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CJC-1295 (No DAC), Ipamorelin and Tesamorelin: How These Research Peptides Differ

By The Bionova Club Team

Research use only. Bionova products are sold strictly for in-vitro and laboratory research by qualified professionals. They are not drugs, food, or cosmetics, are not approved by the FDA for human use as sold here, and are not for human or veterinary use. Nothing in this article is medical advice or a claim about effects in people.

Disclosure: Bionova Club sells ipamorelin, tesamorelin and a CJC-1295 (no DAC) + ipamorelin blend, all linked below.

CJC-1295, ipamorelin and tesamorelin are often grouped together, and searches like "ipamorelin vs tesamorelin" treat them as interchangeable options. Chemically, they fall into two different classes that act on two different receptors. CJC-1295 and tesamorelin are both modified versions of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Ipamorelin is a small synthetic peptide built to bind a different receptor, the one now known as the ghrelin receptor.

This guide compares the three by structure and receptor class only. It does not cover outcomes.

Two receptor families

The pituitary has two well-characterized peptide receptor systems relevant here:

That split is the "GHRH analog vs ghrelin mimetic" distinction in search results. CJC-1295 and tesamorelin sit on the GHRH side. Ipamorelin sits on the GHS-R side.

At a glance

  • Class
    • CJC-1295 (no DAC): GHRH analog
    • Ipamorelin: GHS-R (ghrelin receptor) ligand
    • Tesamorelin: GHRH analog
  • Based on
    • CJC-1295 (no DAC): hGRF(1-29), with four amino acid substitutions
    • Ipamorelin: Synthetic pentapeptide; not derived from ghrelin's sequence
    • Tesamorelin: hGRF(1-44)NH2, full-length human GHRH
  • Key modification
    • CJC-1295 (no DAC): Substituted residues; no albumin-binding group
    • Ipamorelin: Contains non-standard residues (Aib, D-2-Nal, D-Phe)
    • Tesamorelin: trans-3-hexenoyl group on Tyr1
  • Length
    • CJC-1295 (no DAC): 29 amino acids
    • Ipamorelin: 5 residues
    • Tesamorelin: 44 amino acids
  • Molecular formula
    • CJC-1295 (no DAC): C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂ (Bionova product page)
    • Ipamorelin: C₃₈H₄₉N₉O₅
    • Tesamorelin: C₂₂₁H₃₆₆N₇₂O₆₇S
  • Molecular weight
    • CJC-1295 (no DAC): ~3,368 g/mol (calculated from formula)
    • Ipamorelin: ~711.9 g/mol
    • Tesamorelin: ~5,136 g/mol
  • Bionova vial (from the label)

Ipamorelin and tesamorelin formulas and weights are from PubChem (CID 9831659; CID 16137828). The CJC-1295 (no DAC) formula is the one listed on Bionova's product page.

CJC-1295: with DAC and without

The name "CJC-1295" comes from a 2005 paper by researchers at ConjuChem. They described CJC-1295 as a tetrasubstituted form of hGRF(1-29) with an added lysine carrying a maleimidopropionamide group at the C-terminus. That reactive group lets the peptide bond covalently to serum albumin, which was the point of the design: to extend how long the peptide stays in circulation in rats (Jetté et al., 2005, Endocrinology).

That albumin-binding group is what suppliers call DAC (drug affinity complex). "CJC-1295 (no DAC)", also sold as "Mod GRF 1-29", is the market name for the tetrasubstituted hGRF(1-29) peptide without that group. The naming is a supplier convention; in the 2005 paper, CJC-1295 is the version with the albumin-binding lysine.

The formulas make the difference clear:

  • CJC-1295 with DAC
  • CJC-1295 (no DAC), Bionova
    • Formula: C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂
    • Source: Bionova product page
  • Sermorelin, GRF(1-29)NH2

CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin

These two are the most common pairing because they are sold together. They are unrelated in structure: CJC-1295 (no DAC) is a 29-residue GHRH analog, while ipamorelin is a five-residue synthetic peptide aimed at the GHS-R. The pairing in a blend combines one ligand from each receptor family.

Bionova's blend vial is labeled "10mg (BLEND)". The label does not give a per-component split, so we do not state one here.

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin was described by Novo Nordisk researchers in 1998 as a pentapeptide and a selective agonist at the GHS receptor (Raun et al., 1998, European Journal of Endocrinology). Its sequence is Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (PubChem CID 9831659). That includes non-standard building blocks: Aib (α-aminoisobutyric acid), D-2-Nal (3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanine) and D-phenylalanine. Because of those residues, ipamorelin is a peptidomimetic rather than a fragment of any natural hormone.

