Growth-hormone peptides · Evidence comparison
CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin
The internet's most-sold peptide 'stack.' They're combined constantly — here is what the human evidence shows for each, separately and honestly.
CJC-1295
Ipamorelin
Headline claim shown. Grades are claim-specific — see the full breakdown below.
The evidence, side by side
Every graded claim from each brief. Grades are read straight from the source-checked briefs — one molecule can be strong for one use and weak for another.
Growth hormone / recovery (GHRH analog)
CJC-1295
Evidence grades
Growth hormone / recovery (GH secretagogue)
Ipamorelin
Evidence grades
Regulatory status at a glance
CJC-1295
Not FDA-approved for any use; an abandoned drug candidate (developed by ConjuChem) now sold gray-market as a 'research only' peptide and classed as an investigational new drug. Its only company-run clinical program — a Phase 2 trial for HIV-related lipodystrophy — was halted in 2006 after a participant died (the trial physician judged the death cardiac and unrelated to CJC-1295), and development was not resumed. Placed on the FDA's compounding 'Category 2' (significant safety risks) in 2023, then removed in September 2024 after the nominations were withdrawn — a procedural change that does NOT authorize compounding; at PCAC meetings in late 2024 the FDA recommended against adding it to the 503A bulks list, so it cannot be legally compounded. Prohibited in sport by WADA (S2, growth-hormone-releasing factors), in and out of competition.
Ipamorelin
Not FDA-approved for any use; an abandoned drug candidate now sold gray-market as a 'research only' peptide. Originally developed by Novo Nordisk (code NNC 26-0161); its only human efficacy trials (Phase 2, for postoperative ileus) failed and development was discontinued. Placed on the FDA's compounding 'Category 2' (significant safety risks) in 2023, then removed in September 2024 after the nominations were withdrawn — a procedural change that does NOT authorize compounding. At Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meetings in late 2024 the FDA recommended against adding ipamorelin to the 503A bulks list, so it cannot be legally compounded; broader peptide-compounding policy remains in flux in 2026. Prohibited in sport by WADA (S2, growth hormone secretagogues), in and out of competition.
Key differences
- They raise growth-hormone signaling by different mechanisms — CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog (graded S for raising GH/IGF-1 in the DAC form); ipamorelin is a GH secretagogue (graded S for triggering a short-term GH rise).
- For the muscle, fat-loss, recovery and anti-aging uses they're actually sold for, both are graded B — no human efficacy evidence.
- Both are abandoned drug candidates: CJC-1295's trial program was halted after a participant died, and ipamorelin's only efficacy trials (for postoperative ileus) failed.
- Neither is FDA-approved or legally compoundable; both are WADA-banned and sold gray-market.
The bottom line
Both reliably move a hormone marker but have no human evidence for the body-composition results they're stacked for — the shared reason both sit at B for those claims. We don't recommend the stack or either peptide; we show that the 'raises GH' part is real and the 'builds muscle' part is unproven in people.
PeptideIQ Base does not recommend, rank, or endorse any peptide, dose, or product. We grade the strength of the evidence so you can read it for yourself.
Read the full briefs
Full evidence brief
CJC-1295 →
A synthetic growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (GHRH) analog, sold gray-market and usually stacked with ipamorelin; it reliably and durably raises growth hormone and IGF-1 in one human study, but its clinical development was abandoned after a participant death and it has no human evidence for the muscle or anti-aging uses it's sold for.
Full evidence brief
Ipamorelin →
A synthetic pentapeptide that selectively triggers short-term growth-hormone release, marketed for muscle growth, fat loss, recovery, and anti-aging — but its only human efficacy trials were for a gut condition (and failed), with no human studies behind the uses it's actually sold for.
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The Peptide Evidence Report Card grades all our peptides S+ to C on the strength of the human evidence. Research only — no hype, never a recommendation.
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