GHRP-6
Also known as: Growth hormone-releasing peptide-6, SK&F 110679
GHRP-6 (also called Growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 or SK&F 110679) is a ghrelin-receptor agonist in the Growth Hormone Secretagogue class. GHRP-6 is a synthetic hexapeptide agonist at growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a. It stimulates growth hormone release both directly at the pituitary and indirectly by suppressing somatostatin tone in the hypothalamus.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 87616-84-0
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 873.0 g/mol
- Half-life
- ~30 minutes
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- Limited Human Evidence
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Intravenous
- Frequency
- Single bolus in the published pharmacokinetic study
- Last updated
- Sep 6, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- GHSR (ghrelin receptor)
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected between Dec 2025 and Sep 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 11
- Listed offers
- 13
- Median price per mg
- $4.50/mg
- Typical $3.80–$8.00/mg
Research summary
Synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue and one of the earliest compounds in its class. It raises growth hormone through the ghrelin receptor, and because that is the receptor ghrelin uses to signal hunger it also produces marked appetite stimulation and increased gastric motility, along with rises in cortisol and prolactin. Those off-target effects prompted development of more selective agents such as ipamorelin. Not FDA-approved. Prohibited in sport under WADA class S2.
Peptide Library's GHRP-6 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.
GHRP-6 dosage chart
GHRP-6 has published human dosing from a pharmacokinetic study that gave single intravenous bolus doses of 100, 200 and 400 mcg/kg to nine healthy male volunteers. It has also been used extensively as a diagnostic stimulus in endocrine research. All of that dosing is weight-based, intravenous and acute; no product is approved and no repeated-dosing regimen has been established.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 100-400 mcg/kg intravenous bolus (weight-based) |
| Route | Intravenous |
| Frequency | Single bolus in the published pharmacokinetic study |
| Duration studied | Acute; sampling to 12 hours post-dose |
| Evidence level | Limited Human Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human pharmacokinetic study (Cabrales et al., 2013)Clinical trial · Human pharmacokinetic study | Nine male healthy volunteers | 100, 200 and 400 mcg/kg of body weight | Intravenous bolus | Single dose | Acute, with plasma sampling to 12 hours | Pharmacokinetic profile of GHRP-6 | Cabrales A et al. Pharmacokinetic study of Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide 6 (GHRP-6) in nine male healthy volunteers. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2013. |
| Endocrine comparison study (2010)Clinical trial · Human endocrine physiology study | Human subjects | Per study protocol | Intravenous | — | — | Growth hormone, ACTH and cortisol responses versus ghrelin and GHRH | Effects of ghrelin, GH-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) and GHRH on GH, ACTH and cortisol release. Pituitary. 2010. |
| Diagnostic use in adrenal insufficiency (2010)Clinical trial · Diagnostic accuracy study | Patients assessed for adrenal insufficiency | Per test protocol | Intravenous | — | — | Diagnostic performance versus the insulin tolerance test | Diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency using the GHRP-6 test: comparison with the insulin tolerance test. Horm Metab Res. 2010. |
Where sources disagree
- Published human dosing is weight-based and intravenous. GHRP-6 is sold with fixed subcutaneous protocols commonly quoted at 100-300 mcg two or three times daily; the pharmacokinetic study's 100 mcg/kg is roughly 7 mg for a 70 kg adult, so the two are not comparable and no published study used the subcutaneous route.
- GHRP-6 reliably raises ACTH and cortisol alongside growth hormone. That is documented in the same studies used to support its growth hormone effect, and is routinely omitted from secondary sources.
- Much of the human literature uses GHRP-6 as a diagnostic stimulus in a single test, not as a treatment. A dose validated for provoking a hormone response in a clinic is not evidence for a repeated therapeutic regimen.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 5 mg, 10 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg per 0.01 mL |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water per 5 mg vial.
- Injection Sites
- AbdomenThigh
- Concentration Example
- 5 mg + 2 mL → 2.5 mg/mL
- Timing Notes
- Pre-meal or before bed
- Expected Onset
- 1–2 weeks
How to reconstitute GHRP-6
- Check the vial size and diluent volume. The profile example for GHRP-6 is: Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water per 5 mg vial.
