Reader’s guide · First edition · September 2026 · Revised October 1, 2026
CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin
A guide to the growth hormone stack: two abandoned drugs, one blend vial no study has tested, and a compounding ban that sellers ignore
CJC-1295 with ipamorelin is the best-selling growth hormone product in the peptide market, sold as a single blended vial and dosed at bedtime to push the pituitary into a larger nightly pulse of growth hormone. The physiology behind combining the two is real. What is missing is any study of the combination, any study of the "no DAC" CJC-1295 the vials actually contain, and any legal way for a pharmacy to make it. This guide explains what each half is, what the handful of human studies showed, how the blend is dosed as sold, and where the FDA stands.
Who this is for
Written for adults who are using, or being offered, a CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend for recovery, sleep, body composition, or anti-aging. It summarizes the published record and the regulatory position as of the edition date. It is not medical advice.
The blend contains two different peptides that reach the same gland by different doors. CJC-1295 is a modified copy of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the hypothalamic signal that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone. Ipamorelin is a five-amino-acid mimic of ghrelin, the stomach hormone that also triggers growth hormone release through a separate receptor. Both were developed as drugs by pharmaceutical companies and both programs were abandoned, CJC-1295 in 2006 and ipamorelin in 2014.
- CJC-1295
- A GHRH analog with four amino-acid substitutions that resist breakdown. Sold in two forms: "no DAC" (also called Mod GRF 1-29), which lasts under an hour, and "with DAC," which carries a drug-affinity complex that binds blood albumin and lasts about a week.
- Ipamorelin
- A synthetic pentapeptide that activates the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) to release growth hormone, described in 1998 as the first secretagogue to do so without raising cortisol or prolactin at ordinary doses.
- Forms in use
- Blend vials of 5 mg plus 5 mg or 10 mg plus 10 mg, reconstituted and injected subcutaneously at bedtime; separate vials of each; CJC-1295 with DAC as a weekly injection.
- Status
- Neither is approved anywhere, and pharmacies may not compound either. FDA placed both in Category 2 in September 2023; its current list shows both among nominations withdrawn by their sponsors (ipamorelin stays in Category 2 for outsourcing facilities), which leaves neither nominated or under review. Neither was among the twelve peptides sent for committee review in April 2026 or considered at the July 2026 meeting.
- Anti-doping
- Both prohibited by WADA at all times under section S2, growth hormone-releasing factors.
- Maker
- None. ConjuChem ended CJC-1295 development in 2006; Novo Nordisk and then Helsinn ended ipamorelin development in 2014. No registered trial of either is recruiting.
The vial contains the version nobody studied
Both published human studies of CJC-1295 used the DAC form, the weekly one. The "no DAC" version in nearly every blend vial has no published human trial under any name. Its behavior is inferred from sermorelin, the older GHRH fragment it was built from, and from the four substitutions that slow its breakdown.
Growth hormone is released in pulses, mostly during deep sleep. GHRH from the hypothalamus opens the tap; ghrelin from the stomach opens it wider by a second route and also blunts somatostatin, the hormone that closes it. Giving a GHRH analog and a ghrelin mimic together produces a larger pulse than either alone, an effect documented in the 1990s with the older secretagogues and the reason the two are sold as a pair. The bedtime timing is meant to ride the natural nocturnal pulse.
| Component | Receptor | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| CJC-1295 (no DAC) | GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs | Opens the release pathway; brief, so it is timed to one pulse |
| Ipamorelin | Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) | Amplifies the pulse and suppresses somatostatin; more selective than older secretagogues |
| Together | Both at once | A larger pulse than either alone, measured in hours-long hormone studies of the drug class |
"Larger pulse" is a blood-test result. Whether a larger pulse changes muscle, fat, sleep, or recovery in a healthy adult has not been tested for this pair.
Two things the mechanism does not promise. It does not raise growth hormone in someone whose pituitary cannot make it, which is why these compounds are not a treatment for true growth hormone deficiency. And it raises IGF-1, the hormone that carries most of growth hormone's effects, which is the same signal that makes long-term growth hormone excess a concern for blood sugar and for tumor growth.
