Every CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin Question Answered, in 20 Studies

20 referenced articles

• What Is Ipamorelin? Sequence, Receptor and Selectivity3 sources
• What Is CJC-1295? The Two Forms and Their Masses4 sources
• Storage and Reconstitution for Both Compounds3 sources
• What the Published Literature Contains4 sources
• The Teichman 2006 CJC-1295 Study2 sources
• Synergy: A Word Worth Using Carefully3 sources
• Why These Two Are Studied Together3 sources
• Ipamorelin Compared With the GHRPs3 sources
• What Does CJC-1295 Stand For?3 sources
• CJC-1295 Molecular Structure3 sources
• What Is a Growth Hormone Secretagogue?3 sources
• GHRH and Ghrelin: Two Separate Pathways3 sources
• How CJC-1295 Works as a GHRH Analogue3 sources
• How Ipamorelin Acts at the Ghrelin Receptor2 sources
• Ipamorelin Molecular Weight and Physical Properties2 sources
• Ipamorelin Sequence and Chemical Identity2 sources
• Half-Life: Why a Covalent Bond Changes Everything3 sources
• Modified GRF (1-29): What the Name Means3 sources
• CJC-1295 CAS Number and Chemical Identity3 sources
• CJC-1295 With and Without DAC4 sources

Open research questions

• Is CJC-1295 the same as Modified GRF 1-29?
• What is the difference between DAC and no-DAC CJC-1295?
• Does Ipamorelin raise cortisol?
• Why are CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin blended together?
• How long is the half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC?

Deep dive: why CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are studied together

CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH (growth-hormone-releasing hormone) analogue; Ipamorelin is a selective growth-hormone secretagogue that binds the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). In pituitary-cell research models the two act on independent pathways whose downstream effect converges on GH release. CJC-1295 amplifies the endogenous GHRH signal while Ipamorelin adds a separate ghrelin-pathway stimulus. That's why supplier catalogues frequently package them together as a research reference blend.

DAC vs no-DAC: which CJC-1295 is which

'CJC-1295 with DAC' contains a Drug Affinity Complex (a Lys-maleimide moiety) that binds serum albumin and extends half-life to several days. 'CJC-1295 no-DAC' (also called Modified GRF 1-29) lacks the linker and clears in minutes. These are pharmacologically different peptides. A CoA must specify which form is in the vial; mass differs (~3,367 Da with DAC vs ~3,367 minus linker for no-DAC).

Ipamorelin's selectivity profile

Unlike earlier GHS-R agonists (e.g. GHRP-6), Ipamorelin was engineered for minimal cross-activity at cortisol- and prolactin-releasing pathways in research models. That receptor selectivity is why it is the reference secretagogue for controlled pituitary-cell studies.

Handling checklist

• Store lyophilised at −20 °C long-term
• Reconstitute in bacteriostatic water; both peptides dissolve readily
• Aliquot immediately, refrigerate at 2–8 °C, use within 28 days
• Confirm salt form and DAC/no-DAC status on CoA before starting a study
• Do not use for human administration (research reference only)

Research applications

• Pituitary-cell GH-release assays (comparator vs GHRH and hexarelin)
• Half-life comparison studies: DAC vs no-DAC CJC-1295 forms
• Ghrelin-receptor binding assays for Ipamorelin analogue development
• Analytical HPLC method development for lipidated GHRH analogues
• Stability testing under refrigerated storage

Common mistakes

Confusing DAC and no-DAC CJC-1295

Check the CoA. The two have very different pharmacokinetics.

Assuming Ipamorelin acts on GHRH receptors

It binds the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a), a separate pathway from CJC-1295.

Storing reconstituted solution at room temperature

Refrigerate 2–8 °C after reconstitution.