Explore studies of clinical trials.
GHRPs stimulate growth hormone release through a receptor distinct from GHRH, acting at both the pituitary and hypothalamic level, with consistent effects demonstrated across species and administration routes.
Argente, J; García-Segura, L M; Pozo, J; Chowen, J A · Review
Daily oral MK-677 significantly stimulated the GH-IGF-1 axis in healthy elderly adults aged 64-81, raising levels toward those seen in younger individuals.
Chapman, I M; Bach, M A; Van Cauter, E; Farmer, M; Krupa, D; Taylor, A M; Schilling, L M; Cole, K Y; Skiles, E H; Pezzoli, S S; Hartman, M L; Veldhuis, J D; Gormley, G J; Thorner, M O · RCT
Bedtime MK-677 at 25 mg for 7 days significantly increased 24-hour GH profiles and IGF-1 in young men without altering adrenocortical function.
Copinschi, G; Van Onderbergen, A; L'Hermite-Balériaux, M; Mendel, C M; Caufriez, A; Leproult, R; Bolognese, J A; De Smet, M; Thorner, M O; Van Cauter, E · RCT
ANP, BNP, and cGMP were compared as screening markers for asymptomatic and symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, with potential utility for early detection.
Friedl, W; Mair, J; Thomas, S; Pichler, M; Puschendorf, B · Cross Sectional
Hexarelin maintained GH-releasing efficacy with repeated administration, and hexarelin plus GHRH produced a synergistic GH response exceeding individual effects.
Massoud, A F; Hindmarsh, P C; Matthews, D R; Brook, C G · RCT
Plasma BNP may increase proportionally more than ANP after acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure, potentially offering superior diagnostic and prognostic value.
Omland, T; Aakvaag, A; Bonarjee, V V; Caidahl, K; Lie, R T; Nilsen, D W; Sundsfjord, J A; Dickstein, K · Cohort
Combination thymosin alpha-1 (1 mg twice weekly) and lymphoblastoid interferon was tested as a strategy to improve sustained response rates in chronic hepatitis C over interferon monotherapy.
Rasi, G; DiVirgilio, D; Mutchnick, M G; Colella, F; Sinibaldi-Vallebona, P; Pierimarchi, P; Valli, B; Garaci, E · RCT
GHRP-2 maintained GH-releasing efficacy in critically ill patients despite blunted responses to GHRH, suggesting a preserved alternative pathway for GH stimulation.
Van den Berghe, G; de Zegher, F; Bowers, C Y; Wouters, P; Muller, P; Soetens, F; Vlasselaers, D; Schetz, M; Verwaest, C; Lauwers, P; Bouillon, R · RCT
BNP was superior to both C-terminal ANP and N-terminal ANP for detecting left ventricular systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and ventricular hypertrophy.
Yamamoto, K; Burnett, J C; Jougasaki, M; Nishimura, R A; Bailey, K R; Saito, Y; Nakao, K; Redfield, M M · Cross Sectional
GHRP-2 and hexarelin both showed potent GH-releasing activity with slight stimulatory effects on prolactin, ACTH, and cortisol; their GH-releasing activities were directly compared for the first time.
Arvat, E; di Vito, L; Maccagno, B; Broglio, F; Boghen, M F; Deghenghi, R; Camanni, F; Ghigo, E · RCT
GHRP-2 stimulation revealed significant residual GH secretory potential in children classified as GH-deficient, with peak responses varying by growth disorder type.
Bercu, B B; Walker, R F · Clinical Trial
Oral MK-677 stimulated GH and IGF-I in selected severely GH-deficient adults, with responses dependent on residual pituitary secretory capacity.
Chapman, I M; Pescovitz, O H; Murphy, G; Treep, T; Cerchio, K A; Krupa, D; Gertz, B; Polvino, W J; Skiles, E H; Pezzoli, S S; Thorner, M O · RCT
Prolonged oral MK-677 significantly improved sleep quality by increasing stage 4 (deep sleep) and REM sleep in both young (18-30) and older (65+) adults.