Ipamorelin vs sermorelin

Sermorelin is GRF(1-29)NH2, the first 29 residues of human GHRH (PubChem CID 16132413). That puts it on the GHRH side, alongside CJC-1295 and tesamorelin. Ipamorelin is on the GHS-R side. The two are different receptor classes, not two versions of the same thing.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin, developed as TH9507, is full-length human GHRH (hGRF1-44NH2) with one modification: a trans-3-hexenoyl group added to the tyrosine at position 1. In preclinical work, that modification made the peptide resistant to cleavage by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and slowed its breakdown in plasma in vitro (Ferdinandi et al., 2007, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology).

Ipamorelin vs tesamorelin

  • Receptor class
    • Ipamorelin: GHS-R (ghrelin receptor)
    • Tesamorelin: GHRH receptor
  • Size
    • Ipamorelin: 5 residues, ~712 g/mol
    • Tesamorelin: 44 residues, ~5,136 g/mol
  • Design approach
    • Ipamorelin: Small synthetic peptidomimetic
    • Tesamorelin: Full-length native sequence with one N-terminal modification
  • Bionova vial (label)
    • Ipamorelin: 5 mg
    • Tesamorelin: 10 mg

Tesamorelin and ipamorelin blends

"Tesamorelin ipamorelin blend" is a common search. Like the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin pairing, it would combine one GHRH-class and one GHS-R-class peptide. We found no primary peer-reviewed studies of either combination as a formulation. Findings for each peptide on its own cannot be assumed to carry over to a combination.

Bionova's multi-compound formats are listed in the research blends category. For background on peptide structure and terminology, see What are peptides? A primer for researchers.

Storage notes for lyophilized GH-axis peptides

  • Keep it sealed, cold and dry. Store the lyophilized powder in its original sealed vial, away from light and moisture.
  • Warm before opening. Let a sealed vial reach room temperature before opening so moisture does not condense on the powder.
  • Follow the label. Store as directed on the product label.

Key takeaways

  • CJC-1295 (no DAC) and tesamorelin are GHRH analogs. Ipamorelin is a GHS-R (ghrelin receptor) ligand. They act on two different receptor classes.
  • "CJC-1295" in the original 2005 paper had an albumin-binding lysine (DAC). "No DAC" is the supplier name for the tetrasubstituted hGRF(1-29) peptide without it.
  • Tesamorelin is full-length hGRF(1-44)NH2 with a trans-3-hexenoyl group on Tyr1, a change that resists DPP-IV cleavage.
  • Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide with non-standard residues, first described in 1998.
  • Sermorelin, GRF(1-29)NH2, is on the GHRH side with CJC-1295 and tesamorelin.
  • We found no primary studies of these peptides combined as formulations. All are research materials only.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ipamorelin and tesamorelin?

They bind different receptors. Ipamorelin is a five-residue synthetic peptide that targets the GHS receptor (the ghrelin receptor). Tesamorelin is a 44-residue modified version of GHRH that targets the GHRH receptor.

What is the difference between CJC-1295 and ipamorelin?

CJC-1295 (no DAC) is a 29-residue GHRH analog. Ipamorelin is a five-residue GHS-R ligand. They are unrelated in structure and belong to different receptor classes.

What does "no DAC" mean?

DAC refers to the albumin-binding lysine group in the CJC-1295 compound described in 2005. "CJC-1295 (no DAC)", also called Mod GRF 1-29, is the tetrasubstituted hGRF(1-29) peptide without that group.

What is the difference between ipamorelin and sermorelin?

Sermorelin is GRF(1-29)NH2, a GHRH-class peptide. Ipamorelin is a GHS-R-class peptide. They are different receptor classes.

What is a GHRH analog vs a ghrelin mimetic?

A GHRH analog is a modified version of growth hormone-releasing hormone that targets the GHRH receptor. A ghrelin mimetic is a compound that targets the GHS receptor, the receptor for the hormone ghrelin. CJC-1295 and tesamorelin are GHRH analogs; ipamorelin is a GHS-R ligand.

How much of each peptide is in the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin blend?

The Bionova vial is labeled "10mg (BLEND)". The label does not list a per-component split.

Shop for your research: the CJC-1295 (no DAC) + ipamorelin blend, ipamorelin or tesamorelin, for laboratory research. Use code CLUB10 at checkout for 10% off.

References

  1. Howard AD, et al. A receptor in pituitary and hypothalamus that functions in growth hormone release. Science. 1996. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8688086/
  2. Kojima M, et al. Ghrelin is a growth-hormone-releasing acylated peptide from stomach. Nature. 1999. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10604470/
  3. Jetté L, et al. Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog. Endocrinology. 2005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15817669/
  4. Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/
  5. Ferdinandi ES, et al. Non-clinical pharmacology and safety evaluation of TH9507, a human growth hormone-releasing factor analogue. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2007. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17214611/
  6. PubChem. Ipamorelin, CID 9831659. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9831659
  7. PubChem. Tesamorelin, CID 16137828. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16137828
  8. PubChem. CJC-1295, CID 91971820. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/91971820
  9. PubChem. Sermorelin, CID 16132413. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16132413

For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption.