Macimorelin
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Swap note (documented substitution): The original target list included both "GHRP-2" and "Pralmorelin" as separate items. Pralmorelin is the INN for GHRP-2 — the same compound (verified via Wikipedia/BenchChem, 2026-09-20). Listing both would have been a false duplicate. Pralmorelin was therefore folded into the GHRP-2 file and replaced here with Macimorelin: a genuinely distinct molecule and the only FDA-approved oral ghrelin-receptor agonist, included as the credentialed diagnostic contrast to the research-chemical GHRPs. Item count kept at 13.
Overview
Macimorelin (brand Macrilen, originator Aeterna Zentaris) is an orally active small-molecule (peptidomimetic) agonist of the ghrelin / growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). It is not a therapy — it is a single-dose diagnostic test for adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD): the patient drinks a weight-based oral dose and GH is measured at set intervals. FDA-approved December 2017; EMA-approved (as Ghryvelin in some markets — regional branding not re-verified, UNVERIFIED). It is the only approved oral ghrelin agonist in this track.
Social standing
Thin by design — this is a clinical diagnostic, not a community compound:
- Instagram / Threads / Facebook Groups: no community usage signal surfaced in the extraction. Discussion, where it exists, is clinical/diagnostic (endocrinology practices offering the Macrilen stimulation test as an alternative to glucagon/ITT testing).
- Web/clinic layer: endocrinology practices (e.g., Good Hormone Health, Los Angeles) advertise the Macrilen stimulation test; one clinic page notes scheduling and deposit logistics — proves the test exists in real clinical workflows.
- Main praise (clinical framing): oral, single-dose, safer than insulin tolerance testing.
- Main complaints: cost (~$4,400+ per single test); limited availability.
Social validation — Tier 3
Single-platform/regulatory evidence only — flagged weak, honestly. No FB Group threads, no IG owner content, no Threads discussion surfaced.
| Source | What it proves |
|---|---|
| https://WWW.DRUGS.COM/price-guide/macrilen | Proves US pricing: $4,403.50 per 60 mg oral granule for reconstitution (single-dose test) |
| https://www.wellrx.com (coupon listings) | Corroborates ~$4,650–$4,772 range at US pharmacies |
| FDA approval record (Dec 2017, Macrilen) | Proves approved-diagnostic status |
| WADA prohibited list (S2.2.4) | Proves it is named/prohibited in sport despite diagnostic status |
| Clinic pages (e.g., goodhormonehealth.com) | Proves real-world clinical use as AGHD stimulation test |
Key specs table
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Oral small-molecule (peptidomimetic) ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist — diagnostic agent, not a peptide |
| Origin | Aeterna Zentaris |
| Mechanism | Single oral dose stimulates pituitary GH release; GH measured at 45/60/90 min to diagnose AGHD |
| Half-life | Short (exact figure not re-verified — UNVERIFIED) |
| Route | Oral granules for reconstitution (60 mg single-dose sachet) |
| Approved dosing | Weight-based single oral dose (0.5 mg/kg per label — label not re-read today, UNVERIFIED detail) |
| FDA/EMA status | FDA-approved Dec 2017 (Macrilen); EMA-approved — diagnostic indication only |
Pricing
- Approved-drug price: $4,403.50 per 60 mg granule for reconstitution — i.e., per single test (drugs.com price guide, observed 2026-09-20). WellRx coupon listings: $4,649.65–$4,772.50 at US pharmacies (observed 2026-09-20). No manufacturer promotions found (drugs.com).
- Gray-market: not a gray-market item; no street pricing observed.
- Facebook Marketplace range: no listings observed 2026-09-20.
What's included / what's needed
Single 60 mg granule sachet reconstituted as oral solution; administered in a clinical setting with timed GH blood draws. Prescription/diagnostic-use only.
Support reality
Pharma-channel product (Aeterna Zentaris); administered through endocrinology practices. No patient-assistance programs found (drugs.com, 2026-09-20).
Regulatory & safety status
FDA-approved drug (Macrilen, Dec 2017) and EMA-approved — as a DIAGNOSTIC TEST for adult GH deficiency, not a therapy. Any performance/body-composition use would be off-label and unevidenced. WADA-prohibited at all times (S2.2.4 names macimorelin). Label safety: generally well-tolerated single dose; QT-interval prolongation signal noted in labeling history (not re-verified against current label — UNVERIFIED detail). Because it is a one-time diagnostic, chronic-use safety is not applicable.
Community verdict
Macimorelin has no community — and that is the point of including it. It is the credentialed bookend of the ghrelin-agonist family: real FDA approval, real clinical use, zero biohacker adoption, and a $4,400 price tag for a single diagnostic dose. It shows what a regulated oral ghrelin agonist actually looks like, which throws the research-chemical GHRPs' unregulated status into sharp relief.
Image log
- hero: present —
macimorelin-hero.jpg(observation 2026-09-20) - side: present —
macimorelin-side.jpg - box: present —
macimorelin-box.jpg - rear: MISSING — no distinct rear-view image located
- top: MISSING — no distinct top-view image located
- detail: MISSING — no distinct label detail image located
- inuse: MISSING — no real in-use photo located (clinical setting; none expected publicly)
- scale: MISSING — no scale-reference photo located
All images: curl HEAD/GET-checked, magic-verified, JPEG, observation 2026-09-20. Zero AI-generated.
Open questions / UNVERIFIED
- Exact label half-life and dosing (label not re-read).
- EMA regional branding (Ghryvelin — not re-verified).
- QT-prolongation label detail (not re-verified against current label).
- Whether any biohacker community uses macimorelin off-label (no signal found; absence of evidence noted, not evidence of absence).
Not medical advice. This file is research documentation only; nothing here is a recommendation to use any compound.
Sources
- Source: WWW.DRUGS.COM — retrieval date not recorded
- Source: wellrx.com — retrieval date not recorded