Copinschi, G; Leproult, R; Van Onderbergen, A; Caufriez, A; Cole, K Y; Schilling, L M; Mendel, C M; De Lepeleire, I; Bolognese, J A; Van Cauter, E · RCT
Intranasal GHRP-2 effectively stimulated GH release in children with short stature, demonstrating viability of a needle-free delivery route.
Pihoker, C; Badger, T M; Reynolds, G A; Bowers, C Y · Clinical Trial
Continuous GHRH plus GHRP-2 infusion partially restored GH pulsatility and substantially raised IGF-1 levels in critically ill patients with suppressed somatotropic axes.
Van den Berghe, G; de Zegher, F; Veldhuis, J D; Wouters, P; Awouters, M; Verbruggen, W; Schetz, M; Verwaest, C; Lauwers, P; Bouillon, R; Bowers, C Y · Clinical Trial
Prolonged critical illness disrupts spontaneous TSH and prolactin secretion, and GH secretagogue infusion affects these hormones alongside GH stimulation.
Van den Berghe, G; de Zegher, F; Veldhuis, J D; Wouters, P; Gouwy, S; Stockman, W; Weekers, F; Schetz, M; Lauwers, P; Bouillon, R; Bowers, C Y · Clinical Trial
Oral GH secretagogues effectively increase GH and IGF-1 through a specific receptor, with clinical potential spanning GH deficiency, aging, and catabolic states, though their optimal therapeutic role remained to be defined.
Ghigo, E; Arvat, E; Camanni, F · Review
GH secretagogues like GHRP-6 and hexarelin can stimulate growth hormone release through mechanisms distinct from GHRH, making them potentially useful for thalassemia patients with iron-damaged pituitary glands.
Karydis, I; Tolis, A; Tolis, G · Review
Thymosin alpha-1 (1 mg twice weekly) combined with interferon-alpha-2b (3 MU three times weekly) produced superior biochemical and virological responses compared to interferon alone in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C patients.
Moscarella, S; Buzzelli, G; Romanelli, R G; Monti, M; Giannini, C; Careccia, G; Marrocchi, E M; Zignego, A L · RCT
MK-677 at 25 mg daily reversed diet-induced nitrogen wasting in healthy volunteers, increasing IGF-1 by 40% and producing sustained anabolic effects comparable to GH injections.
Murphy, M G; Plunkett, L M; Gertz, B J; He, W; Wittreich, J; Polvino, W M; Clemmons, D R · RCT
Ipamorelin released GH with potency similar to GHRP-6 but did not increase ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, or FSH even at doses 200-fold higher than effective GH-releasing doses, making it the first truly selective GH secretagogue.
Raun, K; Hansen, B S; Johansen, N L; Thøgersen, H; Madsen, K; Ankersen, M; Andersen, P H · Clinical Trial
MK-677 (25 mg/day for 8 weeks) increased bone formation markers more than resorption markers in 24 obese young males, with elevated IGF-1 levels suggesting a growth hormone-mediated anabolic bone effect.
Svensson, J; Ohlsson, C; Jansson, J O; Murphy, G; Wyss, D; Krupa, D; Cerchio, K; Polvino, W; Gertz, B; Baylink, D; Mohan, S; Bengtsson, B A · RCT
MK-677 (25 mg/day for 8 weeks) increased 24-hour GH secretion rate by 1.8-fold, normalized pulsatile GH profiles, increased fat-free mass by ~3 kg, and raised basal metabolic rate in obese males.
Svensson, J; Lönn, L; Jansson, J O; Murphy, G; Wyss, D; Krupa, D; Cerchio, K; Polvino, W; Gertz, B; Boseaus, I; Sjöström, L; Bengtsson, B A · RCT
GHRP-2 combined with TRH infusion reduced elevated leptin levels and reactivated suppressed GH and thyroid axes in prolonged critically ill patients, addressing the paradoxical fat-gain/muscle-wasting metabolic state.
Van den Berghe, G; Wouters, P; Carlsson, L; Baxter, R C; Bouillon, R; Bowers, C Y · RCT
Combined GHRP-2 and TRH infusion most effectively reactivated both pulsatile GH secretion and the thyrotropic axis in 20 prolonged critically ill patients, with effects exceeding either agent alone.
