Latest studies
Every paper our editors flag with a plain-language note and an evidence rating. Filter by evidence, species, or design to find what actually applies to you.
- Study · GHRP-6Mixed
Phase III Open-Label, Randomized Clinical Trial of Epidermal Growth Factor and Growth Hormone Releasing Hexapeptide in Acute Ischemic Stroke.
This trial studied GHRP-6 in combination with epidermal growth factor, so its effects cannot be isolated to the peptide alone. The study missed its primary endpoint, with benefit seen only in a small severe-stroke subgroup and an open-label design that limits confidence. A genuine but preliminary signal warranting further study.
Journal of clinical neurosciencen=—HumanJul 16, 2026 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
EGF and GHRP6 Co-Administration Attenuates Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Models: Behavioral and Molecular Evidences.
A preclinical mouse study testing co-administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with growth-hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) in two models of cognitive decline, aging and streptozotocin-induced impairment. In C57BL/6 mice (14–15 per group), the EGF+GHRP-6 combination was associated with improved gait (longer step length in aged animals) and better performance on memory tasks (Y-maze alternation, novel-object recognition), plus favorable shifts in genes tied to antioxidant defense, synaptic plasticity and oligodendrocyte differentiation, and reduced Nfkb1. These are preclinical findings; human data are needed before clinical conclusions can be drawn. Two further caveats: GHRP-6 was given combined with EGF, so its individual contribution cannot be isolated, and rodent cognition models translate imperfectly to human disease. For a tracked peptide, this is a mechanistic signal for GHRP-6 in a neuroprotection context, hypothesis-generating, not evidence of benefit in people.
Neurotoxicity researchn=—AnimalJul 4, 2026 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
A discovery-based proteomic approach of epidermal growth factor and growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 in a model of acute ischemic stroke.
This is a preclinical proteomics study in a rat stroke model examining the molecular mechanisms of combined epidermal growth factor (EGF) plus GHRP-6 co-administration in the ischemic penumbra. Researchers reported that at 3 and 24 hours after treatment, EGF+GHRP-6 was associated with modulation of 40 and 223 proteins respectively, with consistent effects on neurotransmitter-transport proteins and, at 24 hours, on antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and hypoxia-response pathways. GHRP-6 is studied here in combination with EGF, not alone, so its independent contribution cannot be isolated. These are preclinical, mechanistic findings in rodents; human data are needed before clinical conclusions can be drawn. They add a molecular rationale to earlier reports of this combination's neuroprotective signals, but sit far upstream of clinical evidence for GHRP-6.
Pharmacological reports : PRn=—AnimalJun 8, 2026 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide-6 (GHRP-6) Ameliorates Post-Infarct Ventricular Remodeling and Systolic Dysfunction in a Model of Permanent Coronary Ligation.
This is a preclinical rat study of GHRP-6, a growth-hormone-secretagogue hexapeptide, in a permanent coronary-ligation (non-reperfused) heart-attack model. After establishing a minimum effective dose in healthy rats, researchers reported that 7 days of GHRP-6 was associated with reduced myocardial tissue loss, less interstitial fibrosis/scarring, and improved left-ventricular function versus saline controls, with proteomic analysis pointing to fatty-acid oxidation, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and mitochondrial pathways. This is a small, short-duration rodent model with imaging, histology, and mechanistic proteomics as endpoints — a coherent preclinical cardioprotection signal, not clinical proof. These are preclinical findings; human data are needed before clinical conclusions can be drawn. GHRP-6's cardiovascular evidence remains at the animal-model stage.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)n=—AnimalMar 12, 2026 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) ameliorates acute lung injury and its subsequent evolvement to interstitial fibrosis.
This is a preclinical mouse study — described by the authors as the first assessment of GHRP-6 in lung injury — testing the peptide in LPS- and zymosan/PAF-induced acute lung injury and its progression to fibrosis, across acute and chronic time points. Researchers reported that in the acute setting GHRP-6 was associated with reduced neutrophilic alveolitis, better lung compliance, improved alveolar-capillary permeability, and lower IL-1beta, and in the chronic setting with preserved lung structure and less collagen accumulation. These are early preclinical findings in a first-in-area rodent study; human data are needed before clinical conclusions can be drawn. The work opens a new research direction for GHRP-6 rather than establishing any clinical role, and effect sizes and dosing remain to be characterized.
International immunopharmacologyn=—AnimalMar 1, 2026 - Study · AOD-9604Weak / none
The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration.
