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Comparison

CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin

CJC-1295 is GHRH analogs; Ipamorelin is gHRPs & ghrelin mimetics. They are compared here because they are frequently considered against each other, not because they act alike.

CJC-1295 Ipamorelin
Class GHRH analogs GHRPs & ghrelin mimetics
Evidence Preliminary human Preliminary human
Human trials ~4 ~5
Half-life ~30 minutes ~2 hours
Reported range 100-300 mcg 200-300 mcg
Frequency 1-2x daily, commonly stacked with a GHRP 1-3x daily, on an empty stomach
Routes Subcutaneous Subcutaneous
FDA approved No No
Research use only Yes Yes
Banned in sport Yes Yes
Studied for Growth hormone elevation, Body composition, Recovery, Sleep quality Growth hormone elevation, Recovery, Sleep quality, Body composition
Reported side effects Injection-site reactions, Flushing, Water retention, Transient headache, Tingling in extremities Head rush on injection, Transient hunger, Water retention, Lethargy

CJC-1295

CJC-1295 without DAC substitutes four amino acids in the GHRH(1-29) backbone, most importantly replacing alanine at position 2 with D-alanine to block dipeptidyl peptidase-4 cleavage. The result is a GHRH receptor agonist with substantially greater metabolic stability than sermorelin but a still-short half-life, which preserves pulsatile release. It is conventionally combined with a GHRP because the two act on separate receptors and produce a greater combined GH pulse than either alone.

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide agonist at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the same receptor targeted by endogenous ghrelin. Unlike the earlier GHRPs it produces a GH pulse without meaningful elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol or prolactin, which is the basis of its reputation as the cleanest compound in the class. It is short-acting and is typically dosed alongside a GHRH analog to exploit the synergy between the two receptor pathways.

CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: common questions

What is the difference between CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin?

CJC-1295 is GHRH analogs and Ipamorelin is gHRPs & ghrelin mimetics, so they act on different pathways. CJC-1295: A tetrasubstituted GHRH(1-29) analog engineered for protease resistance, most often paired with a ghrelin mimetic. Ipamorelin: The most receptor-selective of the growth-hormone-releasing peptides, notable for leaving cortisol and prolactin essentially unchanged.

Which has stronger evidence, CJC-1295 or Ipamorelin?

They sit at the same evidence level: preliminary human. CJC-1295 has about 4 human studies and Ipamorelin about 5.

Are CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin FDA approved?

Neither is FDA approved for any indication.

References

Regulatory and primary sources

  1. PubChem compound record (CID 91971820) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  2. WADA Prohibited List ↗ · current year
  3. FDA: Unapproved drugs and "research use only" products ↗ · regulatory status of non-approved products
  4. CAS Registry Number 863288-34-0 ↗ · chemical identity
  5. PubChem compound record (CID 9831659) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  6. CAS Registry Number 170851-70-4 ↗ · chemical identity

Published literature

  1. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, et al.. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults.J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006.PubMed 16352683 · doi:10.1210/jc.2005-1536
  2. Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, et al.. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians.Am J Sports Med 2026.PubMed 41476424 · doi:10.1177/03635465251357593
  3. Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2026.PubMed 41490200 · doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00236
  4. Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance.Sports Med 2026.PubMed 41966639 · doi:10.1007/s40279-026-02437-0
  5. Renke G, Chinellato L. Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives.Int J Mol Sci 2026.PubMed 42123471 · doi:10.3390/ijms27093890
  6. Coutinho LFD, DE Oliveira Neves LF, Camilo RP. A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review.J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2026.PubMed 41880199 · doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.26.17773-1
  7. Van Hout MC, Hearne E. Netnography of Female Use of the Synthetic Growth Hormone CJC-1295: Pulses and Potions.Subst Use Misuse 2016.PubMed 26771670 · doi:10.3109/10826084.2015.1082595
  8. Thomas A, Schänzer W, Delahaut P, et al.. Immunoaffinity purification of peptide hormones prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in doping controls.Methods 2012.PubMed 21871962 · doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2011.08.009
  9. Gobburu JV, Agersø H, Jusko WJ, et al.. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers.Pharm Res 1999.PubMed 10496658 · doi:10.1023/a:1018955126402
  10. Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD, et al.. Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients.Int J Colorectal Dis 2014.PubMed 25331030 · doi:10.1007/s00384-014-2030-8
  11. Villegas Meza AD, Nocek M, Mitchell BC, et al.. Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications.JBJS Rev 2026.PubMed 42160466 · doi:10.2106/JBJS.RVW.26.00027

Literature retrieved from PubMed on October 16, 2026, favouring human studies and reviews. Numbered markers in the text show which paper supports which statement; uncited entries are background reading.

Read this first This page compares published reference data. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use either compound. Several compounds documented on this site are not approved for human use.