Van den Berghe, G; de Zegher, F; Baxter, R C; Veldhuis, J D; Wouters, P; Schetz, M; Verwaest, C; Van der Vorst, E; Lauwers, P; Bouillon, R; Bowers, C Y · RCT
GHRP-2 preserved GH secretory response in 8 children during prednisone therapy, maintaining GH release levels comparable to pre-treatment baseline, suggesting GHRP-2 bypasses glucocorticoid-induced somatostatin excess.
Meacham, L R; Culler, F L; Abdul-Latif, H; Sullivan, K M; Bowers, C Y · Clinical Trial
GH secretagogues offer three clinical futures: oral GH deficiency treatment replacing injections, improved GH deficiency diagnostics, and expanded indications for partial GH insufficiency in aging, obesity, and critical illness.
Micic, D; Casabiell, X; Gualillo, O; Pombo, M; Dieguez, C; Casanueva, F F · Review
MK-677 increased bone formation markers at 2 and 12 months in healthy elderly and in hip fracture patients, with sustained IGF-1 elevation, demonstrating prolonged bone-building potential in age-related bone loss.
Murphy, M G; Bach, M A; Plotkin, D; Bolognese, J; Ng, J; Krupa, D; Cerchio, K; Gertz, B J · RCT
GHRP-2 activates the female GH axis through three mechanisms: direct pituitary somatotroph stimulation, amplification of endogenous GHRH release, and functional somatostatin withdrawal, explaining its synergy with GHRH.
Shah, N; Evans, W S; Bowers, C Y; Veldhuis, J D · Clinical Trial
MK-677 produced mixed lipoprotein effects in obese males: beneficial increases in HDL and decreases in Lp(a), but also unfavorable increases in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides over 8 weeks.
Svensson, J; Jansson, J O; Ottosson, M; Johannsson, G; Taskinen, M R; Wiklund, O; Bengtsson, B A · RCT
Critical illness causes biphasic GH axis disruption; GH secretagogues + TRH restore physiological pulsatile GH secretion more safely than direct GH replacement, which increased mortality in a large clinical trial.
Van den Berghe, G · Review
Continuous GHRP-2 infusion synchronized the pulsatile release of GH, TSH, and prolactin in critically ill patients, revealing a common hypothalamic regulatory mechanism that can be pharmacologically reactivated.
Van den Berghe, G; Wouters, P; Bowers, C Y; de Zegher, F; Bouillon, R; Veldhuis, J D · Clinical Trial
Thymosin alpha-1 combined with low-dose IFN or IL-2 shows high efficacy against cancers in both preclinical models and human clinical trials, supporting its role as a cancer immunotherapy adjuvant.
Garaci, E; Pica, F; Rasi, G; Favalli, C · Review
The combined GHRP-6 + GHRH stimulation test accurately diagnosed adult GH deficiency with high sensitivity and specificity, requiring a single blood draw at 15-30 minutes and avoiding the risks of insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
Mahajan, T; Lightman, S L · Clinical Trial
Oral estradiol supplementation in postmenopausal women modulated continuous GHRP-2-driven GH secretion, increasing IGF-1 response but altering GH pulse dynamics, revealing estrogen-GH secretagogue interactions important for clinical dosing.
Shah, N; Evans, W S; Bowers, C Y; Veldhuis, J D · RCT
Female ICU patients maintained higher GH pulse frequency and IGF-1 levels than males during protracted critical illness, with gender-modulated responses to GHRP-2/GHRH stimulation, potentially explaining women's better ICU survival.
Van den Berghe, G; Baxter, R C; Weekers, F; Wouters, P; Bowers, C Y; Veldhuis, J D · Clinical Trial
Exercise attenuated L-arginine + GHRP-2 synergistic GH release in men but not women, revealing gender-specific modulation of GH secretagogue synergy by physical activity.
Wideman, L; Weltman, J Y; Patrie, J T; Bowers, C Y; Shah, N; Story, S; Veldhuis, J D; Weltman, A · RCT
L-arginine and GHRP-2 produced synergistic (not just additive) GH release at rest, with women showing greater absolute GH responses than men, supporting combined use for maximal GH stimulation.
