Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 (No DAC) are two of the most commonly paired peptides in growth-hormone research. They belong to different classes - Ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor agonist (GHRP), while CJC-1295 No DAC is a GHRH analog - and their complementary mechanisms are precisely why they appear together so often in research protocols.
| Property | Ipamorelin | CJC-1295 (No DAC) |
|---|---|---|
| Class | GHRP (ghrelin-receptor agonist) | GHRH analog |
| Receptor | Ghrelin / GHS receptor | GHRH receptor |
| Selectivity (research) | Minimal cortisol/prolactin | GH-specific via GHRH |
| Half-life (reported) | ~2 hours | ~30 minutes |
| Research pairing | Often combined with GHRH analogs | Often combined with GHRPs |
About Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide and selective ghrelin-receptor agonist. Research literature characterizes it for selective growth hormone release with minimal effect on cortisol or prolactin in research models. Among GHRPs, it has the cleanest research selectivity profile, making it one of the most-studied compounds in this class.
About CJC-1295 (No DAC)
CJC-1295 without DAC, also known in research as Modified GRF (1-29), is a tetrasubstituted GHRH analog. The four amino acid substitutions improve stability against enzymatic degradation while preserving the short half-life characteristic of native GHRH. This makes it useful for research protocols studying natural pulsatile GH release.
Which Should Researchers Choose?
The choice depends on the research design:
- Selective GH-pulse research -> Ipamorelin.
- GHRH-axis research -> CJC-1295 No DAC.
- Combined GHRH + GHRP research -> The two are very commonly paired in research protocols to study synergistic GH release from both pathways simultaneously.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are these often combined in research?
They act on different receptors with complementary mechanisms - GHRH receptor and ghrelin receptor - making the combination informative for GH pulse research.
Is this the same as CJC-1295 with DAC?
No. The DAC version has a much longer half-life and produces sustained GH elevation rather than pulses. See our separate comparison page on CJC with vs without DAC.
Are these FDA approved?
No. Both are investigational research compounds.