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

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

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · 3 Oct 2026 · DisclosureUpdated 3 Oct 2026

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.^[15]Growth hormone+153% searchesPre-mixed blendGHRH analogCompounded by prescriptionSermorelinGHRH analog once FDA-approved as Geref and since discontinued; in an uncontrolled pediatric study mean height velocity rose from 4.1 to 8.0 cm/yr after 6 months.^[16]Growth hormoneFlat YoY

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 Sermorelin if…

you want human data in growth-hormone-deficient children, though uncontrolled: Mean height velocity rose from 4.1 cm/yr at baseline to 8.0 cm/yr at 6 months and 7.2 cm/yr at 12 months (open-label, no control group).^[16]

What they have in common

Sermorelin's only FDA record is Geref, listed with marketing status Discontinued^[17]
WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin^[1]

Sermorelin is not FDA approved. 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 13 fields where the two differ. Category, PCAC vote, Jul 2026, WADA, Evidence strength are the same or both unknown.

Field	CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin	Sermorelin
Class	GHRH + GHRP blend	GHRH analog
Also called	CJC/Ipa	—
Category	Growth hormone	Growth hormone
FDA status	Not FDA approved · research blend	Compounded by prescription
PCAC vote, Jul 2026	Not on the Jul 2026 agenda	Not on the Jul 2026 agenda
WADA	Prohibited 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 (S2.2.4)Sermorelin is named as a GHRH analogue in S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors), prohibited at all times.
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	A urine assay detects CJC-1295 and other GHRH analogues at very low concentrations.PMID 35298973 Labs expect GHRH analogues like CJC-1295 to be hard to find because of tiny urine concentrations; the study reports no detections in routine anti-doping samples.PMID 34665524
Half-life	Ipamorelin: 2 hours terminal half-lifeintravenous infusion (15 min) · Pharmaceutical research 1999, PMID 10496658	No published half-life foundPubMed search, 2 Oct 2026
Evidence strength	Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Ipamorelin: International journal of colorectal disease 2014, PMID 25331030	Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1992, PMID 1379256
Human studies we summarised	6 human (3 randomized or controlled) of 19 summarised, across ingredients	4 human (1 randomized or controlled) of 7 summarised
Typical study doses	Ipamorelin: 0.03 mg/kg ipamorelin, twice dailyInternational journal of colorectal disease 2014, PMID 25331030 CJC-1295: Four ascending single doses (first study); two or three weekly or biweekly doses (second study), single, weekly or biweeklyThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2006, PMID 16352683 Ipamorelin: 4.21, 14.02, 42.13, 84.27 and 140.45 nmol/kg, singlePharmaceutical research 1999, PMID 10496658	0.5 mg (low) and 1 mg (high) GHRH-(1-29), twice dailyThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1992, PMID 1379256 100 mcg each of GHRP-6, GHRP-2 and sermorelin, three times dailyAmerican journal of men's health 2017, PMID 28830317 2 mg GHRH (1-29), nightly self-injectionMetabolism: clinical and experimental 1997, PMID 9005976
Vial sizes sold	10 mg	2 mg, 5 mg, 9 mg, 15 mg
US searches per month	49,500 · +153% searches	165,000 · Flat YoY

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

Taken together?

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin and Sermorelin together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 4 results, 2 Oct 2026).

Open the stack page

StackCJC-1295 + Ipamorelin + Sermorelin, taken as separate injectionsStack page

Sources

1World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
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
3Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers.Pharmaceutical research · 1999PMID 10496658Accessed 2 Oct 2026
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
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
6An antibody-free, ultrafiltration-based assay for the detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations using nanoLC-HRMS/MS.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022PMID 35298973Accessed 2 Oct 2026
7Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs.Drug testing and analysis · 2021PMID 34665524Accessed 2 Oct 2026
8Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1992PMID 1379256Accessed 2 Oct 2026
9Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels.American journal of men's health · 2017PMID 28830317Accessed 2 Oct 2026
10Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men.Metabolism: clinical and experimental · 1997PMID 9005976Accessed 2 Oct 2026
11PubMed search: (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab]) (34 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
12PubMed search: (sermorelin[tiab] OR "GHRH(1-29)"[tiab] OR "GRF(1-29)"[tiab] OR "GHRH 1-29"[tiab]) AND (elderly[tiab] OR aging[tiab] OR "older adults"[tiab] OR adults[tiab]) AND (treatment[tiab] OR therapy[tiab] OR administration[tiab]) (15 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
13PubMed search: (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (2 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
14PubMed search: (("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (ipamorelin[tiab])) AND (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
15Drugs@FDA (openFDA) search: active ingredient "CJC-1295"U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026api.fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
16Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy. Geref International Study Group.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1996PMID 8772599Accessed 2 Oct 2026
17Drugs@FDA (openFDA) search: active ingredient "sermorelin"U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026api.fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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