By the Boreal Peptides Research Team | Reviewed by Boreal Peptides Owner | Last reviewed October 23, 2026 | 24 sources | For laboratory research use only

Quick answer

Growth hormone peptides are compounds studied for making the pituitary gland release the body’s own growth hormone. Most act on one of two receptors: the GHRH receptor (tesamorelin, CJC-1295) or the ghrelin receptor (ipamorelin, GHRP-6). HGH isn’t one of them, and it’s the hormone itself: a chain of 191 amino acids. In Canada, none of these peptides is sold as a drug today, and research-grade versions aren’t authorized drugs. [1][3][8][16]

Key facts

  • Ghrelin, the body’s own key for the “growth hormone secretagogue” receptor, was identified in 1999. It’s a 28-amino-acid peptide, first purified from rat stomach. [5]

  • Ipamorelin is a five-amino-acid peptide. Its 1998 paper called it “the first selective growth hormone secretagogue.” [7]

  • Tesamorelin was marketed in Canada as Egrifta from 2015. Health Canada’s database lists it as cancelled after market since September 30, 2022. [3]

  • WADA’s 2026 list bans GHRH analogues, growth hormone secretagogues and GH-releasing peptides in sport. [21]

  • Health Canada says a “For Research Use Only” label doesn’t make a product legal. [1]

At a glance Summary
Central entity Peptides that make the pituitary release growth hormone (GH), compared with GH itself
Two main classes GHRH analogues (GHRH receptor) and growth hormone secretagogues or GHRPs (ghrelin receptor) [8]
HGH (somatropin) The hormone itself: a 191-amino-acid protein, sold in Canada as prescription drugs [3][16]
Marketed in Canada as drugs Of the ingredients we searched, only somatropin, somapacitan and somatrogon products; no GHRH analogue or ghrelin-receptor peptide [3]
Research-grade versions Not authorized drugs in Canada; a research label doesn’t change that [1][24]

What are growth hormone peptides?

Growth hormone peptides are short chains of amino acids that make the pituitary gland release more of the body’s own growth hormone. Although the name suggests otherwise, they don’t contain growth hormone. Researchers sort them into two groups, and each group acts on a different receptor. [8]

Growth hormone (GH) comes from somatotroph cells in the front lobe of the pituitary gland. It’s released in pulses. [4] Many of its effects in the body run through a second hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). [4]

When people say “HGH peptides” or “GH peptides,” they mean these compounds. That’s shorthand, and it can mislead. If a vial says ipamorelin, it holds ipamorelin, not human growth hormone. [7][8]

Is HGH a peptide?

Yes, in the broad sense. HGH is a chain of 191 amino acids, so it’s usually called a protein, and WADA files it under “peptide hormones.” [16][21] But it isn’t what people mean by “HGH peptides.” Those are much shorter molecules, and they prompt the body to release its own GH. [8]

Somatropin is the drug form of HGH, and it’s made with recombinant DNA. Genotropin’s is made in E. coli bacteria. Its amino acid chain is the same as the GH a human pituitary makes. [16]

Is there an easy way to see the difference? Size.

Molecule Length What it is Source
Ipamorelin 5 amino acids Synthetic ghrelin-receptor agonist [7]
Ghrelin 28 amino acids The body’s own ghrelin-receptor hormone, from the stomach [5]
Sermorelin 29 amino acids The first 29 amino acids of human GHRH [10]
CJC-1295 peptide chain 29 amino acids, 4 swapped A modified version of the same 29-amino-acid chain [10]
Tesamorelin 44 amino acids plus a hexenoyl group The 44-amino-acid sequence of human GHRH with a short fatty chain added [10][15]
Somatropin (HGH) 191 amino acids Growth hormone itself, 22,124 daltons [16]

How do growth hormone peptides work?

Since they act on the pituitary’s own controls, the gland still makes the hormone itself. GH release is regulated by GHRH from the hypothalamus, and by ghrelin acting at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). [5] Growth hormone peptides copy one signal or the other. [8]

What’s a receptor agonist? It’s a molecule that switches a receptor on.