Published human studies of CJC-1295, both with the DAC form, both measuring hormone levels in healthy adults
Randomized controlled trial of ipamorelin, in 114 surgical patients; it failed its endpoint
Studies of the two given together, in anyone, for anything
Trials measuring muscle, fat, sleep, recovery, or any outcome a buyer is paying for
| Year | Study | Result | Relevance to the blend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | CJC-1295 with DAC, single and repeated doses in healthy adults aged 21 to 61 | Growth hormone rose two- to tenfold for six days or more; IGF-1 rose 1.5- to threefold for over a week; half-life about a week | Different form; the vial version lasts under an hour |
| 2006 | CJC-1295 with DAC, hormone sampling in healthy men | Pulsatile growth hormone release continued during continuous stimulation, with larger pulses and higher troughs | Same caveat |
| 1998 | Ipamorelin, laboratory and animal characterization with early human dosing | Released growth hormone without raising cortisol or prolactin at ordinary doses | Establishes selectivity, not benefit |
| 2014 | Ipamorelin versus placebo after bowel surgery, 114 patients, intravenous | Time to tolerating a meal: 25 hours versus 33 on placebo, not statistically significant. Development stopped | The only controlled trial; a negative one |
The 2006 CJC-1295 program also ran a Phase 2 trial in 192 people with HIV-related abdominal fat. It was halted after a participant died of a heart attack two hours after an injection, and its results were never published.
What would count as evidence
A randomized trial of the blend against placebo in healthy adults, measuring body composition, sleep, or recovery over months, with IGF-1 and glucose monitored. None exists, and as of this edition none is registered. The nearest thing is the trial record for growth hormone itself in healthy older adults: small gains in lean mass, no gain in strength or function, and more swelling, joint pain, and glucose problems.
The protocol that clinics and sellers have converged on is custom, not the product of a dose-finding study. It is also written two different ways, which causes real errors: some listings state a dose per peptide ("200 mcg each"), others a dose of blend ("400 mcg"), and the two look identical on a syringe.
| Form | Typical instruction | What is known |
|---|---|---|
| Blend vial, no DAC | 100 to 300 mcg of each peptide, injected together at bedtime on an empty stomach, five nights on and two off, for 8 to 12 weeks | No human study of the combination or of no-DAC CJC-1295 |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | 1 to 2 mg once weekly | Two hormone-level studies in healthy adults |
| Ipamorelin alone | 200 to 300 mcg one to three times daily | One negative controlled trial in surgical patients |
| "Cycling" and "5 on, 2 off" | Rest days and 4-week breaks between courses | Borrowed from bodybuilding custom; no pharmacological basis established |
What the next table is, and is not
It expresses the common clinic protocol for the blend vial as sold, so the arithmetic can be checked. Nothing in it has been validated in a controlled trial, neither peptide may lawfully be compounded, and a research-chemical vial's stated strength and ratio are unverified.
- Vial
- 5 mg CJC-1295 (no DAC) plus 5 mg ipamorelin, 10 mg of peptide in total, as sold; identity, ratio, and quantity unverified unless a pharmacy dispensed it
- Water added
- 2 mL bacteriostatic water. A 10 mg plus 10 mg vial takes 4 mL and lands at the same concentration, so every figure below applies to both sizes.
- Concentration
- 5,000 mcg/mL of blend, which is 2,500 mcg/mL of each peptide. One concentration for the whole course.
- Syringe
- 0.3 mL insulin syringe with half-unit marks; every draw in the table is under 30 units
| Weeks | Nightly dose | Draw | Units | Used per 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 200 mcg of each (400 mcg of blend) | 0.08 mL | 8 | 8 mg (about 1 vial) |
| 5–12 | 300 mcg of each (600 mcg of blend) | 0.12 mL | 12 | 12 mg (about 1.2 vials) |
| After 12 | Stop for at least 4 weeks and reassess |
Twenty injection nights per 4 weeks at five on, two off. The 100 mcg-each starting dose some clinics use is a 4-unit draw, too small to measure reliably on an insulin syringe; a lower start needs more water, not a smaller draw.
What each draw looks like · 0.5 mL (50-unit) U-100 insulin syringe
The plunger tip sits on the line for the dose. Units are marks on a U-100 syringe: 100 units is 1 mL. The picture assumes the concentration in the table above; a different amount of water changes every line.
- "Empty stomach" has a rationale: a carbohydrate meal raises insulin and blunts the growth hormone pulse. It is the one piece of the protocol grounded in physiology rather than custom.
- Five on, two off, 8- to 12-week courses, and 4-week breaks are bodybuilding conventions carried into clinics. No study has tested whether breaks are needed or whether the response fades without them.
- Sellers treat the blend ratio as fixed at one to one. Nothing establishes that ratio; it is the one that is convenient to manufacture.
