CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin
CJC-1295 (GHRH analog) + Ipamorelin (GH secretagogue)
At a Glance
Molecular Properties
Overview
Compound Description
CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin is a two-peptide research combination that pairs a growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog with a selective growth-hormone secretagogue. CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH(1-29) analog studied for its extended duration of action, while Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist noted in the literature for releasing growth hormone without significant co-stimulation of cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH. The two are frequently examined together in research settings because they engage the somatotropic axis through distinct but complementary receptor pathways. This profile is provided strictly for research and educational reference and is not intended to describe therapeutic use.
Mechanism of Action
Research-Identified Pathways
Research indicates that CJC-1295 acts as an agonist at the growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) on pituitary somatotrophs, promoting the synthesis and pulsatile release of growth hormone (GH). CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of GHRH(1-29); the drug-affinity-complex (DAC) variant incorporates a reactive linker that covalently binds circulating albumin after administration, and studies in healthy adults reported prolonged elevation of GH and downstream IGF-I lasting several days from a single dose. This extended pharmacokinetic profile is the principal feature distinguishing CJC-1295 from native GHRH, whose plasma half-life is measured in minutes.
Ipamorelin is described in the literature as a selective agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), the same receptor targeted by the endogenous ligand ghrelin. Acting through this ghrelin-mimetic pathway, it stimulates GH release via a mechanism distinct from GHRH-receptor signaling, and preclinical work characterized it as releasing GH with potency comparable to GHRP-6 while showing minimal effect on ACTH and cortisol. Because a GHRH analog and a GHS-R agonist engage separate receptors on the somatotropic axis, research often examines the two in combination to study potentially additive or synergistic effects on GH secretion dynamics. These descriptions summarize mechanistic and preclinical findings and are not claims of clinical benefit.
Key Research Findings
Published Study Highlights
- In a placebo-controlled study of healthy adults, a single subcutaneous dose of CJC-1295 increased mean plasma GH concentrations 2- to 10-fold for six or more days and IGF-I concentrations 1.5- to 3-fold for 9-11 days (Teichman et al., 2006).
- The drug-affinity-complex (DAC) modification of CJC-1295 promotes covalent binding to endogenous albumin, extending circulating half-life from the minutes-long range of native GHRH to a multi-day window in research models.
- Ipamorelin was characterized in preclinical work as the first selective GH secretagogue, releasing GH with potency and efficacy similar to GHRP-6 in rat pituitary cells and in conscious swine (Raun et al., 1998).
- In the same preclinical characterization, Ipamorelin did not raise ACTH or cortisol above GHRH-stimulated levels even at doses more than 200-fold above the ED50 for GH release, indicating receptor selectivity.
- In a GHRH-knockout mouse model, once-daily CJC-1295 normalized body weight and length, demonstrating restoration of the GH/IGF-I growth axis in an animal lacking endogenous GHRH (Alba et al., 2006).
Areas of Research Interest
Why Researchers Are Investigating This Compound
This compound has attracted significant research attention in the following areas. These represent active fields of scientific inquiry, not validated therapeutic claims. No medical benefits are stated or implied.
- Somatotropic-axis signaling: how simultaneous engagement of the GHRH receptor (CJC-1295) and the ghrelin/GHS-R1a receptor (Ipamorelin) modulates pituitary GH output in research models.
- GH pulsatility research: study of how a long-acting GHRH analog interacts with a short-acting secretagogue to influence the amplitude and pattern of GH secretion versus sustained elevation.
- Pharmacokinetic research: comparison of DAC-mediated albumin binding and prolonged half-life against native GHRH and non-DAC analogs as a model for extended-duration peptide design.
- Recovery and body-composition research models: preclinical investigation of GH/IGF-I axis modulation relevant to tissue and metabolic endpoints, studied without implication of validated human benefit.
Published Research
Peer-Reviewed References
- Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA "Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2006). doi:10.1210/jc.2005-1536
- Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, Thøgersen H, Madsen K, Ankersen M, Andersen PH "Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue." European Journal of Endocrinology (1998). doi:10.1530/eje.0.1390552
- Alba M, Fintini D, Sagazio A, Lawrence B, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA, Salvatori R "Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse." American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism (2006). doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00201.2006
Research Use Only
The information presented on this page is compiled from peer-reviewed scientific literature and is provided solely for educational and research purposes. This compound is intended exclusively for laboratory and scientific research use. It is not a drug, pharmaceutical, or dietary supplement. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. No claims of therapeutic efficacy are made or implied.
Researchers are advised to consult the original published studies referenced above for complete methodological details, study limitations, and the authors' own conclusions. Atlas Peptide Research does not endorse any specific research application and provides this information as a reference resource only.
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