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Modified GRF (1-29) vs Ipamorelin side-by-side

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Modified GRF (1-29)Ipamorelin

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Property	Modified GRF (1-29)	Ipamorelin
Category	Growth Hormone	Growth Hormone
Also known as	CJC-1295 without DAC, CJC-1295 No DAC, Tetrasubstituted GRF (1-29)	IPAM, NNC 26-0161
FDA approved	No	No
Clinical status	The source characterizes the program as investigational and Phase II-discontinued. It reports Category 2 removal in September 2024 for PCAC review, a Category 1 reclassification expectation on April 15, 2026, and PCAC review on July 23–24, 2026; it says Category 2 remains pending a formal FDA rule. Not applicable	Investigational; Phase II trials discontinued. Listed as FDA Category 2 pending possible reclassification, with formal status not changed in the source. Pre Preclinical I Phase I II Phase II III Phase III IV Phase IV FDA FDA approved
What to expect	The source lists growth hormone optimization, muscle gain, and fat loss as research interests; it does not establish those benefits.	Anti-aging, muscle building, sleep quality, recovery
How it works	CJC-1295 is described as a synthetic modification of GHRH(1-29). The supplied material says it activates GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs, increasing pituitary GH release, with hepatic IGF-I production following the GH rise. Native GHRH is described as being degraded within minutes. In the DAC variant, a reactive moiety is reported to attach covalently to circulating albumin after injection, reducing breakdown. The no-DAC form, Modified GRF 1-29, lacks this attachment and is reported to act for about 30 minutes. The described pathway depends on residual pituitary capacity for GH production.	Ipamorelin is reported to activate GHS-R1a, the ghrelin or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary. The source links this receptor activity to Gq/phospholipase C signaling, IP3 generation, intracellular calcium release, and pulsatile release of stored growth hormone. It also describes ipamorelin as relatively selective in early characterization, with GH-releasing doses not meaningfully increasing ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, FSH, LH, or TSH. Because the mechanism relies on pituitary GH stores, the source indicates that pituitary function and normal feedback biology remain relevant to the response.
Typical dosing	100 mcg daily (no DAC) or 2 mg weekly (with DAC) · Daily (no DAC) or 1-2x weekly (with DAC)	200-300 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily
Research dosing	CJC-1295 DAC: 1-2mg weekly · 8-12 weeks · Subcutaneous injection	100-300 mcg per injection · 8-12 weeks typical · Subcutaneous injection
Typical duration	Duration is supplied in the research dosing row.	8-12 weeks typical
Administration	Subcutaneous route	Subcutaneous injection
Timing	Before bed Take on empty stomach	Before bed or morning, fasted Fasted timing reported
Evidence level	Clinical Trials	Clinical Trials
Possible side effects	Generally well-tolerated (A short-term human study described general tolerability; this does not establish long-term safety.) Injection site reactions (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.) Facial flushing (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.) +6 more Headache (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.) Water retention (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.) Dizziness (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.) Possible histamine release (The source notes particular concern for MCAS or histamine sensitivity.) IGF-I/GH-related concerns for people with cancer (This is a source-reported concern, not a quantified risk assessment.) Risk of immunogenicity (Reported as a potential risk; the supplied material gives no frequency estimate.)	Generally well tolerated (Reported by the source as a general tolerability statement, not a guarantee of safety.) Injection-site reactions Headache +6 more Nausea Increased appetite Water retention Temporary joint stiffness (Source describes joint stiffness as temporary.) No significant cortisol or prolactin elevation reported (Source presents this as a selectivity-related observation.) Contraindicated with active malignancy (Listed by the source as a contraindication.)
Research summary	Evidence reviewed for CJC-1295 separates pharmacokinetic findings from clinical outcomes. The DAC form is described as having a half-life of roughly 6 to 8 days, whereas the non-DAC form is described as acting for about 30 minutes. In the 2006 randomized ascending-dose study, one injection was associated with GH elevation lasting at least 6 days and IGF-I elevation for 9 to 11 days; repeat dosing produced cumulative hormone effects. A mouse experiment reported restored growth with daily exposure. The material does not provide large, long-term human trials demonstrating fat loss or muscle gain. Development stopped after Phase II, and the reported trial death was attributed by the treating physician to pre-existing coronary disease, an attribution not independently confirmed.	The source identifies Raun et al. 1998 as early foundational work and describes characterization across rats, pigs, and isolated pituitary cells. It reports that ipamorelin released GH without corresponding ACTH or cortisol increases at doses above the GH-release threshold. The source also notes that human development reached Phase II for postoperative ileus before being discontinued for insufficient efficacy. For popular wellness uses such as anti-aging, fat loss, muscle gain, or recovery, the source states that large peer-reviewed human randomized trials are not available and that these claims are extrapolated from mechanism rather than established outcomes.
References	PubMed PubMed +1 more PubMed	PubMed PubMed +1 more PubMed
Full profile	View Details	View Details

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Educational use only. This information is aggregated from public research and community reports. It is not medical advice, and dosing details are descriptive, not recommendations. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Property

Modified GRF (1-29)

Ipamorelin

Category

Growth Hormone

Also known as

CJC-1295 without DAC, CJC-1295 No DAC, Tetrasubstituted GRF (1-29)

IPAM, NNC 26-0161

FDA approved

Clinical status

The source characterizes the program as investigational and Phase II-discontinued. It reports Category 2 removal in September 2024 for PCAC review, a Category 1 reclassification expectation on April 15, 2026, and PCAC review on July 23–24, 2026; it says Category 2 remains pending a formal FDA rule.