Neither peptide has ever been submitted for approval. The live question is whether pharmacies may compound them, and for these two the answer since 2023 has been no. FDA's list of risky bulk substances now shows both among nominations withdrawn by their sponsors, still with FDA's safety concerns attached (for CJC-1295, a raised heart rate and a whole-body vasodilatory reaction), and ipamorelin remains in Category 2 for outsourcing facilities. A withdrawn nomination is not a pathway: nothing is pending for either. That is a different position from BPC-157 and the other peptides that left Category 2 in April 2026 and went to the advisory committee: CJC-1295 and ipamorelin have no review scheduled and were not on the July agenda.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jul 2006 | ConjuChem halts its Phase 2 trial of CJC-1295 after a participant's death, ends the program, and later ceases operations |
| 2014 | Helsinn's Phase 2 trial of ipamorelin for post-surgical bowel recovery fails; development is discontinued |
| Sep 2023 | FDA places both CJC-1295 and ipamorelin in Category 2 of the 503A bulks list, citing safety, impurity, and immunogenicity concerns: not to be compounded |
| Oct 2024 | FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee votes against adding ipamorelin to the 503A list; the same meeting rejects ibutamoren (MK-677) |
| Apr 2026 | FDA removes twelve peptides from Category 2 after their nominations were withdrawn and sends them for committee review. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not among them; FDA's list shows their nominations withdrawn as well, with nothing pending |
| Jul 2026 | Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee recommends six other peptides for listing. Neither CJC-1295 nor ipamorelin is considered |
| Next | No review of either is scheduled as of this edition. The next committee meeting, due by February 2027, does not include them |
Forbidden for pharmacies, and sold everywhere
A compounding pharmacy that makes CJC-1295 or ipamorelin is acting against an explicit FDA determination, not in a gray area. A clinic offering the blend is either sourcing from such a pharmacy or from a chemical supplier with no pharmacy involved. The "research use only" label on the vial is protection for the seller, not the buyer.
- FDA's 2023 concern was about the products, not only the molecules: unverified purity, peptide-related impurities, and the immune response they can provoke. Those concerns apply with full force to a blended research-chemical vial, where two syntheses' impurities are combined.
- Sermorelin, the older GHRH fragment CJC-1295 was built from, remains available through compounding pharmacies. It is the lawful version of the same idea, and the reason some clinics quietly substitute it.
- Tesamorelin, an approved GHRH analog, can be prescribed off-label. A tesamorelin and ipamorelin blend borrows its approval for a mixture that has never been tested; it is covered in the field guide.
Reading a blend vial: the microgram arithmetic7
A blend vial adds a fourth unit system to the usual three. The label is in milligrams per peptide, the dose is in micrograms, the syringe is in units, and the protocol may be written per peptide or per blend. The most common error is not a decimal point; it is taking a "300 mcg" instruction meant for the blend and injecting 300 mcg of each.
units = (blend dose mcg ÷ blend concentration mcg/mL) × 100
A 5 mg plus 5 mg vial (10,000 mcg of blend) with 2 mL of water is 5,000 mcg/mL. A dose of 200 mcg of each is 400 mcg of blend, which is 0.08 mL, or 8 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. Always convert a per-peptide dose to the blend total before dividing.
| Water added | Blend concentration | 200 mcg of each | 300 mcg of each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 10,000 mcg/mL | 4 units (0.04 mL) | 6 units (0.06 mL) |
| 2 mL | 5,000 mcg/mL | 8 units (0.08 mL) | 12 units (0.12 mL) |
| 3 mL | 3,333 mcg/mL | 12 units (0.12 mL) | 18 units (0.18 mL) |
Reconstituted peptide is a multi-dose vial with no tested beyond-use date. Refrigerate, and assume it degrades within weeks; no-DAC CJC-1295 is the less stable of the two.
The honest summary is that short courses have not been shown to be dangerous, the long-term picture is borrowed from growth hormone itself, and the studies that would settle either have not been done for this pair.
- Reported
- Flushing and warmth after injection, headache, water retention, tingling in the hands, vivid dreams, increased hunger from the ghrelin mimic, and injection-site reactions. In the CJC-1295 studies, these were mild and transient.
- Metabolic
- Raised IGF-1 and, with it, reduced insulin sensitivity and higher fasting glucose. Growth hormone's effect on blood sugar is well documented; anyone with prediabetes or diabetes is the wrong candidate.
- Theoretical
- IGF-1 is a growth signal. Long-term growth hormone excess is associated with tumor growth, joint enlargement, and carpal tunnel syndrome. No study has examined these compounds in people with cancer or a cancer history, and no study has run longer than a few weeks.