  • GHRH analogues (tesamorelin, sermorelin, CJC-1295) switch on the GHRH receptor. [8]

  • Growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) switch on the ghrelin receptor, also called GHS-R1a. It sits in the hypothalamus and the front of the pituitary. Ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and hexarelin belong here. [8]

Do the two families look alike? No. GH-releasing peptides have no structural likeness to GHRH, and they act through their own receptor. [6]

What holds GH release back? Somatostatin holds GH release back, and IGF-1 feeds back to slow it. [6][8] Experimental studies suggest GH-releasing peptides leave much of that feedback in place, unlike GH given from outside the body. [8] While that describes a mechanism, it isn’t a statement about safety in anything living.

The history runs backwards. Chemists made the first GH-releasing peptides in Cyril Bowers’s laboratory in 1977, long before anyone knew what they copied. [4][6] Their natural counterpart, ghrelin, wasn’t found until 1999, so the copies came first. [5]

What types of growth hormone peptides are there?

There are two main classes, plus growth hormone itself and a few non-peptide look-alikes. This table sorts the names you’ll see most, and its Canada column comes from Health Canada’s Drug Product Database, searched October 23, 2026. [3]

Compound Class and receptor Peptide? Human evidence Canada status Source
Somatropin (HGH) Growth hormone itself Protein, 191 amino acids Authorized drug Prescription; marketed as Genotropin, Omnitrope, Saizen, Serostim and Norditropin FlexPro [3][16]
Somapacitan, somatrogon Long-acting GH analogues GH analogue, not a releaser Authorized drugs Prescription; marketed as Sogroya and Ngenla [3][21]
Tesamorelin GHRH analogue Yes Randomized trials; US FDA-approved as Egrifta Egrifta cancelled after market in 2022 [3][8][14]
Sermorelin GHRH analogue Yes Once FDA-approved as Geref; now discontinued No entry [3][8][17]
CJC-1295 with DAC Long-acting GHRH analogue Yes, with an albumin-binding complex Two randomized, placebo-controlled trials in healthy adults No entry [3][8][9]
CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) GHRH analogue Yes No peer-reviewed human studies No entry [3][8]
Ipamorelin Growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor) Yes, 5 amino acids Phase 1 study and a phase 2 trial No entry [3][7][8][12]
GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin GH-releasing peptides (ghrelin receptor) Yes Studied in people, mostly in short, small studies No entry (searched as pralmorelin and hexarelin) [3][4][6][8]
Ibutamoren (MK-677) Growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor) No, non-peptide Trials in people; one stopped early No entry [3][4][20][22]

Macimorelin is another ghrelin mimetic, and the US FDA approved it in 2017 as Macrilen for diagnosing adult GH deficiency. [18][19] Drugs@FDA now lists Macrilen as discontinued, and Canada’s database has no entry for it. [3][18]

Is every growth hormone peptide a secretagogue?

Not in the strict sense. In the research literature, a “growth hormone secretagogue” acts through the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R). [5][8] So ipamorelin and ibutamoren are secretagogues, while tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are GHRH analogues. Although the terms differ, WADA groups both families as “growth hormone releasing factors.” [21]

Once our guide to the broader word “secretagogue” is live, we’ll link it here.

Is CJC-1295 the same compound everywhere?

No. The name covers two different molecules. CJC-1295 with DAC carries a “drug affinity complex” that binds to albumin, a blood protein, so it lasts much longer. CJC-1295 without DAC, also called Mod GRF 1-29, doesn’t have it. [8]

Why does it matter? It shows up in the evidence. The best human evidence for CJC-1295 comes from trials of the long-acting form, which had a measured half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days. [8][9] A 2026 review found the form without DAC “essentially uncharacterised in the peer-reviewed human literature.” [8]

Sermorelin is a third molecule. It’s the first 29 amino acids of human GHRH, while the CJC-1295 peptide chain swaps four of those amino acids. [10] A label that mixes up these names is a warning sign, so check the molecular weight and the sequence on the certificate.

What does the research on growth hormone peptides actually cover?

It runs from cells to animals to people, and the human evidence is thin outside tesamorelin. When a 2018 review looked, it found few long-term, rigorously controlled studies of secretagogues. [4] A 2026 review rated tesamorelin best supported, and put CJC-1295 without DAC in its lowest tier, with no peer-reviewed human studies. [8]

Each step says more about people than the one before, but a study in cells or rodents isn’t a statement about people. [24]

Evidence level What it tests Example Source
Cells (in vitro) Whether a compound makes pituitary cells release GH Ipamorelin and GHRP-6 on rat pituitary cells [7]
Animals What happens in a whole living system Ipamorelin in rats and pigs; ipamorelin in a rat model of gut slowdown after surgery [7][11]
People, early trials Safety and how long a compound lasts CJC-1295 with DAC in healthy adults aged 21 to 61 [9]
People, phase 2 Whether a compound meets a trial’s pre-set goals in a small patient group Ipamorelin after bowel surgery, 114 patients analysed [12]
People, larger trials The same question in a larger group Tesamorelin in 412 people with HIV, over 26 weeks [13]
Regulator review Safety, efficacy and quality of a finished product Egrifta, approved by the US FDA on November 10, 2010 [14]

Ipamorelin shows why the ladder matters. It was studied in a rat model of gut slowdown after surgery, then in a phase 2 trial in people. [11][12] The human trial found no significant difference from placebo on its key measures. [12]

What else did ipamorelin’s 1998 paper find? In pigs, GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 raised the hormones ACTH and cortisol, but ipamorelin didn’t raise them beyond the levels seen with GHRH. [7] That finding came from animals, and it’s why the paper called ipamorelin selective.

Approved uses are narrow. The US label limits Egrifta SV to adults with HIV and lipodystrophy, and says it “is not indicated for weight loss management.” [15] We don’t report doses here or claim any effect in people, so read the published papers for trial details.

Which growth hormone drugs are approved in Canada?

Only growth hormone itself and its long-acting forms are on the market, and all of them are prescription drugs. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) was sold here from 2015, but it’s been “Cancelled Post Market” since 2022. [3]

We searched 13 ingredient names in the database on October 23, 2026. The status column uses the database’s own labels, and some strengths of a brand can carry a different status. [3]

Ingredient Brand (company) Database status, October 23, 2026
Somatropin Genotropin (Pfizer), Omnitrope (Sandoz), Saizen and Serostim (EMD Serono), Norditropin FlexPro (Novo Nordisk) Marketed
Somatropin Humatrope (Eli Lilly), Nutropin AQ NuSpin (Roche) Latest records cancelled after market, 2025
Somapacitan Sogroya (Novo Nordisk) Marketed since 2023
Somatrogon Ngenla (Pfizer) Marketed since 2022
Tesamorelin Egrifta (Theratechnologies) 1 mg: cancelled after market, September 30, 2022; 2 mg: cancelled before market, 2023
Sermorelin, ipamorelin, CJC-1295, ibutamoren, macimorelin, hexarelin, pralmorelin (GHRP-2), anamorelin, lonapegsomatropin No product No entry

Every marketed somatropin record we opened lists it as “Prescription” and “Schedule D.” [3] An authorized drug has an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN). If you want to check one, Health Canada says you can search the database. [1]

The US picture differs. Egrifta is still sold there by prescription, but Geref (sermorelin) and Macrilen (macimorelin) are both listed as discontinued. [14][17][18] The FDA has found that Geref wasn’t withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons. [17]

What has Health Canada said about growth hormone peptides?

It treats them as drugs. Health Canada says “peptides are generally regulated as prescription drugs” in Canada. [1] Its April 2026 advisory names CJC-1295 and ipamorelin, and both are on its list of unauthorized injectable peptide drugs it has seized. [1]

Its August 2025 advisory goes further for one seller, Canada Peptide. The products it seized or found for sale include CJC-1295, GHRP 2, GHRP 6 and hexarelin. The list also names “HGH, HGH Fragment,” ipamorelin (spelled “Ipamoreline”), sermorelin and tesamorelin. [2] That list is about one company’s unauthorized products, not about authorized prescription drugs. [2]

Health Canada also says this about labels: “For Research Use Only” labelling “does not make these products legal or exempt from regulatory requirements.” [1]

This applies to us. Our catalogue lists research-grade ipamorelin, CJC-1295 without DAC, a blend of the two, tesamorelin and HGH. [23] Our research use disclaimer says nothing on our site is authorized for sale as a drug in Canada, and no product carries a DIN. [24]

The US FDA has flagged several of these compounds for compounding pharmacies. Its “category 2” list of bulk substances that may present significant safety risks includes ipamorelin acetate, GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and ibutamoren. [20] CJC-1295’s nomination was withdrawn, but FDA’s note on it still reports “serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295 including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reaction.” [20]

For the law on peptides in general, read our guide: Are peptides legal in Canada?

Are growth hormone peptides banned in sport?

Yes. WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List bans them at all times, in and out of competition. Section S2.2.4 names GHRH analogues, secretagogues and GH-releasing peptides, and S2.2.3 bans growth hormone, its analogues and its fragments. [21]

WADA 2026 section Named examples
S2.2.3 Growth hormone, analogues and fragments Lonapegsomatropin, somapacitan, somatrogon; AOD-9604 and hGH 176-191
S2.2.4 GHRH and its analogues CJC-1293, CJC-1295, sermorelin, tesamorelin
S2.2.4 Growth hormone secretagogues and mimetics Anamorelin, capromorelin, ibutamoren (MK-677), ipamorelin, lenomorelin (ghrelin), macimorelin, tabimorelin
S2.2.4 GH-releasing peptides Alexamorelin, examorelin (hexarelin), GHRP-1, GHRP-2 (pralmorelin), GHRP-3, GHRP-4, GHRP-5, GHRP-6

The lists say “including, but not limited to,” so a compound that isn’t named can still be banned. [21] Researchers have built methods to detect GHRH analogues such as CJC-1295 and tesamorelin in blood plasma for sports drug testing. [10]

WADA updates the list every year, and each new version is published in October and takes effect on January 1. [21] Check the current list before relying on this table.

What do our own tests show for growth hormone peptides?

Only one of our five growth hormone products has a third-party certificate, and that certificate has a problem we haven’t solved yet. We’d rather say so than quote a supplier’s own purity claim. [23]

Published testing data: Boreal Peptides

  • CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin (blend): 99.27% purity, Medutest, report MT-75303, batch WWB-CP10-8748, issued February 25, 2026. [23]
  • The problem: the certificate’s identity data describes CJC-1295 alone, not the blend. We’ve asked the laboratory what was analysed, and we don’t claim the blend was assayed as a finished blend. [23]
  • CJC-1295 without DAC, ipamorelin, tesamorelin, HGH: no third-party certificate, so none carries a purity claim. [23]
  • Method: an HPLC assay of identity and purity in the tested sample. It doesn’t cover sterility, endotoxin, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbial content or safety in anything living. None of our products is supplied sterile. [23]
  • What a purity result doesn’t mean: it’s a chemistry result, not a sign that a compound is safe or authorized. [23][24]

If you want the report, name the compound. If you’ve already ordered, include your order number, and we’ll match it to the batch on your packing slip. [23]

See every lab result we hold | Read how to read a peptide COA | Browse our growth hormone research peptides

People also ask

Do growth hormone peptides contain growth hormone?

No. They’re separate molecules that prompt the pituitary to release its own growth hormone. Only somatropin products contain growth hormone itself. [8][16]

Read more: What are growth hormone peptides?

Is ipamorelin a growth hormone secretagogue?

Yes. Ipamorelin is a small peptide that acts on the ghrelin receptor. Its 1998 paper called it the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. [7][8]

Read more: Is every growth hormone peptide a secretagogue?

Is tesamorelin approved in Canada?

Not at present. Egrifta, the tesamorelin brand, was marketed in Canada from 2015. Health Canada’s database has listed it as cancelled after market since September 30, 2022. [3]

Read more: Which growth hormone drugs are approved in Canada?

Is MK-677 a peptide?

No. Ibutamoren (MK-677) is a non-peptide molecule that acts on the same ghrelin receptor as ipamorelin. [4][22]

What is the difference between GHRH and GHRP?

GHRH is the body’s growth hormone releasing hormone, and its analogues act on the GHRH receptor. GHRPs are synthetic peptides that act on the ghrelin receptor instead. [5][6][8]

Read more: How do growth hormone peptides work?

Sources and methodology

This guide draws on Health Canada advisories and its Drug Product Database, searched for 13 growth hormone ingredient names on October 23, 2026. It also uses the US FDA, the WADA 2026 Prohibited List, peer-reviewed papers and our own testing records. Claims are linked to numbered sources below. It contains no dosing information and makes no claim that any compound treats, prevents or improves any condition.