Not applicable

Investigational; Phase II trials discontinued. Listed as FDA Category 2 pending possible reclassification, with formal status not changed in the source.

Pre
Preclinical
I
Phase I
II
Phase II
III
Phase III
IV
Phase IV
FDA
FDA approved

What to expect

The source lists growth hormone optimization, muscle gain, and fat loss as research interests; it does not establish those benefits.

Anti-aging, muscle building, sleep quality, recovery

How it works

CJC-1295 is described as a synthetic modification of GHRH(1-29). The supplied material says it activates GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs, increasing pituitary GH release, with hepatic IGF-I production following the GH rise. Native GHRH is described as being degraded within minutes. In the DAC variant, a reactive moiety is reported to attach covalently to circulating albumin after injection, reducing breakdown. The no-DAC form, Modified GRF 1-29, lacks this attachment and is reported to act for about 30 minutes. The described pathway depends on residual pituitary capacity for GH production.

Ipamorelin is reported to activate GHS-R1a, the ghrelin or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary. The source links this receptor activity to Gq/phospholipase C signaling, IP3 generation, intracellular calcium release, and pulsatile release of stored growth hormone. It also describes ipamorelin as relatively selective in early characterization, with GH-releasing doses not meaningfully increasing ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, FSH, LH, or TSH. Because the mechanism relies on pituitary GH stores, the source indicates that pituitary function and normal feedback biology remain relevant to the response.

Typical dosing

100 mcg daily (no DAC) or 2 mg weekly (with DAC) · Daily (no DAC) or 1-2x weekly (with DAC)

200-300 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily

Research dosing

CJC-1295 DAC: 1-2mg weekly · 8-12 weeks · Subcutaneous injection

100-300 mcg per injection · 8-12 weeks typical · Subcutaneous injection

Typical duration

Duration is supplied in the research dosing row.

8-12 weeks typical

Administration

Subcutaneous route

Subcutaneous injection

Timing

Before bed

Take on empty stomach

Before bed or morning, fasted

Fasted timing reported

Evidence level

Clinical Trials

Possible side effects

Generally well-tolerated (A short-term human study described general tolerability; this does not establish long-term safety.)
Injection site reactions (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.)
Facial flushing (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.)

+6 more

Headache (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.)
Water retention (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.)
Dizziness (Reported in the source; no rate or causal estimate is provided.)
Possible histamine release (The source notes particular concern for MCAS or histamine sensitivity.)
IGF-I/GH-related concerns for people with cancer (This is a source-reported concern, not a quantified risk assessment.)
Risk of immunogenicity (Reported as a potential risk; the supplied material gives no frequency estimate.)

Generally well tolerated (Reported by the source as a general tolerability statement, not a guarantee of safety.)
Injection-site reactions
Headache

+6 more

Nausea
Increased appetite
Water retention
Temporary joint stiffness (Source describes joint stiffness as temporary.)
No significant cortisol or prolactin elevation reported (Source presents this as a selectivity-related observation.)
Contraindicated with active malignancy (Listed by the source as a contraindication.)

Research summary

Evidence reviewed for CJC-1295 separates pharmacokinetic findings from clinical outcomes. The DAC form is described as having a half-life of roughly 6 to 8 days, whereas the non-DAC form is described as acting for about 30 minutes. In the 2006 randomized ascending-dose study, one injection was associated with GH elevation lasting at least 6 days and IGF-I elevation for 9 to 11 days; repeat dosing produced cumulative hormone effects. A mouse experiment reported restored growth with daily exposure. The material does not provide large, long-term human trials demonstrating fat loss or muscle gain. Development stopped after Phase II, and the reported trial death was attributed by the treating physician to pre-existing coronary disease, an attribution not independently confirmed.

The source identifies Raun et al. 1998 as early foundational work and describes characterization across rats, pigs, and isolated pituitary cells. It reports that ipamorelin released GH without corresponding ACTH or cortisol increases at doses above the GH-release threshold. The source also notes that human development reached Phase II for postoperative ileus before being discontinued for insufficient efficacy. For popular wellness uses such as anti-aging, fat loss, muscle gain, or recovery, the source states that large peer-reviewed human randomized trials are not available and that these claims are extrapolated from mechanism rather than established outcomes.

References

+1 more

+1 more

Full profile