Wideman, L; Weltman, J Y; Patrie, J T; Bowers, C Y; Shah, N; Story, S; Weltman, A; Veldhuis, J D · RCT
Thymosin alpha-1 improved virological (HBV DNA clearance) and biochemical (ALT normalization) responses in anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis B, a treatment-resistant subgroup.
Zavaglia, C; Severini, R; Tinelli, C; Franzone, J S; Airoldi, A; Tempini, S; Bettale, G; Ideo, G · RCT
MK-677 at 10 and 25 mg/day increased GH and IGF-1 dose-dependently over 4 weeks in GH-deficient adults with acceptable safety, supporting its potential as oral GH replacement therapy.
Codner, E; Cassorla, F; Tiulpakov, A N; Mericq, M V; Avila, A; Pescovitz, O H; Svensson, J; Cerchio, K; Krupa, D; Gertz, B J; Murphy, G · Clinical Trial
MK-677 combined with alendronate maintained higher bone formation markers than alendronate alone over 12 months in postmenopausal women, demonstrating complementary mechanisms: IGF-1-stimulated bone building plus anti-resorptive bone protection.
Murphy, M G; Weiss, S; McClung, M; Schnitzer, T; Cerchio, K; Connor, J; Krupa, D; Gertz, B J · RCT
IV ghrelin infusion in healthy humans increased subjective appetite ratings and food intake significantly, alongside GH stimulation, providing the first proof that ghrelin is a human hunger hormone.
Wren, A M; Seal, L J; Cohen, M A; Brynes, A E; Frost, G S; Murphy, K G; Dhillo, W S; Ghatei, M A; Bloom, S R · RCT
The ghrelin-GHS system is a multi-functional endocrine network with validated roles in GH regulation, appetite control, adiposity, and cardiovascular function, with therapeutic implications across multiple medical specialties.
Arvat, Emanuela; Broglio, Fabio; Aimaretti, Gianluca; Benso, Andrea; Giordano, Roberta; Deghenghi, Romano; Ghigo, Ezio · Review
Thymosin alpha-1 demonstrates clinical efficacy across hepatitis B, hepatitis C (with IFN), cancer (with chemo), and potentially HIV, with excellent tolerability and a favorable safety profile across all studied indications.
Billich, Andreas · Review
Natriuretic peptides serve dual roles as sensitive cardiac biomarkers AND active cardiovascular protectors, with evidence supporting both diagnostic utility and therapeutic potential through their vasodilatory, natriuretic, and neurohormonal-suppressive actions.
Clerico, Aldo · Review
Thymosin alpha-1 + famciclovir combination activated HBV-specific T-cell responses and achieved HBeAg seroconversion in some immune-tolerant chronic hepatitis B patients — a typically treatment-unresponsive population.
Lau, G K K; Nanji, A; Hou, J; Fong, D Y T; Au, W-S; Yuen, S-T; Lin, M; Kung, H-F; Lam, S-K · Clinical Trial
BNP correlated most strongly with NYHA heart failure classification and treatment response in outpatients, outperforming C-terminal ANP and N-terminal ANP as a monitoring biomarker.
Lee, Shang-Chiun; Stevens, Tracy L; Sandberg, Sharon M; Heublein, Denise M; Nelson, Susan M; Jougasaki, Michihisa; Redfield, Margaret M; Burnett, John C · Cross Sectional
Chronic HBV treatment should be individualized based on viral markers, liver status, and patient characteristics, with thymosin alpha-1 offering an immune-enhancing alternative/complement to antiviral drugs across different HBV subgroups.
Leung, Nancy · Review
GH secretagogues (GHRP-6, hexarelin, MK-677) offer clinical advantages over GH injections: oral availability, physiological pulsatile release patterns, and multiple applications from GH deficiency to aging, obesity, and critical illness.
Root, Allen W; Root, Michael J · Review
Thymosin alpha-1 + HAART improved CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV patients with suboptimal immune reconstitution, with acceptable safety, demonstrating efficacy as an immune adjuvant for HIV treatment non-responders.
Chadwick, D; Pido-Lopez, J; Pires, A; Imami, N; Gotch, F; Villacian, J S; Ravindran, S; Paton, N I · RCT