Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of an oral ghrelin agonist in healthy subjects.

Context: An oral formulation of EP01572, a peptidomimetic growth hormone secretagogue, was studied. An oral delivery system would be preferable in many of the possible therapeutic indications of ghrelin agonists such as EP01572.

Objectives: Our objective was to establish the pharmacological profile and the GH-releasing activity of increasing oral doses of EP01572 in healthy volunteers.