Skip to content
Peptigraph home

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin vs HGH: What the Research Shows

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin and HGH side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
GHRH + GHRP blendNot FDA approved · research blendCJC-1295 + IpamorelinUnapproved blend of CJC-1295 (no DAC) and ipamorelin; an FDA Drugs@FDA search for the CJC-1295 component returned no matches, so no approved product was found.[11]Growth hormone+153% searchesPre-mixed blendRecombinant growth hormoneFDA approved (prescription only)HGHRecombinant human growth hormone, FDA-approved by prescription; in a randomized trial, 4 weeks of supraphysiological dosing did not improve power output or oxygen uptake.[12]Growth hormone+39% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin if…

No sourced contrast for this side yet. We add a point here only when it is tied to a study or label.

Consider HGH if…

  • you want products with an FDA label: Genotropin (somatropin) is indicated for children with growth failure from inadequate growth hormone secretion[6]
  • you want randomized data in adults with growth hormone deficiency: Within 3 months lean body mass rose 5.09% and body fat fell 10.89%; waist fell 1.42%.[13]

What they have in common

  • WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin[1]
  • Growth hormone is prohibited by WADA at all times, in and out of competition[1]
Both are prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 9 of 12 fields where the two differ. Category, PCAC vote, Jul 2026, Evidence strength are the same or both unknown.

FieldCJC-1295 + IpamorelinHGH
ClassGHRH + GHRP blendRecombinant growth hormone
Also calledCJC/IpaGH, growth hormone, generic HGH, IU
FDA statusNot FDA approved · research blendFDA approved (prescription only)
WADAProhibited by WADA (S2.2.4)Both components are named in S2.2.4 (CJC-1295 as a GHRH analogue, ipamorelin as a secretagogue), so the blend is prohibited at all times.Prohibited by WADA (S2.2.3)Growth hormone and its analogues and fragments are prohibited at all times (S2.2.3).
Anti-doping detection
  • After nasal dosing, ipamorelin metabolites were still found in urine after the parent drug was gone (samples were collected for 2 days).PMID 25869809
None reportedanti-doping literature, as of 2 Oct 2026
Half-lifeIpamorelin: 2 hours terminal half-lifeintravenous infusion (15 min) · Pharmaceutical research 1999, PMID 104966580.4 hours IV; 3.0 hours subcutaneousintravenous (normal adults); subcutaneous (GHD adults), Genotropin · FDA label (Genotropin)
Human studies we summarised6 human (3 randomized or controlled) of 19 summarised, across ingredients13 human (13 randomized or controlled) of 20 summarised
Typical study doses
US searches per month49,500 · +153% searches74,000 · +39% searches

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Sources

  1. 1World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin.Drug testing and analysis · 2015PMID 25869809Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers.Pharmaceutical research · 1999PMID 10496658Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients.International journal of colorectal disease · 2014PMID 25331030Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Prolonged 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.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16352683Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6GENOTROPIN (SOMATROPIN) KIT [PFIZER LABORATORIES DIV PFIZER INC]FDA label (Genotropin), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Effect of growth hormone on aging connective tissue in muscle and tendon: gene expression, morphology, and function following immobilization and rehabilitation.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2014PMID 24235105Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Impact of GH replacement therapy on sleep in adult patients with GH deficiency of pituitary origin.European journal of endocrinology · 2013PMID 23447518Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Local administration of growth hormone stimulates tendon collagen synthesis in elderly men.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2012PMID 22961272Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10PubMed search: (("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (ipamorelin[tiab])) AND (somatropin[tiab] OR "recombinant human growth hormone"[tiab] OR "recombinant growth hormone"[tiab] OR rhGH[tiab] OR "growth hormone therapy"[tiab] OR "growth hormone treatment"[tiab] OR "growth hormone replacement"[tiab] OR "growth hormone administration"[tiab] OR "GH therapy"[tiab] OR "GH treatment"[tiab] OR "GH replacement"[tiab] OR "GH administration"[tiab] OR "growth hormone injection"[tiab] OR "growth hormone injections"[tiab] OR "growth hormone supplementation"[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Drugs@FDA (openFDA) search: active ingredient "CJC-1295"U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026api.fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Short-term administration of supraphysiological recombinant human growth hormone (GH) does not increase maximum endurance exercise capacity in healthy, active young men and women with normal GH-insulin-like growth factor I axes.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2005PMID 15784718Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Two years of replacement therapy in adults with growth hormone deficiency.Clinical endocrinology · 1997PMID 9404448Accessed 2 Oct 2026

Found an error? Report a correction.