What Is CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin? The Peptide Blend Explained

By DoseGauge Editorial · Updated 2026-06-13 · 6 min read

CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin is a blend of two research peptides supplied in one vial: CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue based on modified GRF 1-29, and Ipamorelin, a selective growth hormone secretagogue (a ghrelin-receptor agonist). The two act through complementary pathways to stimulate the body's own release of growth hormone. Neither peptide is approved by the FDA for human use, and the human data on them is limited. This page explains what each one is, how they work together, and why they are sold combined. It is informational and educational only, not medical advice, and it does not recommend either peptide or any dose.

What CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are two different research peptides that happen to act on the same hormone system from two different angles.

CJC-1295 is an analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the natural signal the hypothalamus sends to the pituitary gland. It is built on modified GRF 1-29, a shortened, stabilized fragment of that natural hormone. Like the hormone it mimics, CJC-1295 binds the GHRH receptor on the pituitary and prompts it to release growth hormone. In healthy adults, CJC-1295 produced prolonged, dose-dependent increases in growth hormone and IGF-1 (Teichman et al., 2006).

Ipamorelin works through a separate receptor. It is a selective growth hormone secretagogue, meaning it acts on the ghrelin (growth-hormone-secretagogue) receptor rather than the GHRH receptor. Ipamorelin was described as the first selective growth hormone secretagogue, releasing growth hormone with a selectivity similar to GHRH while, in the original animal work, avoiding the rise in other pituitary hormones such as ACTH and cortisol that earlier secretagogues caused (Raun et al., 1998). It is catalogued as a distinct chemical compound (Ipamorelin, PubChem CID 9831659).

How the two work together

The reason these two peptides are paired is that they push the same outcome (growth hormone release) through two complementary pathways. CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin acts on the ghrelin receptor. Because they engage different receptors, the idea behind the blend is that each can contribute to pituitary growth hormone release without simply duplicating the other's signal.

Both peptides have been studied for their effect on growth hormone and the downstream hormone IGF-1. CJC-1295 produced sustained increases in growth hormone and IGF-1 in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006), and Ipamorelin was shown to stimulate growth hormone release in the work that introduced it as a selective secretagogue (Raun et al., 1998). It is worth being precise here: these are findings about each peptide, and they describe what the individual compounds did in their respective studies, not a proven outcome for the combined blend in people.

Why it is sold as a blend

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are most often sold together as a single blended vial, commonly in a 1:1 ratio such as 5 mg of each peptide. The two powders are reconstituted together in one volume of bacteriostatic water, so the solution holds both peptides at once. Every draw from that vial therefore delivers both, in proportion to how much of each the vial contains.

That packaging is convenient but it changes the arithmetic. With one combined solution, the volume you draw for a given dose contains a set amount of each peptide, and a 1:1 blend delivers an equal amount of both per draw. The CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin dosage calculator on this site handles that conversion: it takes the vial strength and water volume you enter and returns the units to draw, plus how much of each peptide that draw contains.

The CJC-1295 variant question

One detail trips up a lot of people: "CJC-1295" refers to more than one molecule. There are two variants, and they behave very differently in the body.

CJC-1295 without DAC is the same molecule as modified GRF 1-29 and has a short plasma half-life, a commonly reported figure of roughly 30 minutes, which is why it is dosed more frequently. CJC-1295 with DAC is a distinct variant: it attaches a drug affinity complex (DAC) that lets it bind albumin and persist in circulation for several days, a duration reported in the study of the long-acting analog (Teichman et al., 2006).

That difference in duration is large enough that the two variants are not interchangeable, and knowing which one a product contains matters. For the full breakdown of how the two forms differ, see CJC-1295 DAC vs no-DAC.

Regulatory status

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are research peptides. Neither is approved by the FDA for human use, and the human data on either one is limited. The studies cited here examined the individual peptides, and they do not amount to regulatory approval or to an established safety and efficacy profile for the blend as it is sold.

That status is the important context for everything above. This page describes what these peptides are and how they are reported to work; it does not claim they are safe, effective, or appropriate for any purpose, and it does not recommend using them. Whether any peptide is appropriate is a decision for a licensed clinician. For the safety picture, see side effects.

Frequently asked questions

What is CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin used for?

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are research peptides studied for their effect on the body's own growth hormone release. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analogue that raised growth hormone and IGF-1 in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006), and Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue (Raun et al., 1998). Neither is FDA-approved for any use, and this page does not recommend them for any purpose.

Is CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin FDA-approved?

No. Both CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are research peptides and are not approved by the FDA for human use. The human data on them is limited, and being sold as a blend does not change that status. Consult a licensed clinician before using any peptide.

What is the difference between CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin?

They act on different receptors. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analogue (based on modified GRF 1-29) that binds the GHRH receptor, while Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue that acts on the ghrelin receptor (Raun et al., 1998). Both can prompt growth hormone release, but through separate pathways, which is the rationale for pairing them.

Why are they combined in one vial?

They are paired because they raise growth hormone through two complementary pathways, a GHRH analogue plus a secretagogue. Sold as a single blended vial, commonly 1:1 such as 5 mg of each, the two are reconstituted together so every draw delivers both peptides at once. The calculator on this site converts your vial and water volume into the units to draw and the amount of each peptide that draw contains.

Informational and educational only. Not medical advice. DoseGauge computes from the values you enter and does not recommend a dose. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any peptide or GLP-1 medication.