Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 / Studies

Natural peptide · 28 amino acids · 3,370.9 Da

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 studies and research data

PepBank has no study results for Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 yet. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Searches 0 results and 0 papers. Newer studies from Europe PMC

Results in people

0% of 0 results

Results in animals

0% of 0 results

Results in lab cells

0% of 0 results

From computer models

0% of 0 results

The molecule

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 identity

Identifiers, parent molecule, targets and development stage, from curated data.

Ghrelin is the natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a. Kojima and colleagues purified it from rat stomach in 1999 and showed that the serine 3 residue carries an n-octanoyl group that is required for activity. The human mature peptide, ghrelin-28, is residues 24 to 51 of the precursor (UniProt Q9UBU3); a 27-residue form also exists, the acyl group may be octanoyl or decanoyl, and the INN for the synthetic acylated human peptide is lenomorelin. This record is a reference parent for the synthetic growth hormone secretagogues in this batch.

Kind: Natural peptide · 28 residues
Identifiers: UniProtQ9UBU3 (opens in a new tab)ChEMBLCHEMBL2108303 (opens in a new tab)PubChem CID16133832 (opens in a new tab)UNIIUXG268Q86R (opens in a new tab)DrugBankDB11895 (opens in a new tab)CAS258279-04-8PDB7F9Y (opens in a new tab)7NA7 (opens in a new tab)7W2Z (opens in a new tab)KEGGC16025 (opens in a new tab)
Development: Phase 2ChEMBL records max_phase 2 for CHEMBL2108303 (LENOMORELIN), with no indication rows. The 239 ClinicalTrials.gov records that name ghrelin as an intervention (query.intr=EXPANSION[Term]ghrelin OR EXPANSION[Term]lenomorelin) include physiology studies that infuse ghrelin and studies of ghrelin receptor drugs, so that count is not a count of drug development for this substance. Investigator-led phase 2 studies of ghrelin infusion exist (for example NCT01605435, NCT01833078, both University of Pennsylvania). One registry record is labelled phase 3 (NCT00681486, Goteborg University, 30 participants estimated, 2003-10 to 2008-07, ghrelin for appetite in cancer patients); this is a sponsor label for a small investigator study and is not used as the highest phase. Source (opens in a new tab)

Targets

Molecular targets with action and evidence source
Target	Action	Evidence
Growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (ghrelin receptor)GHSRQ92847 (opens in a new tab)	Agonist	primary literatureSource (opens in a new tab)

Sequence and structure

Residues, differences from the parent, calculated properties and 3D structure. Source values and calculated values are shown separately.

Sequence

28 amino acids · 1 modification

H-

GSFLSPEHQ

RVQQRKESKK

PPAKLQPR

-OH

Properties

From identity sources

Formula: C₁₄₉H₂₄₉N₄₇O₄₂
Molecular weight: 3,370.9 g/mol
Monoisotopic mass: 3,368.8793 Da

UniProt Q9UBU3(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09
GSRS UNII UXG268Q86R(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09
PubChem CID 16133832(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09
PubChem CID 16133832 biologic line notation(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09

Calculated from the sequence

pKa set

Some values cannot be calculated. The sequence has a non-canonical residue (X). Residue tables cover only the 20 standard amino acids.

Average mass: Not calculated
Monoisotopic mass: Not calculated
Isoelectric point (pI): Not calculated
Net charge at pH 7.4: Not calculated
GRAVY (hydropathy): Not calculated
Extinction coefficient, 280 nm (Cys reduced): 0 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹; 5500 x Trp + 1490 x Tyr · Pace et al. 1995 (ExPASy ProtParam); No Trp or Tyr: absorbance at 280 nm cannot measure this peptide.
Instability index: Not calculated
Aliphatic index: Not calculated
Boman index: Not calculated
Hydrophobic moment (μH): Not calculated

1 non-canonical residue (X) is not included in calculated values.
Not included: lipid chain. Mass, charge and pI are not calculated; use the identity-source values.
Defined and validated for proteins; use with care for short peptides.
Assumes an ideal alpha helix. Many short peptides are not helical.