- Swab both vial stoppers and draw the bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Add the water slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial so it does not jet onto the powder, then swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake.
- Record the resulting concentration: 5 mg + 2 mL → 2.5 mg/mL.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, refrigerate it (see Storage & stability below), and use the calculator preset to convert a dose in mcg into syringe units.
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C46H56N12O6 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 873.0 g/mol |
| CAS number | 87616-84-0 |
| Half-life | ~30 minutes |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
| Formulation | Lyophilized Powder |
| PubChem CID | 4345065 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
GHRP-6 is a synthetic hexapeptide agonist at growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a. It stimulates growth hormone release both directly at the pituitary and indirectly by suppressing somatostatin tone in the hypothalamus. Its selectivity is limited relative to later compounds in the class: alongside growth hormone it commonly raises cortisol and prolactin, and it produces pronounced appetite stimulation and increased gastric motility, consistent with activating the receptor that ghrelin normally uses to signal hunger. Those off-target effects are the reason more selective agonists such as ipamorelin were subsequently developed.
Origin
Synthetic Met-enkephalin-derived hexapeptide.
Targets
Studies
- Growth hormone responses to GH-releasing peptide (GHRP-6) in hypothyroidism
- Growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation
- Disposition of growth hormone-releasing peptide (SK&F 110679) in rat and dog following intravenous or subcutaneous administration
- Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial and extra-myocardial damages by activating prosurvival mechanisms
- Inhibition of ghrelin activity by the receptor antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 enhances hepatic fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis in a growing pig model
Regulatory & research status
GHRP-6 is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Banned in Sport |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
Benefits
GHRP-6 side effects
GHRP-6 has only limited human data, so the list below is incomplete and its side-effect profile is not well established.
Side Effects
- Marked hunger
- Water retention
- Cortisol increase
Contraindications
- May increase appetite
- Avoid with diabetes
Stacking
Common stacking partners
Combinations that include GHRP-6, with the proposed rationale, an evidence grade and what is not established, are catalogued in the peptide stacks directory.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
GHRP-6: frequently asked questions
What is GHRP-6?
Synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue and one of the earliest compounds in its class. It raises growth hormone through the ghrelin receptor, and because that is the receptor ghrelin uses to signal hunger it also produces marked appetite stimulation and increased gastric motility, along with rises in cortisol and prolactin. Those off-target effects prompted development of more selective agents such as ipamorelin. Not FDA-approved. Prohibited in sport under WADA class S2.
How does GHRP-6 work?
GHRP-6 is a synthetic hexapeptide agonist at growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a. It stimulates growth hormone release both directly at the pituitary and indirectly by suppressing somatostatin tone in the hypothalamus.
Is GHRP-6 FDA approved?
No. GHRP-6 is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
What is the half-life of GHRP-6?
Reported half-life for GHRP-6 is ~30 minutes. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
Is GHRP-6 banned in sport?
GHRP-6 is recorded here as prohibited in sport. Athletes subject to anti-doping rules should check the current WADA Prohibited List directly, since it is revised annually and classifications change.
What peptides are similar to GHRP-6?
Compounds most often compared with GHRP-6 include Ipamorelin, GHRP-1, Pralmorelin (GHRP-2) and Hexarelin (Examorelin). They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- WADA Prohibited List 2026External reference
- Growth hormone responses to GH-releasing peptide (GHRP-6) in hypothyroidism — Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 1997External reference
- Growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation — J Nanobiotechnology, 2025External reference
- Disposition of growth hormone-releasing peptide (SK&F 110679) in rat and dog following intravenous or subcutaneous administration — Drug Metab Dispos, 1994External reference
- Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial and extra-myocardial damages by activating prosurvival mechanisms — Front Pharmacol, 2024External reference
- Inhibition of ghrelin activity by the receptor antagonist [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 enhances hepatic fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis in a growing pig model — Peptides, 2023External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Sep 6, 2026 · Version 2
This GHRP-6 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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