHRH analogues (CJC-1295, tesamorelin) bind to the GHRH receptor of the pituitary and increase the amplitude of each GH pulse by raising cAMP in the somatotroph cells. The GHRH receptor is coupled to adenylate cyclase by way of Gs proteins. Ipamorelin is a selective agonist of GHSR-1a that increases the frequency of the pulses and reinforces the response of somatotroph cells that have already been primed by the GHRH stimulus. GHS-R1a activates phospholipase C and raises intracellular calcium, a complementary second-messenger system. According to the clinical and professional-practice literature, simultaneous administration produces a supra-additive GH peak compared with monotherapy, although no controlled study from 2024 to 2026 quantifies this directly in combined form [3].

In modern research ipamorelin is preferred over GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, because its receptor selectivity avoids the rises in cortisol, prolactin and ACTH with which the older secretagogues distort the analysis of the endpoints. Those stress hormones activate competing catabolic pathways [5]. Most of the data on the combination are extrapolated from animal models from before 2023 and from small human cohorts. Any claim of synergy should be treated as a mechanistic deduction, not as evidence that is current to 2026 [3].

Why selectivity matters for obtaining clean data

Cortisol suppresses the mTOR signal and antagonises the anabolic effect of IGF-1. The narrower receptor profile of ipamorelin is the reason why it has displaced the earlier ghrelin mimetics in current GH-axis research designs: it produces a release of GH without raising the stress hormones [5]. The CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin comparison sets out the contrast at the level of the receptor in more detail. How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin deals with the dosing schedule for analytical protocols.

Legal status of research peptides in 2026

None of the four compounds is authorised for research on muscle growth or on performance in humans [1][2]. Somatropin is authorised as a medicine for endocrinological indications and is subject to medical prescription; CJC-1295, ipamorelin and tesamorelin are not authorised medicines.

For purchasing decisions in 2026, the regulatory position is as follows:

CJC-1295, ipamorelin and tesamorelin are regarded as unauthorised medicines as soon as they are supplied with claims about human use, with dosing instructions or with injection kits. A medicine is defined by its presentation and by its intended purpose [1]. Supply exclusively for research and analytical purposes, labelled "Not for human consumption", falls outside the scope of a medicine. Presentation is the deciding factor: claims on the website, dosing recommendations or aesthetic marketing override that distinction [1].

Somatropin (recombinant HGH) is a medicine that is subject to medical prescription [2]. Supplying it for non-medical human use is unlawful [1][2].

Supervisory guidance: there is no exemption for "research peptides" when the overall presentation suggests human use. The intended purpose is assessed on the basis of the full marketing context [1].

Practical consequences for researchers

All Body Pharm products are supplied exclusively for research and analytical purposes, not for human consumption. Before you buy, consult the ethics committee of your institution, the applicable regulations on hazardous substances and the competent body for research governance. Check the requirements currently in force directly with the competent authorities, since the regulatory position can change. This section reflects the position as it is understood in 2026.

If you are still weighing up which compound fits your endpoint of interest, the CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin comparison deals with the differences at the level of the receptor that are relevant to study design.

How Body Pharm sources and supplies these peptides

Body Pharm supplies GH-axis research peptides as sealed multi-dose pens for subcutaneous injection, with traceability at batch level, with shipping to Spain and exclusively for research and analytical purposes. The current range of pens covers the compounds described in this guide in the following way:

• CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination pen, 20 mg of total peptide content per pen
• Tesamorelin pen, 32 mg per pen
• Somatropin, not currently available in the catalogue

Each pen carries a printed batch number that can be noted in the laboratory notebook next to the experimental variables. That traceability makes it possible to assign a specific physiological observation to a defined production batch. In studies with several arms or longitudinal studies, it lets you correlate the variation between batches with the variation in the endpoints.

The pen format also reduces the variability of handling: the dose is dialled in milligrams on the dose dial and comes out of the same sealed cartridge from the beginning of the protocol to the end, with no preparation step in between. That is the precision of dosing that comparative work on protein synthesis or on the IGF-1 response demands.

Storage across the range: between 2 and 8 °C, protected from light; 24 months unopened; 12 months from the first puncture; up to 30 days at room temperature (maximum 30 °C) if you have no fridge available. Let the pen reach room temperature before you inject and do not freeze it.

Dosing-protocol resources for each peptide

The following Body Pharm guides deal with dose ranges, frequency and considerations about endpoints of interest for each GH-axis peptide described in this article. Use them when you move from the selection of the compound to the written protocol.