@pepdb/chem 0.2.0 · EMBOSS pKa set · ExPASy residue masses

Net charge by pH

No charge curve

The sequence has a non-canonical residue (X). Residue tables cover only the 20 standard amino acids.

Composition

Hydrophobic14% (4)A L V
Aromatic4% (1)F
Positive29% (8)H K R
Negative7% (2)E
Polar25% (7)Q S
Special18% (5)G P
Non-canonical4% (1)X

28 residues. Each residue counts in one class; F and W count as aromatic.

A Ala1 · 4%

I Ile0 · 0%

L Leu2 · 7%

M Met0 · 0%

V Val1 · 4%

F Phe1 · 4%

W Trp0 · 0%

Y Tyr0 · 0%

H His1 · 4%

K Lys4 · 14%

R Arg3 · 11%

D Asp0 · 0%

E Glu2 · 7%

N Asn0 · 0%

Q Gln4 · 14%

S Ser3 · 11%

T Thr0 · 0%

C Cys0 · 0%

G Gly1 · 4%

P Pro4 · 14%

X Xaa1 · 4%

3D structure

ExperimentalPDB 7F9Y

Loads the 3D viewer (3Dmol.js, about 150 KB) and the model file from RCSB PDB.

2D structure

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 has 28 residues. A full-atom drawing is hard to read at this size; the sequence view is the reference.

SMILES fromPubChem CID 16133832(opens in a new tab)

CCCCCCCC(=O)OC[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N2CCC[C@H]2C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC3=CNC=N3)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N4CCC[C@H]4C(=O)N5CCC[C@H]5C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N6CCC[C@H]6C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CO)NC(=O)CN

Helical wheel

An ideal alpha-helix projection. It shows where the hydrophobic residues fall if the peptide folds as a helix. It does not show that it does.

μH, residues shown: 0.126
μH, best 11-residue window: —
Arrow direction: 349°
Residues: 28 · 2 rings of 18 · 1 X not scored

HydrophilicHydrophobic

Eisenberg consensus (normalized) scale · + K, R · − D, E

Assumes an ideal α-helix: 100° per residue, 3.6 residues per turn. The arrow is the mean hydrophobic moment (Eisenberg et al. 1984) and points at the hydrophobic face.

Show as table

Position	Residue	Angle	Eisenberg consensus (normalized)
1	G	0°	0.48
2	S	100°	-0.18
3	X	200°	not scored
4	F	300°	1.19
5	L	40°	1.06
6	S	140°	-0.18
7	P	240°	0.12
8	E	340°	-0.74
9	H	80°	-0.40
10	Q	180°	-0.85
11	R	280°	-2.53
12	V	20°	1.08
13	Q	120°	-0.85
14	Q	220°	-0.85
15	R	320°	-2.53
16	K	60°	-1.50
17	E	160°	-0.74
18	S	260°	-0.18
19	K	0°	-1.50
20	K	100°	-1.50
21	P	200°	0.12
22	P	300°	0.12
23	A	40°	0.62
24	K	140°	-1.50
25	L	240°	1.06
26	Q	340°	-0.85
27	P	80°	0.12
28	R	180°	-2.53

Results by area

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 results by year and outcome

Counts are exact and come from studies that gave the peptide.

Studies by year

No study has results about Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 yet.

No study with a publication year is linked to this peptide.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

What the studies measured

People first in each area, then animals, then lab cells. Counts are exact and come from studies that gave the peptide.

No study of Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 has results in PepBank yet.

Trials and papers

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 trials

Registered trials that test the peptide, with phase, status and dates. A dot marks trials with posted results.

