Short answer: Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are the two most searched growth hormone secretagogue peptides in Canada, and they are almost always discussed together because they act on the two different switches that control growth hormone release. Ipamorelin works through the ghrelin receptor; CJC-1295 is a modified version of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). This guide explains how each works, the difference between CJC-1295 with and without DAC, what the published studies found, how they compare to Tesamorelin, and what they cost in Canada.
How growth hormone release is controlled
Growth hormone (GH) is released by the pituitary gland in pulses, mostly at night. Two main signals turn it up, and one turns it down:
- GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) from the hypothalamus tells the pituitary to make and release GH.
- Ghrelin, best known as the “hunger hormone,” also triggers GH release through its own receptor, called GHS-R1a.
- Somatostatin is the brake that stops release between pulses.
GH in turn drives the liver to produce IGF-1, which carries many of GH’s downstream effects. Every peptide in this guide acts on one of those two “accelerator” pathways, and that is the key to understanding why they are paired.
What is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (five amino acids) that activates the ghrelin receptor, GHS-R1a. It belongs to the family of growth hormone secretagogues that includes older compounds such as GHRP-6 and GHRP-2.
What made Ipamorelin stand out was selectivity. In the 1998 paper that introduced it, Raun and colleagues at Novo Nordisk, writing in the European Journal of Endocrinology, described it as the first selective GH secretagogue. In their animal models it released GH with potency comparable to GHRP-6, but without the significant increases in ACTH and cortisol that earlier secretagogues caused, even at much higher doses. That cleaner profile is why Ipamorelin became the reference compound in this class for research use.
| Sequence | Aib-His-D-2Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (5 residues) |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | ~711.9 Da |
| Target | Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) |
| Key research feature | Selective GH release without notable ACTH/cortisol increase in early models |
| TrueLabs vial sizes | 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg |
What is CJC-1295?
Natural GHRH is 44 amino acids long, but its activity lives in the first 29. That 29-residue fragment, GHRH(1-29), is the starting point for CJC-1295. The problem with natural GHRH(1-29) is that enzymes break it down within minutes. CJC-1295 solves that in two steps:
- Four amino-acid substitutions that make the peptide resistant to enzymatic cleavage. This version, without anything else added, is often called Modified GRF (1-29) or “CJC-1295 without DAC.”
- DAC (Drug Affinity Complex), a reactive chemical group that lets the peptide bind covalently to albumin in the blood. Attached to albumin, it avoids rapid clearance and lasts far longer.
CJC-1295 with DAC vs without DAC
This is the most common source of confusion when buying CJC-1295, because both versions are sold under the same name.
| CJC-1295 with DAC | CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) | |
|---|---|---|
| Albumin binding | Yes, covalent | No |
| Reported half-life | Roughly 6 to 8 days in human studies | About 30 minutes |
| GH signal pattern | Sustained elevation, pulses preserved | Short pulse |
| Molecular weight | ~3647 Da | ~3368 Da |
The human data on the DAC version comes from two 2006 papers in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Teichman and colleagues reported that a single administration in healthy adults raised GH levels for six days or more and IGF-1 levels for up to 9 to 11 days, with an estimated half-life of about 6 to 8 days. Ionescu and Frohman then showed that GH secretion stayed pulsatile during that continuous stimulation: the baseline rose, but the natural pulse pattern persisted. Both studies were small, and the compound was not developed into an approved drug.
Because the molecular weights differ by about 280 Da, a mass spectrometry result on the COA tells you immediately which version you have. TrueLabs CJC-1295 is the DAC version.
Why Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are studied together
Remember the two accelerators. CJC-1295 pushes the GHRH pathway; Ipamorelin pushes the ghrelin pathway. Classic endocrinology work showed that stimulating both receptors at once produces a GH response greater than either one alone, a synergistic effect, because the two signals act through different intracellular mechanisms and partly counter somatostatin’s brake.
That is the entire logic behind the combination. TrueLabs supplies it pre-mixed as the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin blend, or you can buy CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin separately when a protocol needs independent ratios.
Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295 vs Tesamorelin
| Ipamorelin | CJC-1295 (DAC) | Tesamorelin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathway | Ghrelin receptor | GHRH receptor | GHRH receptor |
| Size | 5 amino acids | 29 amino acids + DAC | 44 amino acids, modified |
| Duration | Short | Days | Short |
| Regulatory history | Not approved | Not approved | Approved in some countries for a specific clinical indication |
Tesamorelin is a full-length, stabilized GHRH analogue and the only compound in this group with an approved clinical use in some jurisdictions, which gives it the most robust human dataset of the three.
Legal status in Canada
Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are not controlled substances in Canada and are not approved by Health Canada. They are sold domestically as research chemicals for laboratory use only, not for human or veterinary use. GH secretagogues and GHRH analogues are on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, so they are banned in tested sport. All TrueLabs compounds are supplied strictly for in vitro and laboratory research.
Prices in Canada
| Product | Size | Price (pre-order) | Per mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipamorelin | 2 mg | $40.00 | $20.00 |
| 5 mg | $45.00 | $9.00 | |
| 10 mg | $53.00 | $5.30 | |
| CJC-1295 w/ DAC | 2 mg | $31.00 | $15.50 |
| 5 mg | $45.00 | $9.00 | |
| 10 mg | $94.00 | $9.40 |
Orders over $200 ship free anywhere in Canada. Before ordering any secretagogue, check that the COA includes mass spectrometry: with CJC-1295 in particular, it is the only way to confirm you have the DAC version.
See the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin blend →
Storage and handling
- Powder: −20 °C long term, 2–8 °C short term, away from light and moisture.
- Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, avoid repeated freeze-thaw.
- Diluent: bacteriostatic water.
Frequently asked questions
Cliquez sur une question pour afficher la réponse.
What is Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a synthetic five-amino-acid peptide that activates the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). It was described in 1998 as the first selective growth hormone secretagogue.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with and without DAC?
The DAC version binds to albumin and has a reported half-life of about 6 to 8 days in human studies. Without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29), the half-life is around 30 minutes. Mass spectrometry distinguishes them.
Why are Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 combined?
They act on two different GH-releasing pathways, ghrelin and GHRH. Stimulating both together produces a larger GH response in research models than either alone.
Are Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 legal in Canada?
They are not controlled substances and not approved by Health Canada. They are sold in Canada as research chemicals for laboratory use only.
How much does Ipamorelin cost in Canada?
At TrueLabs, from $40 for 2 mg to $53 for 10 mg during the current pre-order.
Related reading
- CJC-1295 and ipamorelin: why they are sold together
- IGF-1 vs IGF-1 LR3
- CJC-1295 side effects: what the trials showed
- Tesamorelin side effects: what the Egrifta label shows
- Ipamorelin side effects: what the human trial shows
- How to read a peptide COA (DAC vs no DAC by mass)
- How to choose a research peptide supplier in Canada
- Buy BPC-157 in Canada
- NAD+ research guide
Selected research references
- Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(5):552–561. PubMed
- 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. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799–805. PubMed
- Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(12):4792–4797. PubMed
All TrueLabs products are sold for in vitro and laboratory research use only. They are not intended for human or veterinary use, and nothing in this article is medical advice or a recommendation to use any compound.