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Home/Compounds/Corticotropin (ACTH)
OtherFDA approvedRx required

Corticotropin (ACTH)

Also known as: H.P. Acthar Gel · ACTH · Purified cortrophin gel
Brands: H.P. Acthar Gel · Purified Cortrophin Gel

Porcine pituitary-derived ACTH gel used as an anti-inflammatory agent in specific steroid-responsive conditions.

A
Grade A
Multiple human RCTs
Human studies25
PubMed citations30
Routesubcutaneous, intramuscular
Regulatory (US)FDA approved · Rx
Last verified2 days ago

Mechanism of action

39-amino-acid polypeptide that binds melanocortin-2 receptors on the adrenal cortex, stimulating cortisol synthesis. Also has direct melanocortin-receptor effects distinct from cortisol.

Evidence summary

25
Human studies
30
PubMed citations
25
Clinical trials
A
Evidence grade

Evidence summary in progress. See the citations section below for the underlying research papers.

Dosing protocols

Educational information only. Consult a licensed provider before using any peptide.
Administration routes
subcutaneousintramuscular

Side effects & safety

From the FDA label
Source
dizzinessheadachenauseapancreatitisurticariavomiting

Terms pulled directly from the referenced source. We don't fabricate frequencies — when a label doesn't publish a percentage, we don't either.

Interactions

No documented drug interactions on file.

Regulatory status

United States
FDA approved

FDA approved for infantile spasms, multiple sclerosis exacerbations, nephrotic syndrome, and other steroid-responsive conditions (H.P. Acthar Gel, Purified Cortrophin Gel)

Compounding
Not permitted

Not available via 503A/503B compounding pharmacies.

Regulatory data last verified 4/19/2026

Clinical trials

NCT02298491Clinical Biomarkers of Disease Activity and Treatment Responses in Patients With CNS Sarcoidosis Treated With H.P. Acthar GelCompleted · Phase 4 · CNS Sarcoidosis · n=4NCT06259227Personalized Cardiorespiratory Fitness Training in Patients With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury During Primary RehabilitationTerminated · N/A · Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury · n=19NCT06815471Corticotrophin Releasing Factor 2 for the Treatment of Worsening Heart Failure (WHF) - The CRAFT-WHF StudyRecruiting · Phase 2 · Worsening Heart Failure · n=300NCT07005154A Phase 2, Open-label, Multi-cohort Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of ASP5541 in Participants With Advanced Prostate CancerRecruiting · Phase 2 · Prostate Cancer · n=218NCT03708900A Phase II, Multicenter, Open-label, Non-comparative Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Tolerability of Osilodrostat in Children and Adolescent Patients With Cushing's SyndromeRecruiting · Phase 2 · Cushing Syndrome · n=12NCT02683889The Use of Acthar (ACTH) in Patients With Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) Who Have Developed Chronic Kidney Disease Stage V (CKD) or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and Are Undergoing a Renal TransplantCompleted · Phase 3 · FSGS · n=15NCT0746023218Fluoro-O-(2) Fluoroethyl-L-tyrosine (FET) PET For Localization Of Pituitary Adenomas In Patients With Cushing DiseaseNot Yet Recruiting · Phase 1 · Cushing Disease · n=50NCT06825390Mechanistic Clinical Trial of Auricular Stimulation and Cryogenic Auriculotherapy in Patients With Chronic Low-back Pain, Using Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance ImagingRecruiting · N/A · Low Back Pain · n=60NCT04266587Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Stability on Whole BloodCompleted · N/A · ACTH · n=10NCT02541955Use of Acthar in Rheumatoid Arthritis Related FlaresCompleted · Phase 4 · Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) · n=40NCT07350031Cortisol Assessment in Patients With Adrenal IncidentalomasCompleted · Adrenal Incidentaloma · n=209NCT06344143Detecting Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion in Patients With Adrenal IncidentalomaRecruiting · Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS) · n=20

Showing 12 of 25 indexed studies. View all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Citations

PMID 41825639Vidal M, Lane NE · Endocrine Modulation of Inflammation: The Role of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol.Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (2026)PMID 41042443Tsoli M, Bel-Ange A et al. · Update in the Management of ACTH-Secreting Gastroenteropancreatic and Thoracic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.Current treatment options in oncology (2025)HumanPMID 40570615Mahesan A, Gulati S et al. · Safety, Efficacy, and Tolerability of Ketogenic Diet Versus Adrenocorticotropic Hormone in Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Pediatric neurology (2025)HumanPMID 40980649Tumlin JA, Podoll A et al. · Efficacy of Acthar gel and Tacrolimus in DNA-JB9 Positive Fibrillary Glomerulopathy.Kidney international reports (2025)PMID 37870836Yang S, Du Z et al. · Corticotropin Stimulation in Adrenal Venous Sampling for Patients With Primary Aldosteronism: The ADOPA Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open (2023)HumanPMID 37060643Meng Y, Geng G et al. · Long-Term Outcome of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Therapy in Children With New-Onset Infantile Spasms.Pediatric neurology (2023)HumanPMID 34862857Ueda Y, Fujishige S et al. · Adrenal function during long-term ACTH therapy for patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.Epilepsia open (2022)HumanPMID 35222241Guang S, Mao L et al. · Hormonal Therapy for Infantile Spasms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in neurology (2022)PMID 32544771Bistritzer J, Noyman I et al. · Adrenal function following ACTH therapy for infantile spasms: A retrospective study.Clinical neurology and neurosurgery (2021)HumanPMID 30123187Graziadio C, Hasenmajer V et al. · Glycometabolic Alterations in Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Does Replacement Therapy Play a Role?Frontiers in endocrinology (2019)HumanPMID 28228747Ghaddhab C, Vuissoz JM et al. · From Bioinactive ACTH to ACTH Antagonist: The Clinical Perspective.Frontiers in endocrinology (2019)HumanPMID 27547198Clark AJ, Forfar R et al. · ACTH Antagonists.Frontiers in endocrinology (2016)HumanPMID 25248590Tritos NA, Biller BM · Cushing's disease.Handbook of clinical neurology (2016)HumanPMID 21575286Underwood M · Gout.BMJ clinical evidence (2016)HumanPMID 24587825Berkovich R, Agius MA · Mechanisms of action of ACTH in the management of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders (2014)PMID 21878186Bomback AS, Radhakrishnan J · Treatment of nephrotic syndrome with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).Discovery medicine (2012)HumanPMID 17718852Drouin J, Bilodeau S et al. · Of old and new diseases: genetics of pituitary ACTH excess (Cushing) and deficiency.Clinical genetics (2007)HumanPMID 17504182Díez JJ, Iglesias P · Pharmacological therapy of Cushing's syndrome: drugs and indications.Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry (2007)HumanPMID 16967715Klimek M, Kołodziejski L et al. · [Prenatal ACTH-depot therapy].Przeglad lekarski (2006)HumanPMID 16378774Nieman LK, Ilias I · Evaluation and treatment of Cushing's syndrome.The American journal of medicine (2006)Human

Showing 20 of 30 papers. View all on PubMed →