CJC-1295 (No DAC) vs Ipamorelin
CJC-1295 (No DAC) (GHRH analog (short-acting modified GHRH(1-29), aka Mod GRF 1-29)) and Ipamorelin (Growth-hormone secretagogue (GHRP) / ghrelin receptor agonist) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | CJC-1295 (No DAC) | Ipamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | GHRH analog (short-acting modified GHRH(1-29), aka Mod GRF 1-29) | Growth-hormone secretagogue (GHRP) / ghrelin receptor agonist |
| Research category | Growth & GH-Axis | Growth & GH-Axis |
| Length (amino acids) | 29 amino acids | 5 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | Approximately 3368 g/mol | 711.9 g/mol |
| Half-life | Short, on the order of tens of minutes (reported approximately 30 minutes), longer than native GHRH but far shorter than the DAC version | ~2 hours (reported approximately 120 minutes) |
| Origin | CJC-1295 without DAC (commonly called Mod GRF 1-29 or Modified GRF 1-29) is a modified GHRH(1-29) analog carrying stabilizing amino-acid substitutions but lacking the albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) of the full CJC-1295. | Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide developed in the 1990s (originally by Novo Nordisk) as a selective growth-hormone secretagogue. It was designed to stimulate GH release with minimal off-target hormonal effects. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How CJC-1295 (No DAC) works
This peptide is a GHRH-receptor agonist that stimulates pulsatile GH release from the pituitary. Its four amino-acid substitutions on the GHRH(1-29) backbone (e.g. at positions 2, 8, 15, 27) resist DPP-4 degradation, giving it a modestly longer half-life than native sermorelin. Without the DAC group, it does not bind albumin, so it produces short, discrete GH pulses rather than sustained elevation.
How Ipamorelin works
Ipamorelin is an agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a, the ghrelin receptor), mimicking ghrelin to stimulate GH release from the anterior pituitary. It acts on the pituitary and hypothalamus to promote a pulsatile release of growth hormone. Unlike some other GHRPs, it is reported to be highly selective, releasing GH without significantly stimulating ACTH, cortisol, or prolactin at effective doses.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Ipamorelin
What sets each apart
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
The absence of the DAC albumin-binding group makes this a short-acting, pulse-generating GHRH analog, in direct contrast to the long-acting DAC version of CJC-1295.
Ipamorelin
Among GHRPs, ipamorelin is noted for its selectivity — stimulating GH release without the appetite, cortisol, and prolactin elevations associated with GHRP-6 and hexarelin.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the no-DAC form preferred for pulsatile GH research?
Its short (~30 minute) half-life mimics the body's natural pulsatile GHRH signaling. Paired with a short-acting GHRP like ipamorelin, it produces a clean, discrete GH pulse, which is why it is favored in research modeling physiologic GH release.
What is CJC-1295 without DAC?
CJC-1295 without DAC (essentially Modified GRF 1-29) is a synthetic 29-amino-acid GHRH analog with four substitutions (at positions 2, 8, 15, and 27) that resist DPP-IV cleavage. Unlike the DAC version, it lacks the albumin-binding complex, so it is short-acting.
How does the no-DAC version differ from CJC-1295 with DAC?
Both share the same modified GHRH(1-29) core, but the no-DAC form has a half-life of only about 30 minutes and produces discrete GH pulses, whereas the DAC form binds albumin and lasts 6-8 days, giving sustained GHRH tone. The choice shapes whether research models pulsatile or sustained GH output.
What is ipamorelin and what class of compound is it?
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue (a ghrelin/GHS-R1a receptor agonist). It is studied as one of the most selective GHRPs, stimulating pulsatile GH release from the anterior pituitary with minimal effect on cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH in research models.
How does ipamorelin differ from GHRP-2 and GHRP-6?
All three activate the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a), but ipamorelin is the most selective: in the research literature it drives GH release without the appetite stimulation seen with GHRP-6 or the cortisol/prolactin elevation associated with GHRP-2. This selectivity is why it is frequently used as a reference GHRP in study design.
Why is ipamorelin commonly studied alongside a GHRH analog like CJC-1295?
Ipamorelin (a GHS-R agonist) and a GHRH analog such as CJC-1295 or sermorelin act on two different receptor pathways. Research protocols pair them because combined GHRH + GHRP stimulation produces a synergistic, amplified GH pulse greater than either compound alone.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.