Hexarelin: clinical evidence record
Also known as: Examorelin
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
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AI-friendly summary · Hexarelin
Early-phase clinical pharmacology work in humans. Stronger GH release than Ipamorelin in head-to-head preclinical comparisons, with higher cortisol and prolactin elevation. CD36-mediated cardioprotection in rodent ischaemia-reperfusion models.
Mechanism of action
How Hexarelin works
Synthetic hexapeptide ghrelin mimetic acting at the GHSR receptor with a stronger GH-release profile than Ipamorelin in published preclinical work. Additional reported activity at the CD36 cardiac receptor independent of GH release.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Hexarelin. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, after intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, and oral administration in man
Ghigo E, Arvat E, Gianotti L, et al.. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1994.
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CD36 mediates the cardiovascular action of growth hormone-releasing peptides in the heart
Bodart V, Febbraio M, Demers A, et al.. Circulation research, 2002.
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Does desensitization to hexarelin occur?
Rahim A, OToole A, Shalet SM. Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society, 1998.
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Growth hormone-independent cardioprotective effects of hexarelin in the rat
Locatelli V, Rossoni G, Schweiger F, et al.. Endocrinology, 1999.
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The cardiovascular action of hexarelin
Mao Y, Tokudome T, Kishimoto I. Journal of geriatric cardiology : JGC, 2014.
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Effects of ghrelin and synthetic GH secretagogues on the cardiovascular system
Cao JM, Ong H, Chen C. Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM, 2006.
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The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues
Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. Sexual medicine reviews, 2018.
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Endocrine, metabolic and cardioprotective effects of hexarelin in obese Zucker rats
De Gennaro-Colonna V, Rossoni G, Cocchi D, et al.. The Journal of endocrinology, 2000.
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Hexarelin attenuates atherosclerosis via inhibiting LOX-1-NF-κB signaling pathway-mediated macrophage ox-LDL uptake in ApoE(-/-) mice
Cheng XL, Ding F, Wang DP, et al.. Peptides, 2019.
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Hexarelin promotes the survival of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve transection
Chow KBS. Indian journal of pharmacology, 2026.
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Identification of alexamorelin consumption biomarkers using human hepatocyte incubations and high-resolution mass spectrometry
Pobee E, Daziani G, Gameli PS, et al.. Journal of analytical toxicology, 2025.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Hexarelin.
Registered clinical trials
As of 2026-07-13, no interventional trials for Hexarelin are listed on ClinicalTrials.gov or the ISRCTN registry. This is itself informative: much of the Hexarelin evidence base is preclinical, which is why the evidence grade above matters.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN registry, refreshed 2026-07-13. See the peptide clinical-trials tracker for the full picture across compounds.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Hexarelin sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: WADA Prohibited List S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors), prohibited at all times.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Hexarelin
Known concerns
- The evidence for Hexarelin is mixed: some human data exists alongside a larger preclinical literature. Mixed evidence is easy to quote selectively, so check whether a claim you have read rests on the human work or the animal work.
- There are no registered interventional clinical trials for Hexarelin on ClinicalTrials.gov or the ISRCTN registry. Nobody is currently running the study that would answer the safety and efficacy questions.
- Hexarelin holds no UK marketing authorisation, so nothing you can buy has been assessed by a regulator, released by batch, or dispensed by an accountable pharmacy. Purity, dose accuracy and sterility rest entirely on the seller's own documentation.
- Hexarelin appears on the WADA Prohibited List. For anyone subject to testing under UK Anti-Doping or an international federation, use is a violation, and detection windows for peptide metabolites extend well beyond the period of use.
Open questions in the literature
- Long-term outcomes beyond the duration of the published trials are unknown, and the published trials are considerably shorter than the periods over which people actually use these compounds.
- Interactions between Hexarelin and prescribed medicines are not systematically studied, which matters most for anyone already on treatment for a long-term condition.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors). The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Hexarelin?
What is the UK regulatory status of Hexarelin?
Has Hexarelin been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Hexarelin?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.