Peptide LibraryCorticorelin
Corticorelin is a research peptide in the CRH Receptor Agonist class. Corticorelin binds CRH receptor type 1 on pituitary corticotrophs, stimulating ACTH and subsequently cortisol release. Pituitary adenomas typically retain CRH responsiveness while ectopic ACTH-secreting tumours usually do not, so the pattern of ACTH response after administration carries diagnostic information.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 9015-71-8
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 4757 g/mol
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Intravenous
- Frequency
- Single dose per test
- Last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- Reviewed
- Nov 7, 2026
Research summary
Synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone approved as a diagnostic agent to help distinguish pituitary from ectopic sources of ACTH in ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome.
Research evidence
- Regulatory review (FDA label)1 reviewed source
- Controlled human trialsNone in reviewed sources
- Early or uncontrolled human studiesNone in reviewed sources
- Lab & animal studiesNone in reviewed sources
How it works
Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess.
Peptide Library's Corticorelin profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Corticorelin dosage evidence
Corticorelin has an FDA-approved human dosage as a single diagnostic test. The ACTHREL (corticorelin ovine triflutate) label dose is 1 mcg/kg given intravenously over 30 to 60 seconds, to help tell pituitary from ectopic ACTH production in ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome; doses above 1 mcg/kg are not recommended. A different molecule, human corticorelin acetate, was tested at 1 mg twice daily under the skin for brain-tumor edema but is not FDA-approved.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Route | Intravenous |
| Frequency | Single dose per test |
| Duration studied | One diagnostic test; blood sampled up to 60 minutes |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-07 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label — ACTHREL, ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndromeFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome | 1 mcg/kg; doses above 1 mcg/kg are not recommended | Intravenous infusion over 30 to 60 seconds | Once | Venous blood sampled at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the dose | ACTH and cortisol response used to distinguish pituitary from ectopic ACTH production | ACTHREL (corticorelin ovine triflutate for injection) — FDA prescribing information (Ferring), DailyMed |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human corticorelin acetate, an investigational analog of the ovine product — peritumoral brain edema (Recht et al., 2013)Clinical trial · Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of an analog (human CRF sequence)Studied an analog, not Corticorelin itself | Patients with malignant brain tumors on stable dexamethasone for peritumoral brain edema (n=200; 100 per arm) | 1 mg twice daily, or placebo | Subcutaneous | Twice daily | 12-week double-blind study | Responders 57.0% against 46.0% with placebo (P=.12); maximum dexamethasone reduction 62.7% against 51.4% (P<.001) | Recht L et al. Steroid-sparing effect of corticorelin acetate in peritumoral cerebral edema is associated with improvement in steroid-induced myopathy. J Clin Oncol. 2013. |
Where sources disagree
- The FDA-approved product, ACTHREL, contains corticorelin ovine triflutate (the sheep sequence). Corticorelin acetate in the brain-edema trial is the human sequence, described in Moliterno et al. (Expert Opin Investig Drugs, 2009) as a synthetic human corticotropin-releasing factor analogue. The two are different molecules, and the trial dose does not apply to the diagnostic test.
- The ACTHREL label reports hypersensitivity reactions, including flushing of the face, neck and upper chest, wheezing, urticaria and angioedema. Its DailyMed label was last updated in December 2021.
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C208H344N60O63S2 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 4757 g/mol |
| CAS number | 9015-71-8 |
| PubChem CID | 16186200 |
| FDA UNII | 305OE8862Y |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL2107324 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Corticorelin binds CRH receptor type 1 on pituitary corticotrophs, stimulating ACTH and subsequently cortisol release. Pituitary adenomas typically retain CRH responsiveness while ectopic ACTH-secreting tumours usually do not, so the pattern of ACTH response after administration carries diagnostic information. The ovine sequence is cleared more slowly than the human peptide, producing a longer response.
Studies
- Steroid-sparing effect of corticorelin acetate in peritumoral cerebral edema is associated with improvement in steroid-induced myopathy
- Corticorelin acetate injections for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema
- Corticorelin: ACTH RF, corticoliberin, corticotrophin-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, human corticotropin-releasing hormone, ovine corticotrophin-releasing factor, Xerecept
- A pharmacological tool to assess vasopressinergic co-activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis more integrally in healthy volunteers
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with nighttime-release prednisone
Research statistics
232 PubMed publications · 18.7% human clinical research · 14 registered trials
Counts of published research through 2026-11-01, not evidence that it works. Publications by year, study types and trials · How publications are counted
Regulatory & research status
Corticorelin is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Research status | Approved product (see FDA status) |
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ
Benefits
—
Corticorelin side effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
Storage & stability
This compound is not supplied as a powder to be mixed, so the freeze-dried powder and reconstitution handling described for research peptides does not apply. Storage conditions are product-specific: follow the label or packaging of the product itself.
Corticorelin: frequently asked questions
What is Corticorelin?
Synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone approved as a diagnostic agent to help distinguish pituitary from ectopic sources of ACTH in ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome.
How does Corticorelin work?
Corticorelin binds CRH receptor type 1 on pituitary corticotrophs, stimulating ACTH and subsequently cortisol release. Pituitary adenomas typically retain CRH responsiveness while ectopic ACTH-secreting tumours usually do not, so the pattern of ACTH response after administration carries diagnostic information.
Is Corticorelin FDA approved?
Yes. Corticorelin is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What peptides are similar to Corticorelin?
Compounds most often compared with Corticorelin include Angiotensin II, Cetrorelix, Cosyntropin and Degarelix. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Steroid-sparing effect of corticorelin acetate in peritumoral cerebral edema is associated with improvement in steroid-induced myopathy — J Clin Oncol, 2013External reference
- Corticorelin acetate injections for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema — Expert Opin Investig Drugs, 2009External reference
- Corticorelin: ACTH RF, corticoliberin, corticotrophin-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, human corticotropin-releasing hormone, ovine corticotrophin-releasing factor, Xerecept — Drugs R D, 2004External reference
- A pharmacological tool to assess vasopressinergic co-activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis more integrally in healthy volunteers — J Psychopharmacol, 2011External reference
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with nighttime-release prednisone — J Rheumatol, 2010External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 2026 · Version 2
This Corticorelin profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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