CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin

CJC-1295 without DAC and ipamorelin are two of the most commonly studied growth hormone secretagogues, and they are often discussed together because they act on growth hormone release through two separate pathways.

CJC-1295 without DAC, also known as modified GRF 1-29, is an analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and acts on the GHRH receptor in the pituitary. Ipamorelin is a small synthetic peptide that acts on a different target, the ghrelin receptor, also called the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Because the two pathways are distinct, researchers study them separately to characterize each signal and together to examine how they interact. Neither compound is an approved medicine in the US. This page compares their structure, mechanisms, research areas and laboratory handling to help you match each one to a research question. PRIME supplies both as lyophilized powder for laboratory research use only.

CJC-1295 without DAC: a modified GHRH analog

CJC-1295 without DAC is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone. It is based on the first 29 amino acids of GHRH, the portion that carries the hormone's biological activity, with several amino acid substitutions that make it more resistant to enzymatic breakdown than the native sequence. For that reason it is also known as modified GRF 1-29, or mod GRF 1-29.

The no DAC label matters. A separate version of CJC-1295 carries a drug affinity complex that binds albumin and greatly extends its duration. The version without DAC lacks that complex and remains short-acting, which researchers use when they want a signal closer to the natural pulsatile pattern of GHRH release.

CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH receptor in pituitary cells. Research areas that have been investigated include:

• GHRH receptor signaling and pituitary somatotroph function
• Pulsatile growth hormone release
• Downstream effects on the IGF-1 axis
• Interaction with ghrelin receptor agonists

CJC-1295 is a research compound and is not an approved medicine in the US.

PRIME supplies CJC-1295 no DAC as a lyophilized powder for in-vitro and preclinical research. It is sold for laboratory research use only and is not for human consumption.

Ipamorelin: a selective ghrelin receptor agonist

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide, five amino acids long, that belongs to the growth hormone secretagogue family. It acts on the ghrelin receptor, also known as the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), which is the same receptor activated by the natural hunger hormone ghrelin.

What set ipamorelin apart in early research was its reported selectivity. Earlier secretagogues were associated in animal studies with increases in other pituitary and adrenal hormones, such as cortisol and prolactin, alongside growth hormone. Ipamorelin was reported to stimulate growth hormone release with comparatively little effect on those other hormones, which made it a useful tool for studying growth hormone release more cleanly.

Research areas that have been investigated include:

• Ghrelin receptor signaling
• Selectivity of growth hormone release
• Bone models in animals
• Gastrointestinal motility models
• Interaction with GHRH analogs

Ipamorelin is a research compound and is not an approved medicine in the US. Its short length and selectivity make it a common reference secretagogue in preclinical work.

PRIME supplies ipamorelin as a lyophilized powder for in-vitro and preclinical research. It is sold for laboratory research use only and is not for human consumption.

Because these two peptides act on different receptors, the question is less which one is better and more which pathway you are studying. Both are short-acting, so either suits designs that look at acute signaling.

CJC-1295 without DAC fits studies of the GHRH receptor pathway: pituitary somatotroph signaling, pulsatile growth hormone release, or downstream IGF-1 axis readouts driven by GHRH-type stimulation.

Ipamorelin fits studies of the ghrelin receptor pathway, particularly where selectivity matters and researchers want to limit changes in other pituitary or adrenal hormones. It is also used in bone and gastrointestinal models.

Many study designs examine the two together, since GHRH and ghrelin receptor signaling are thought to interact at the pituitary; the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend guide covers that combination. For each compound individually, read the CJC-1295 no DAC research guide and the ipamorelin research guide. Every batch has a published certificate of analysis on the lab results page.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption.