Category · 33 entries
Growth Hormone Axis
GHRH analogs, secretagogues, and related compounds.
Anamorelin
An oral ghrelin agonist that adds lean mass in cancer cachexia but never beat placebo on strength: approved in Japan, not in the US.
Capromorelin
⚠ Veterinary use only — not approved for humans. Elanco's oral ghrelin agonist (Entyce for dogs 2016, Elura for cats 2020) — FDA-approved only for veterinary appetite stimulation. Included for completeness because it is a genuine approved ghrelin receptor agonist with significant online search volume.
CJC-1295
A long-acting GHRH analog engineered with a DAC linker that binds serum albumin, extending half-life from minutes to approximately 8 days.
Corticorelin
Ferring Pharmaceuticals' synthetic ovine CRH (Acthrel) — FDA-approved diagnostic peptide used to distinguish pituitary Cushing disease from ectopic ACTH secretion via inferior petrosal sinus sampling or peripheral ACTH/cortisol response testing.
Corticotropin
The pituitary hormone that tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol. As Acthar Gel it treats infantile spasms and MS relapses, with a long list of older indications and a famously high price.
Ghrelin
The stomach's hunger hormone: infused, it made every volunteer eat more; it is not a medicine, but drugs that copy it are.
GHRP-1
The heptapeptide member of the GHRP family: it released growth hormone in children and pituitary cells, then was never developed further.
GHRP-2
The second-generation GHRP, approved only in Japan (as pralmorelin) for a one-dose growth hormone test: a reliable growth hormone releaser that also raises ACTH, cortisol and appetite, and was never approved as a treatment.
GHRP-6
The original growth hormone-releasing hexapeptide: a strong, fast releaser in 1990s human tests that also raises ACTH and cortisol.
HCG
A prescription fertility hormone that acts like LH: the IVF trigger and a treatment for male hypogonadism, used off-label beside testosterone on the strength of two small studies, and shown not to work for weight loss.
Hexarelin
A synthetic GH-releasing hexapeptide that outperformed GHRH in small 1990s human studies, also raised cortisol and prolactin, and lost part of its effect with months of use. Never approved.
IGF-1
The growth factor behind growth hormone: given as Increlex to children who cannot make it, and in adults a level whose extremes both track risk.
Ipamorelin
A ghrelin-receptor agonist that released growth hormone without raising cortisol in pigs; in people it has one dosing study and a phase 2 surgery trial that found no benefit. Never approved.
Lanreotide
A long-acting somatostatin analogue injected every 28 days, sold as Somatuline Depot for acromegaly, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours and carcinoid syndrome. In the 204-patient CLARINET trial it more than halved the risk of progression or death, with 65% progression-free at 24 months against 33% on placebo.
Lonapegsomatropin
Ascendis Pharma's once-weekly growth hormone prodrug (Skytrofa) — the first weekly GH to receive FDA approval (August 2021) for pediatric GH deficiency in patients aged 1+ years weighing at least 11.5 kg.
Macimorelin
An orally active ghrelin receptor agonist FDA-approved in 2017 as a diagnostic test for adult growth hormone deficiency — the only oral alternative to the insulin tolerance test.
Mecasermin
Ipsen's recombinant human IGF-1 (Increlex) — FDA-approved in 2005 for severe primary IGF-1 deficiency; the direct replacement for IGF-1 in patients whose own IGF-1 production is inadequate despite normal GH levels.
Mecasermin rinfabate
IGF-1 delivered bound to its carrier protein: approved in 2005 as iPlex, now listed as discontinued in the US.
MK-677
An oral, non-peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist: it raised growth hormone and IGF-1 for months in trials and added lean mass in older adults, but failed in Alzheimer's and hip-fracture recovery, raised blood sugar and was never approved.
Mod GRF 1-29
A short-acting GHRH analog — chemically identical to CJC-1295 but without the DAC albumin-binding linker — producing discrete GH pulses rather than sustained elevation.
Navepegritide
The weekly achondroplasia treatment — a PEGylated CNP prodrug approved in 2026 that provides continuous growth plate stimulation with once-weekly dosing.
Octreotide
The first-generation somatostatin analog (FDA-approved as Sandostatin, 1988) — the pharmacological counterweight to growth-hormone excess. Used for acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and VIPoma; now available in injectable, LAR-depot, and oral (Mycapssa, 2020) formulations.
Pasireotide
The somatostatin analog for Cushing's disease — the only FDA-approved medical therapy targeting pituitary ACTH secretion, with uniquely broad somatostatin receptor affinity.
Pegvisomant
Pfizer's GH receptor antagonist (Somavert) — FDA-approved in 2003 for acromegaly; important to distinguish from GH agonists because it does the opposite (blocks GH action rather than supplementing it).
Protirelin
Synthetic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (pGlu-His-Pro-NH2), once FDA-approved as the pituitary diagnostics Thypinone (1976) and Thyrel TRH (1978), both now discontinued; tried experimentally in depression, ALS and preterm lung disease.
Sermorelin
GHRH's first 29 amino acids, sold in the US as Geref (approved 1990 and 1997) to test and treat childhood growth hormone deficiency until it was discontinued, not for safety reasons.
Somapacitan
Novo Nordisk's once-weekly growth hormone (Sogroya) — FDA-approved in 2020 for adult GH deficiency and in 2023 for pediatric GH deficiency in children aged 2.5+ years.
Somatostatin
The body's hormone off-switch, given by infusion for bleeding varices in Spain and elsewhere; never approved in the US, unlike its analogues.
Somatrogon
Pfizer/OPKO's once-weekly growth hormone (Ngenla) — FDA-approved in June 2023 for pediatric GH deficiency in children aged 3+ years; uses a CTP-fusion strategy borrowed from long-acting follitropin alfa.
Somatropin (HGH)
FDA-approved recombinant human growth hormone — the direct hormone replacement, with multiple clinical indications, prescription-only status, and specific federal criminal provisions against off-label distribution.
Tesamorelin
An FDA-approved GHRH analog for reducing excess visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Tetracosactide
The first 24 amino acids of ACTH, made synthetically. In the US it is the standard test of whether the adrenal glands can make cortisol; elsewhere a depot form treats infantile spasms.
Vosoritide
The first drug approved for achondroplasia — a CNP analog that stimulates endochondral bone growth by counteracting overactive FGFR3 signaling.