How this guide was made: we researched and drafted it with AI assistance. We then checked every claim against its cited source, and the owner of Boreal Peptides reviewed it before publication.

Last reviewed: October 23, 2026. Next review: January 2027, when WADA’s 2027 list takes effect, or sooner if Health Canada authorizes a new growth hormone product. Read our editorial policy.

Research use only

Boreal Peptides supplies compounds for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Nothing here is medical advice. Read our research use disclaimer.

Sources

  1. Health Canada. Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you (RA-81874). April 9, 2026. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/think-twice-injecting-peptides-bought-online-unauthorized-products-can-seriously-harm
  2. Health Canada. Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks (RA-77807). August 1, 2025. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/unauthorized-injectable-peptide-drugs-seized-and-sold-canada-peptide-may-pose-serious
  3. Health Canada. Drug Product Database, searched by active ingredient (somatropin, somapacitan, somatrogon, lonapegsomatropin, tesamorelin, sermorelin, ipamorelin, CJC, ibutamoren, macimorelin, hexarelin, pralmorelin, anamorelin), October 23, 2026. https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/
  4. Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. The safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues. Sexual Medicine Reviews, 2018. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.02.004. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5632578/
  5. Kojima M, Hosoda H, Date Y, et al. Ghrelin is a growth-hormone-releasing acylated peptide from stomach. Nature, 1999. doi:10.1038/45230. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10604470/
  6. Ghigo E, Arvat E, Muccioli G, Camanni F. Growth hormone-releasing peptides. European Journal of Endocrinology, 1997. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1360445. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9186261/
  7. Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. European Journal of Endocrinology, 1998. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1390552. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/
  8. Dominikowski A, Rękoś Z, Olejarz M, et al. The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2026. doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1822475. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1822475/full
  9. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, 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. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006. doi:10.1210/jc.2005-1536. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/
  10. Knoop A, Thomas A, Fichant E, et al. Qualitative identification of growth hormone-releasing hormones in human plasma by means of immunoaffinity purification and LC-HRMS/MS. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2016. doi:10.1007/s00216-016-9377-3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4830873/
  11. Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Tyler K, Mohammadi E, Pietra C. Efficacy of ipamorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, on gastric dysmotility in a rodent model of postoperative ileus. Journal of Experimental Pharmacology, 2012. doi:10.2147/jep.s35396. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4863553/
  12. Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD; Ipamorelin 201 Study Group. Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 2014. doi:10.1007/s00384-014-2030-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25331030/
  13. Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. New England Journal of Medicine, 2007. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa072375. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18057338/
  14. US Food and Drug Administration. Drugs@FDA: BLA 022505, Egrifta (tesamorelin), Theratechnologies. Checked October 23, 2026. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022505
  15. Theratechnologies. EGRIFTA SV (tesamorelin) for injection, prescribing information, sections 1 and 11. DailyMed, label version July 29, 2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224
  16. Pfizer. GENOTROPIN (somatropin) for injection, prescribing information, section 11. DailyMed, label version August 4, 2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ffebf88b-d257-4542-9808-74d9b7167765
  17. US Food and Drug Administration. Drugs@FDA: NDA 019863, Geref (sermorelin), EMD Serono. Checked October 23, 2026. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=019863
  18. US Food and Drug Administration. Drugs@FDA: NDA 205598, Macrilen (macimorelin), Aeterna Zentaris. Checked October 23, 2026. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=205598
  19. Henry RK. Macimorelin acetate for the diagnosis of childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency. touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology, 2022. doi:10.17925/EE.2022.18.2.84. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9835807/
  20. US Food and Drug Administration. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks. Content current as of April 22, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
  21. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List, section S2 (in force January 1, 2026). Checked October 23, 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
  22. Ghigo E, Arvat E, Camanni F. Orally active growth hormone secretagogues: state of the art and clinical perspectives. Annals of Medicine, 1998. doi:10.3109/07853899808999399. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9667794/
  23. Boreal Peptides. Lab results (checked October 23, 2026). https://borealpeptides.com/lab-results/
  24. Boreal Peptides. Research use disclaimer (checked October 23, 2026). https://borealpeptides.com/research-use-disclaimer/
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About Boreal Peptides

The Boreal Peptides Research Team researches and writes our compound guides. Every guide is checked against the sources it cites and reviewed by the owner of Boreal Peptides before publication.

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