CJC-1295 No DAC + Ipamorelin

What Is the CJC-1295 No DAC and Ipamorelin Combination?

CJC-1295 without DAC, sometimes called Modified GRF 1-29, is a synthetic version of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the signal the body uses to prompt the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Unlike the DAC version, which is chemically modified to bind albumin and last much longer in the body, the No DAC version clears the body relatively quickly and is generally studied for its shorter, more pulsatile pattern of activity.

Ipamorelin is a different type of peptide altogether. It's a small chain of five amino acids that acts on a separate receptor, the ghrelin receptor, rather than the GHRH receptor. Because the two peptides work through distinct receptors that both feed into growth hormone release, researchers frequently study them as a pair.

What This Combination Is Being Researched For

• Growth Hormone Signaling

  CJC-1295 without DAC has been studied for its ability to activate the GHRH receptor and stimulate growth hormone release in a pattern that mirrors the body's natural pulses.^[1][2]

• Selective Hormone Response

  Ipamorelin has been studied specifically for its selectivity, meaning research has found it stimulates growth hormone without meaningfully raising cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH the way some earlier compounds in its class did.^[3]

• Combined Pathway Research

  Because the two peptides act on separate receptors that both feed into the same downstream hormone, researchers have looked at whether combining them produces a more complete signal than either compound alone.

How the Combination Works

• CJC-1295 No DAC and the GHRH Pathway

  Research points to CJC-1295 without DAC binding to the GHRH receptor on the pituitary gland, which activates a signaling pathway that leads to growth hormone release. Because it lacks the albumin-binding modification found in the DAC version, its activity is shorter and more closely tied to the body's natural release pattern.^[1][2]

• Ipamorelin and the Ghrelin Receptor

  Research points to Ipamorelin activating the ghrelin receptor, a completely separate pathway from GHRH. Studies have found this activation triggers growth hormone release while leaving other hormones like cortisol and prolactin largely unaffected, which is part of why it's considered a more selective compound in its class.^[3]

• Why the Two Are Paired

  Since the two peptides activate different receptors that both lead to growth hormone release, researchers studying this combination are generally looking at whether the two separate signals add up to something more complete than triggering just one pathway on its own.

Reconstitution and Handling

Both peptides are typically supplied as a lyophilized powder in a sealed vial and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before use in a research setting. Water should be added slowly rather than injected directly into the powder, and the vial should be swirled, not shaken.

Since the amount of water used affects the concentration of the final solution, researchers often use a dosage calculator to work this out for each peptide separately before mixing. Once reconstituted, both solutions are kept refrigerated to help preserve stability.

Key Takeaways

CJC-1295 (No DAC) and Ipamorelin are studied together because they influence growth hormone release through two separate receptor pathways rather than one shared mechanism. CJC-1295 works through the GHRH receptor, while Ipamorelin works through the ghrelin receptor and has drawn particular research interest for its selectivity. Most of what's published focuses on each peptide individually, with combination-specific human data still limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Research

1. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA. 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.
2. Jetté L, Léger R, Thibaudeau K, et al. Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29 albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog. Endocrinology. 2005;146(7):3052-3058.
3. Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(5):552-561.