CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin
CJC-1295 Mechanism: The GHRH Analogue
Reviewed by our laboratory team · Last updated 2026-07-03
CJC-1295 binds and activates the GHRH receptor on anterior-pituitary somatotroph cells. Receptor activation couples through Gαs, increasing cyclic AMP and triggering pulsatile growth-hormone release. The mechanism mimics endogenous GHRH but with substitutions that extend the peptide's lifetime.
Key facts
- Receptor
- GHRH receptor (pituitary somatotrophs)
- G-protein
- Gαs → cAMP
- Effect
- Pulsatile GH release
Amino-acid substitutions
CJC-1295 introduces substitutions (D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27) at cleavage sites in GRF 1-29 to reduce degradation. DAC lipidation extends half-life further.
Extended research context
The CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin deep dive
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.
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
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
Common research-handling mistakes
Learnt from thousands of researcher orders across our UK labs.
✗ Confusing DAC and no-DAC CJC-1295
Fix: Check the CoA — the two have very different pharmacokinetics.
✗ Assuming Ipamorelin acts on GHRH receptors
Fix: It binds the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) — a separate pathway from CJC-1295.
✗ Storing reconstituted solution at room temperature
Fix: Refrigerate 2–8 °C after reconstitution.
Continue researching
Peer-reviewed guides, comparators and matched reference materials.
Related questions researchers ask
- 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?
Frequently asked questions
- Does CJC-1295 bypass hypothalamus?
- It acts on the pituitary directly, mimicking hypothalamic GHRH input.
Primary sources & clinical trials
Peer-reviewed research and registered trials from PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, PubChem, FDA and NIH. All links open in a new tab (external, rel="nofollow").
- PubMedTeichman et al., JCEM 2006pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMedRaun et al., Ipamorelin, the first selective GH secretagogue — Eur J Endocrinol 1998 (PMID 9849822)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMedSinha et al., Growth-hormone secretagogues — Endocr Rev (PMID 15855273)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubChemPubChem · CJC-1295 (CID 16137828)pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubChemPubChem · Ipamorelin (CID 9831659)pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- TrialClinicalTrials.gov · GH-secretagogue trialsclinicaltrials.gov
- GuidelineGoogle — Creating helpful, reliable, people-first contentdevelopers.google.com
More CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin articles
- What Is CJC-1295? Research OverviewCJC-1295 is a synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue developed by ConjuChem. Structure, DAC and non-DAC forms and research history summarised.
- What Is Ipamorelin? Research OverviewIpamorelin is a selective growth-hormone secretagogue and ghrelin-receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk. Structure, mechanism and research overview.
- CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin: Why They're Studied TogetherCJC-1295 (GHRH analogue) and ipamorelin (ghrelin-receptor agonist) act on complementary pathways to stimulate pulsatile growth-hormone release in research studies.
- CJC-1295 With DAC vs Without DACCJC-1295 with DAC has ~week-long half-life via albumin binding; without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) it clears in minutes. Structural difference explained.
- Ipamorelin Mechanism: The Ghrelin ReceptorIpamorelin mechanism: selective agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor), triggering pulsatile GH release.
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