| Dimension | Scoring Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Study Design | Multiple human studies including some randomized trials, though most are observational or open-label. Phase II studies for GH deficiency and muscle wasting. Merck discontinued development despite promising signals. |
15 / 25 |
| Sample Size | Studies range from 24 to ~300 participants. Nass et al. 2008 (JCEM) enrolled 65 adults. Chapman et al. enrolled ~32. Moderate cumulative sample. |
12 / 20 |
| Replication | Replicated by multiple independent academic groups. GH/IGF-1 elevation is one of the more consistently replicated non-approved GH secretagogue findings in humans. |
15 / 20 |
| Journal Impact Factor | Publications in JCEM (IF ~6.5), NEJM (Chapman 1996, IF ~96), and Annals of Internal Medicine. The Chapman 1996 NEJM paper is the standout. |
8 / 15 |
| Funding Independence | Mix of Merck-funded pharmaceutical trials and independent academic replication. The NEJM and later JCEM studies include academic investigators. |
7 / 10 |
| Population Diversity | Studied in elderly, GH-deficient adults, and hip fracture patients. Moderate diversity but mostly older adults with specific conditions. Limited ethnic diversity reported. |
3 / 5 |
| Researcher h-Index | Roy Smith (Merck), Michael Thorner (UVA) — both prominent endocrinologists with h-Indexes 20+. Rounded to 4 given mixed authorship across studies. |
3 / 5 |