This narrative review is directly on-topic for several tracked peptides. It maps the performance-enhancing GH-IGF-1 axis compounds sold as research chemicals, including the GHRH analogues sermorelin, tesamorelin, and CJC-1295 (with and without DAC), and the growth-hormone secretagogues GHRP-6, hexarelin, and ipamorelin. Its central contribution is an evidence-tiering: the authors contrast peer-reviewed pharmacology and clinical data against the online self-administration protocols people actually use, stratifying agents from regulatory-grade trial evidence down to a complete absence of human studies, and they are explicit that performance and body-recomposition benefits remain unproven. They also catalogue reported adverse effects, including prolactin and cortisol elevations, fluid retention, joint and muscle symptoms, and injection-site reactions. As a review it introduces no new data, but for readers weighing these secretagogues it is a sober, caveat-forward map of how thin the human evidence is and what risks have been reported.
Frontiers in endocrinologyn=——Jan 1, 2026 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
Growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation.
This is a preclinical study developing a self-assembling GHRP-6 peptide hydrogel and testing it in a mouse model of acute kidney injury. Researchers reported that the GHRP-6 hydrogel was associated with enrichment of metabolites tied to amino-acid and fatty-acid metabolism, enhanced survival of renal tubular epithelial cells in an ischemic microenvironment, and activation of the mTOR-P70 pathway. This is a nanotechnology-plus-mechanism rodent study proposing metabolic reprogramming as the mode of action. GHRP-6 is delivered in a novel hydrogel formulation rather than as a conventional injection, so results are formulation-specific. These are preclinical findings; human data are needed before clinical conclusions can be drawn. It represents an early, exploratory therapeutic direction for GHRP-6 rather than clinical evidence.
Journal of nanobiotechnologyn=—AnimalDec 1, 2025 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
Assessing The Effectiveness of Growth Hormone Releasing Protein-6 in Improving Human Oocyte Maturation and Meiotic Progression in In Vitro Maturation Culture Media.
This is an in-vitro study testing GHRP-6 (a ghrelin-receptor agonist) as an additive to human oocyte in-vitro maturation (IVM) culture media, using 240 germinal-vesicle oocytes. Researchers reported that 75 ng/mL was the most effective concentration, associated with maturation rates of 70% on day 1 and 80% on day 2, exceeding comparison media; however, real-time PCR showed that GHRP-6 did not significantly raise expression of genes tied to meiotic progression and membrane maturation, and it did not significantly improve cytoplasmic maturation. This is a laboratory study using human oocytes with a mixed signal — a nuclear-maturation benefit (earlier first polar body) without a clear cytoplasmic-maturation effect. These are in-vitro findings, not clinical outcomes; effects on fertilization, embryo quality, or pregnancy were not assessed.
International journal of fertility & sterilityn=—In vitroSep 30, 2025 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
Subchronic safety assessment of CIGB-500 in beagle dog after repeated daily dose administration over 28 days.
This is a regulatory toxicology study directly relevant to GHRP-6: CIGB-500 is a formulation whose active ingredient is GHRP-6. Beagle dogs received daily intravenous doses (300, 1000, 2000 µg/kg/day) for 28 days. Researchers reported transient, dose-related signs at the higher doses (hypersalivation, reduced activity, lowered heart rate, pale gums, head erythema) that they classified as non-adverse and reversible, with no adverse macroscopic or microscopic tissue changes; the no-observed-adverse-effect level was set at the top dose, 2000 µg/kg/day. This is single-species preclinical safety data, not efficacy, and dog tolerability does not establish human safety. It is worth surfacing as GHRP-6-specific toxicology context, framed as preclinical. Note the transient heart-rate reduction observed at all dose levels.
Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTPn=—AnimalMay 1, 2025 - Study · GHRP-6Weak / none
Intranasal Delivery of a Ghrelin Mimetic Engages the Brain Ghrelin Signaling System in Mice.
This mouse study administers GHRP-6 as an active compound and is directly relevant to how it might reach the brain. Comparing intranasal ghrelin, GHRP-6 and MK-0677, researchers reported that only GHRP-6 (5 mg/kg) increased food intake without adverse signs, activated appetite-related arcuate-nucleus neurons (shown by Fos mapping and RNAscope), and raised serum growth hormone. The route-of-administration angle is the notable contribution: it suggests intranasal GHRP-6 can engage central ghrelin signaling in mice where intranasal ghrelin and MK-0677 did not. Caveats: single species, mechanistic endpoints (feeding, neuronal activation, GH), and no efficacy or safety claims for humans. These are preclinical findings; human data would be needed before clinical conclusions.
Endocrinologyn=—AnimalFeb 5, 2025