New Assay Detects Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor Antagonists in Urine

Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor 1a (GHS-R1a) antagonists are compounds that block the receptor for ghrelin, a hormone known to stimulate growth hormone release and appetite. Due to their potential to modulate growth hormone levels and their use as doping agents in sports, there is a critical need for sensitive and early detection methods. Current analytical approaches may not fully exploit the unique pharmacological characteristics of these substances, leading to a knowledge gap in efficient screening; this study addresses this by developing a novel bioaffinity format that leverages the atypical binding behavior of GHS-R1a antagonists for enhanced detection.