Hexarelin

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• GHRP-6 vs Hexarelin

Mechanism

In plain terms, hexarelin tells the pituitary gland to release a pulse of the body's own growth hormone, and in laboratory studies it can also act directly on the heart and blood vessels. Technically, it is a synthetic hexapeptide agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a, the ghrelin receptor) on pituitary somatotrophs, triggering pulsatile growth hormone release; it also binds the scavenger receptor CD36 in cardiovascular tissue, which has been proposed to underlie reported cardioprotective effects in animal models. Most mechanistic work is preclinical or from small human studies.

Regulatory Status by Region

• United States (FDA)Not approved for any indication; an unapproved growth hormone secretagogue with no marketed product.
• Australia (TGA)Not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG); an unapproved substance with no registered product.
• European Union (EMA)No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU.
• WADAProhibited at all times under Section S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics); growth hormone secretagogues and growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are explicitly covered.

See the full regulatory status matrix

Key Studies

• Growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, after intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, and oral administration in man (Ghigo et al.) (opens in a new tab) (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994;78(3):693-698; DOI 10.1210/jcem.78.3.8126144; PMID 8126144)

Latest research

• Protective and restorative effects of hexarelin on MPTP-induced lung injury in mice. (opens in a new tab)

  Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology · Aug 21, 2026

See all recent Hexarelin research

Common Questions

What is Hexarelin?

Hexarelin (examorelin) is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide (a GHRP) that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone by acting on the ghrelin receptor. It is not an approved medicine in any jurisdiction; it reached only early-phase human studies for growth hormone assessment and cardiovascular research and was never developed into an approved product. As a growth hormone secretagogue it is prohibited in sport by WADA at all times.

Is Hexarelin approved for medical use?

Hexarelin is investigational: it is being studied in clinical research and is not an approved medicine. United States (FDA): Not approved for any indication; an unapproved growth hormone secretagogue with no marketed product. European Union (EMA): No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU. Australia (TGA): Not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG); an unapproved substance with no registered product.

How does Hexarelin work?

In plain terms, hexarelin tells the pituitary gland to release a pulse of the body's own growth hormone, and in laboratory studies it can also act directly on the heart and blood vessels. Technically, it is a synthetic hexapeptide agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a, the ghrelin receptor) on pituitary somatotrophs, triggering pulsatile growth hormone release; it also binds the scavenger receptor CD36 in cardiovascular tissue, which has been proposed to underlie reported cardioprotective effects in animal models.

Is Hexarelin legal in Australia?

Hexarelin in Australia (TGA): Not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG); an unapproved substance with no registered product.

Is Hexarelin banned in sport?

Hexarelin under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code: Prohibited at all times under Section S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics); growth hormone secretagogues and growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are explicitly covered.