• How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin, deals with the dose dialled on the dose dial and the schedule of a single subcutaneous administration each day in the evening for work on the GH/IGF-1 response.
• CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison, a comparison at the level of the receptor between the GHRH analogue and the ghrelin-mimetic GHS, together with the mechanistic rationale for combining them.
• How to dose tesamorelin, protocol parameters for the stabilised GHRH analogue, including endpoints of visceral fat and IGF-1.
• How to dose somatropin (HGH), dosing references in IU for research with exogenous recombinant GH.
• Peptide guides and dosing protocols, the complete index of protocol resources for the whole of the GH-axis range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a GHRH analogue and a GH secretagogue?

A GHRH analogue binds to the receptor for growth-hormone-releasing hormone on the somatotroph cells of the pituitary in order to reinforce the amplitude of the endogenous pulses of GH. It raises intracellular cAMP. A GH secretagogue (GHS) acts on the ghrelin/GHS-R1a receptor to trigger a discrete release of GH. It activates phospholipase C and raises intracellular calcium. CJC-1295 and tesamorelin are GHRH analogues; ipamorelin is a selective GHS [5]. See the CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin comparison for the details at the level of the receptor.

Can I buy CJC-1295 and ipamorelin in Spain?

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not authorised medicines and are regarded as unauthorised medicines as soon as they are supplied for human use. A medicine is defined by its presentation and by its intended purpose [1]. Suppliers may only supply them as research reagents bearing the statement "Not for human use", which places them outside the scope of a medicine [1]. Body Pharm offers both compounds as a combination pen under that classification as a research reagent. See How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin for the protocol parameters.

What is tesamorelin used for in research?

Tesamorelin is a stabilised GHRH analogue that is studied above all for its effect on the reduction of visceral adipose tissue and the modulation of the IGF-1 axis. Authorisation by the FDA is limited, in the United States, to visceral adiposity associated with HIV [9]. The pooled analysis by Falutz et al. (2010) documented an elevation of IGF-1 and a reduction in visceral fat that was maintained over 52 weeks [8], and Stanley et al. (2012) showed that this reduction is associated with an improved metabolic profile [4]. In laboratory research it is used to model the pharmacology of the GHRH receptor and the downstream endpoints of lean mass and lipolysis. Its resistance to DPP-IV prolongs the GHRH signal.

Is somatropin (HGH) legal in Spain?

Somatropin is a medicine that is subject to medical prescription [2]. Its unauthorised supply, or its possession with the intention of supplying it, in particular for bodybuilding or doping, is unlawful [1][2].

What does "for research use only" mean?

"For research use only" designates a compound that is supplied as a laboratory reagent for in vitro or analytical work, not for human or animal use. That statement on its own does not exempt a product from pharmaceutical regulation if the presentation suggests human use. The intended purpose is assessed on the basis of the full marketing context [1]. A genuine research purchase requires an institutional context and analytical intent; those factors are what evidence the research purpose as opposed to a disguised human use.

Next steps

If your research protocol is already defined, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: the full comparison to confirm which receptor target fits your endpoint of interest. Once you have chosen the compound, move on to How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin or to the dosing guide for whichever peptide you have selected, in order to finalise your analytical protocol. Before you place an order, confirm the approval of your ethics committee and check the regulations that apply to you.

Sources

1. Directive 2001/83/EC, Article 1: definition of a medicinal product by presentation and by function; consolidated text on EUR-Lex. eur-lex.europa.eu — the legal basis on which a reagent labelled "for research only" remains subject to pharmaceutical regulation if it is presented for human use.
2. AEMPS, Centro de Información online de Medicamentos (CIMA): register of the medicines authorised in Spain and their prescription status. cima.aemps.es — consulted in October 2026.
3. ClinicalTrials.gov, searches for "CJC-1295" and "ipamorelin", consulted in October 2026: no published randomised trial of the combination. clinicaltrials.gov
4. Stanley TL, et al. Reduction in visceral adiposity is associated with an improved metabolic profile in HIV-infected patients receiving tesamorelin. Clin Infect Dis. 2012. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22495074
5. Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822
6. Teichman SL, et al. 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. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683
7. Falutz J, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med. 2007. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18057338
8. Falutz J, et al. Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20554713
9. FDA. Egrifta (tesamorelin), US prescribing information from the initial 2010 approval, section 12.3: elimination half-life of 26 minutes in healthy subjects and 38 minutes in HIV-infected patients. accessdata.fda.gov — consulted in October 2026.
10. EMA, EPAR and summary of product characteristics (SmPC) for Omnitrope (somatropin): IU/mg equivalence (1 mg = 3 IU), half-life of around 3 hours after subcutaneous administration and prescription status. ema.europa.eu
11. Gobburu JV, et al. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers. Pharm Res. 1999. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10496658