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Research · Peptides and SARMs

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin

Grey marketNot approved for human use in the US, and sold anyway.

In small randomized trials in healthy adults, CJC-1295 raised growth hormone 2- to 10-fold and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold. Ipamorelin did not significantly shorten time to a first tolerated meal after bowel surgery. No trial of muscle, fat loss or sleep was sourced. Neither is FDA-approved, both are banned in sport, and FDA cites serious adverse events with each.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09
Status
Neither is FDA-approved for any use in the US. FDA lists ipamorelin acetate in category 2 for outsourcing-facility compounding (503B), and lists both among bulk substances previously in category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn. Both are prohibited at all times by WADA (S2).
Also called
CJC-1295, CJC-1295 DAC, ipamorelin, ipamorelin acetate, mod GRF 1-29, modified GRF 1-29, GH secretagogue
Taken for
growth hormone, muscle, fat loss, sleep, recovery, anti-aging

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help1

Reported risks4

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help1

Limited

Growth hormone and IGF-1 levels

Small trials found single injections of CJC-1295 raised growth hormone and IGF-1 for days in healthy adults. No study measured muscle, fat, sleep or recovery.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, ascending-dose trials, a single injection of CJC-1295 raised mean plasma growth hormone 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more and mean IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days, rising with dose. After multiple doses, mean IGF-1 stayed above baseline for up to 28 days [1]. In healthy men measured before and 1 week after one injection, trough growth hormone rose 7.5-fold, mean growth hormone 46% and IGF-1 45%, while the frequency and size of growth hormone pulses did not change [2]. In healthy men given intravenous ipamorelin at five dose levels, every dose produced a single episode of growth hormone release that peaked at 0.67 hours and fell to negligible levels [3].
Population
Healthy adults aged 21 to 61, in trials lasting 28 and 49 days. The abstract does not give the number enrolled [1]. Healthy men aged 20 to 40 [2]. 40 healthy men, 8 at each dose level [3].
Sources
[1], [2], [3]
Caveats
Growth hormone and IGF-1 are laboratory measures. None of these studies reported muscle, fat, sleep or recovery. The study in [2] had no placebo group, and the abstract of [3] does not describe one. Each peptide was tested alone, not the two combined.

Not shown to help1

Limited

Bowel recovery after surgery

One trial found intravenous ipamorelin did not significantly shorten time to the first solid meal after bowel surgery, 25.3 against 32.6 hours.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of intravenous ipamorelin after bowel resection, median time to the first tolerated solid meal was 25.3 hours on ipamorelin and 32.6 hours on placebo (p = 0.15). No key or secondary efficacy measure differed between the groups [4].
Population
117 adults having open or laparoscopic small or large bowel resection, 114 of them analyzed, treated twice daily for up to 7 days or until discharge [4].
Sources
[4]
Caveats
A small proof-of-concept trial that enrolled patients with a broad range of underlying conditions, as its authors note [4]. It tested hospital use after surgery, not the uses people take ipamorelin for.

Not yet researched5

No research yet

Muscle and strength

We haven't sourced research on this yet.

No research yet

Fat loss

We haven't sourced research on this yet.

No research yet

Sleep

We haven't sourced research on this yet.

No research yet

Injury recovery

We haven't sourced research on this yet.

No research yet

Anti-aging

We haven't sourced research on this yet.

Risks

Reported risks4

LimitedHow often is not known

FDA compounding listing for CJC-1295

FDA states compounded CJC-1295 may pose an immune reaction risk, and has identified serious adverse events including a raised heart rate and a vasodilatory reaction.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
FDA states that compounded drugs containing CJC-1295 may pose a risk of immunogenicity for certain routes and may have complexities with peptide-related impurities and characterization of the active ingredient. FDA has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295, including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction, and states that available clinical data are limited. CJC-1295 appears on FDA's list of substances previously in category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn [5].
Population
Compounded drug products in the US [5].
Sources
[5]
Caveats
FDA does not give the number of events or their source on this page [5].
LimitedHow often is not known

FDA compounding listing for ipamorelin

FDA states compounded ipamorelin may pose an immune reaction risk, and cites serious adverse events, including death, when it was given intravenously for gastric motility.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
FDA lists ipamorelin acetate in category 2 for outsourcing-facility compounding. It states that compounded ipamorelin may pose a risk of immunogenicity because of possible aggregation or impurities, and that it contains unnatural amino acids that complicate characterization. FDA cites a published study that identified serious adverse events, including death, when ipamorelin was given intravenously for gastric motility. FDA has not identified safety information for other injectable routes and states it lacks information on whether it would cause harm by those routes [5].
Population
Compounded drug products in the US [5].
Sources
[5]
Caveats
A regulatory assessment, not a study of harm.
LimitedHow often is not known

Unidentified products

Limited evidence: a 2009 lab test of one seized preparation found a peptide consistent with CJC-1295. No purity analysis of combined products was found.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
In 2009, an unknown preparation submitted by Norwegian police and customs was found by mass spectrometry to contain a 29 amino acid peptide consistent with CJC-1295. The authors note that several peptide drugs are made illicitly and offered to the public before or without completing clinical trials [6].
Population
One seized preparation [6].
Sources
[6]
Caveats
A single product analysis. No published purity analysis of combined CJC-1295 and ipamorelin products was sourced for this page.
LimitedHow often is not known

Prohibited in sport

WADA lists CJC-1295 and ipamorelin under S2.2.4, both prohibited at all times.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
WADA lists CJC-1295 as a growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue and ipamorelin as a growth hormone secretagogue under S2.2.4, both prohibited at all times [7].
Population
Athletes subject to the World Anti-Doping Code [7].
Sources
[7]
Caveats
A sport rule, not a health finding.

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Human safety trials

Small trials reported no serious adverse reactions on CJC-1295, and adverse events about as common on IV ipamorelin as on placebo after bowel surgery.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
In two randomized, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose trials of CJC-1295 lasting 28 and 49 days, no serious adverse reactions were reported [1]. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous ipamorelin after bowel surgery, any treatment-emergent adverse event occurred in 87.5% on ipamorelin and 94.8% on placebo [4].
Population
Healthy adults aged 21 to 61 [1]; 117 adults after small or large bowel resection, 114 in the safety analysis, treated for up to 7 days [4].
Sources
[1], [4]
Caveats
Small and short trials. They tested each peptide alone, not the two combined. The ipamorelin trial abstract does not report the serious events FDA cites [5][4].

Sources

  1. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, et al. 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 and Metabolism. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2005-1536
  2. Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile Secretion of Growth Hormone (GH) Persists during Continuous Stimulation by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting GH-Releasing Hormone Analog. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-1702
  3. Gobburu JV, Agersø H, Jusko WJ, Ynddal L. Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Ipamorelin, a Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide, in Human Volunteers. Pharmaceutical Research. 1999. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1018955126402
  4. Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD, Ipamorelin 201 Study Group. Prospective, 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. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-2030-8
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
  6. Henninge J, Pepaj M, Hullstein I, et al. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.233
  7. World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List. 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list

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