Peptide Therapy Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin and sermorelin both stimulate growth hormone release, but through separate pathways. Sermorelin is a GHRH analog that acts on the GHRH receptor. Ipamorelin is a ghrelin receptor agonist, acting on GHS-R1a. Ipamorelin is notable for its selectivity: unlike older compounds in its class such as GHRP-6, which raises cortisol roughly 20 to 50% above baseline at growth hormone effective doses, ipamorelin produces minimal co-stimulation of cortisol, prolactin or ACTH. The regulatory picture is the part most sites leave out. In September 2023 the FDA moved 19 peptide bulk substances, ipamorelin among them, from Category 1 to Category 2 of the interim 503A bulks list, citing insufficient human safety data. Category 2 means the FDA has identified potential significant safety risks, and compounding those substances can result in FDA or state action. Ipamorelin came off Category 2 in September 2024, but only because the nominators withdrew their nominations, which is not the same as approval. At the October 2024 advisory committee meeting the FDA's own analysis recommended against including it. Sermorelin has remained in Category 1 throughout this period, which is why it is the growth hormone peptide with the clearest regulatory pathway. Anyone considering any peptide should ask their provider what the current FDA determination is for that specific compound. Results vary by individual.