StatusPhase

3 trials match. Highest phase first. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Trials on this page (3 of 3)

3 trials · 3 completed · 2 with posted results

Completed
Ongoing
Not yet recruiting
Stopped
Estimated dates (est.)
Results posted

200420062008201020122014

Ph 3
Phase 3
NCT00681486
Oct 2003 to Jul 2008
Ph 2
Ghrelin Dose Finding In Frail Elderly
NCT01605435
May 2012 to Dec 2012
Ph 2
GRD
NCT01833078
Feb 2013 to Jun 2013

3 trials · 3 completed · 2 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 3NCT00681486

Ghrelin - A Possible Opportunity to Improve Appetite

Göteborg Universityn = 30Oct 2003 to Jul 2008

Cancer

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 21 Aug 2009

CompletedPhase 2Results postedNCT01605435

Ghrelin Dose Finding In Frail Elderly

University of Pennsylvanian = 5May 2012 to Dec 2012

The Frailty Syndrome

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 12 Dec 2019

CompletedPhase 2Results postedNCT01833078

Ghrelin Repeated Dose Study

University of Pennsylvanian = 5Feb 2013 to Jun 2013

Frailty in Aging

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 8 Oct 2015

Papers

Studies on this peptide. Some have results. The others have none yet.

Sort

Design

0 studies match. Retracted studies are left out.

No study matches these filters.

Newer studies

PepBank reads each paper before it shows the results. This search looks in Europe PMC for newer papers that PepBank has not read yet.

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 studies: 0 papers with results

No paper with results is linked to this peptide.

Status and safety

Regulatory and safety

Approval and sport status, and the safety outcomes reported in study results. Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

Regulatory status by jurisdiction, with date and source
Jurisdiction	Body	Status	As of	Source
US	FDA	Ghrelin itself is an endogenous hormone. Synthetic ghrelin receptor agonists are regulated separately; ibutamoren mesylate, for example, is in 503A and 503B category 2.	9 Oct 2026	fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
EU	EMA	No authorised EU medicine for ghrelin or lenomorelin in the EMA medicines data file (timestamp 2026-10-09T06:23:44Z). The EMA orphan data file (timestamp 2026-10-09T06:32:20Z) lists EU/3/17/1932 (2017-10-16, Prader-Willi syndrome) for a 'synthetic cyclic 8 amino acid analogue of human unacylated ghrelin', which is a different substance.	9 Oct 2026	ema.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
Sport	WADA	Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.4) Named in S2.2.4 as 'lenomorelin (ghrelin)' among growth hormone secretagogues, and indexed as 'Ghrelin, 8'.	2026 List	wada-ama.org (opens in a new tab)
World (WADA 2027 list)	Note	The 2027 Prohibited List names lenomorelin (ghrelin) in S2.2.4.	9 Oct 2026	wada-ama.org (opens in a new tab)

Safety outcomes

Reported effects from study results.

No study results yet

No safety results yet. That does not mean the peptide is safe.

Doses studied

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

No dose was reported in the study results.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Data

Data and API

Data version, change history and code for this peptide.

Data version 30856030 Oct 2026

Peptide

Peptide id: PEP-000048
Peptide version: 8
Peptide hash: 83673b5870d5c550…
Data version: 308560

Latest changes

27 Oct 2026UpdatedData version 256688
22 Oct 2026UpdatedData version 254520
21 Oct 2026UpdatedData version 213616
14 Oct 2026UpdatedData version 194690
13 Oct 2026UpdatedData version 173539
12 Oct 2026UpdatedData version 165114

For developers

curl -s https://pepbank.io/v1/briefs/ghrelin

Evidence summary for Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28: counts by class, key results with sources, notices, data version.

Peptide as JSON Evidence summary as JSON

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 studies and research data

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 identity

Targets

Sequence and structure

Sequence

Properties

Net charge by pH

Composition

3D structure

2D structure

Helical wheel

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 results by year and outcome

What the studies measured

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 trials

Ghrelin - A Possible Opportunity to Improve Appetite

Ghrelin Dose Finding In Frail Elderly

Ghrelin Repeated Dose Study

Papers

Newer studies

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 studies: 0 papers with results

Regulatory and safety

Doses studied

Data and API

Peptide

Latest changes

For developers

Related peptides

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 results by year and outcome

Ghrelin (human), ghrelin-28 trials

Ghrelin - A Possible Opportunity to Improve Appetite

Ghrelin Dose Finding In Frail Elderly

Ghrelin Repeated Dose Study

Papers

Regulatory and safety

Doses studied

Data and API

Peptide

Latest changes

For developers