- The 2006 death
- One trial participant died of a heart attack two hours after a CJC-1295 injection. The investigators attributed it to undiagnosed coronary disease and no formal causality assessment was completed. It is the only death on record and it was never explained either way.
- Product
- FDA's stated concern: impurities and immunogenicity. A blended vial carries the impurities of two syntheses, and the ratio on the label is unverified.
- Sterility
- Research-chemical vials are not certified sterile or endotoxin-free for injection.
- Unknown
- Effects in pregnancy, in adolescents whose growth plates are open, with other medicines, and beyond a few weeks of use.
- Athletes
- Both prohibited by WADA at all times. Detection methods for CJC-1295 and for ipamorelin exist and are in use.
- Is either peptide FDA-approved for anything? (No.)
- Is either on FDA's compounding list? (No; both are explicitly excluded.) Then who made this vial, and under what authority?
- Is this the DAC or no-DAC form, and does the protocol match? Is the dose written per peptide or per blend?
- What is the concentration and ratio, who tested it, and can I see the certificate of analysis for this batch?
- Has my IGF-1 and fasting glucose been measured before starting, and will they be checked?
- Do I have a cancer history, diabetes, or prediabetes?
- Am I subject to anti-doping rules, at work or in sport?
- What does the evidence say about my actual goal, and what is the plan if nothing changes in twelve weeks?
What does have evidence for the goals on the label
For body composition: resistance training and adequate protein, which produce larger lean-mass gains in trials than growth hormone does in healthy adults. For sleep: sleep timing, light, and alcohol, all with controlled trials. For a diagnosed growth hormone deficiency: growth hormone itself, from an endocrinologist, with monitoring. Less glamorous than a blend vial, and the only things shown to work.
Latest
Developments since this edition, newest first. Items here are dated and sourced; they update the guide without re-editing it.
FDA rejects the 'research use only' defense in five vendor letters
A law-firm analysis of the August 24 warning letters notes FDA used website dosing guidance, dose calculators, and bundled bacteriostatic water as evidence of intended human use. An ipamorelin-containing blend was among the cited products.
UCLA review of 565 studies finds almost no human evidence for six popular recovery peptides
Orthopedic researchers reviewed 565 studies of BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, MK-677, and GHK-Cu for muscle, tendon, and joint use (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2026). More than two-thirds were animal-only, and the authors found essentially no studies showing a significant clinical benefit for musculoskeletal conditions.
Warning letter names an ipamorelin blend as an unapproved drug
FDA's letter to Royal Peptides lists seven products, including a tesamorelin and ipamorelin blend, as unapproved new drugs marketed for human use despite research-only labels.
July committee did not review CJC-1295 or ipamorelin; neither is compoundable
The July 23 and 24 meeting covered BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Semax, epitalon, and emideltide. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin were not on the agenda, and pharmacies still may not compound them.
References
- 1.Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of GH and IGF-I secretion by CJC-1295 in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/
- 2.Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile GH secretion persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(12):4792-4797. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/91/12/4792/2656274
- 3.Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(5):552-561. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/
- 4.Beck DE, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled study of ipamorelin for postoperative ileus. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2014;29(12):1527-1534. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00384-014-2030-8
- 5.aidsmap. Lipodystrophy study halted after patient death. July 2006. https://www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-2006/lipodystrophy-study-halted-after-patient-death
- 6.Bowers CY. Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP). Cell Mol Life Sci. 1998;54(12):1316-1329.
- 7.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bulk drug substances nominated for compounding under section 503A: Category 2 (CJC-1295 and ipamorelin, September 2023; update April 2026). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/bulk-drug-substances-nominated-use-compounding-under-section-503a-federal-food-drug-and-cosmetic-act
- 8.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 23-24, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar/july-23-24-2026-meeting-pharmacy-compounding-advisory-committee-07232026
- 9.World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List 2026, S2: growth hormone-releasing factors, including CJC-1295 and ipamorelin. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
- 10.Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. The safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues. Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(1):45-53. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5632578/
- 11.Møller N, Jørgensen JOL. Effects of growth hormone on glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism in human subjects. Endocr Rev. 2009;30(2):152-177.
- 12.Liu H, et al. Systematic review: the safety and efficacy of growth hormone in the healthy elderly. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(2):104-115. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17227934/
- 13.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (CJC-1295 and ipamorelin listed among nominations withdrawn; ipamorelin in Category 2 under the 503B policy). Content current as of April 22, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks