# CJC-1295 FAQ: The Compounding-Pharmacy Research Record > Frequently asked questions about CJC-1295 — mechanism, dose, half-life, side effects, ipamorelin combination, regulatory status — answered from the peer-reviewed and FDA record. _Twenty-six questions answered from the published Phase I record, the FDA briefing materials, and the WADA prohibited-list documentation. Compounding-pharmacy claims are marked as such._ ## CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin: Why the Combination? The CJC-1295 ipamorelin pairing is the single most common compounding-pharmacy protocol involving CJC-1295. The rationale is mechanistically clean: CJC-1295 is a GHRH-receptor agonist that raises the sustained baseline of growth-hormone secretion, while ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist that triggers discrete GH pulses [9][10]. The two molecules engage independent receptor systems on the same somatotroph cell; in animal and pituitary-cell observations, the effects are additive rather than redundant [10]. Ipamorelin, characterized in Raun 1998, is a selective pentapeptide GH secretagogue (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that releases GH via GHS-R1a without measurable elevation of ACTH or cortisol at doses up to 200× the GH ED50 [9]. The selectivity is the reason it is the preferred secretagogue partner in compounding-pharmacy formulations — earlier GH secretagogues such as GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 elevate prolactin, ACTH, and cortisol at doses required for meaningful GH release [9]. The combination is widely used in compounding pharmacies. It is not an FDA-approved combination. There is no Phase III human trial of the CJC-1295/ipamorelin combination [14]. ## What is the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin combination? ### What is the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin combination? A compounding-pharmacy pairing of CJC-1295 (a GHRH analog providing sustained signal) with ipamorelin (a selective GH secretagogue providing pulsatile release) [9][10]. Not an FDA-approved combination; widely used in compounding-pharmacy protocols but not characterized in any published Phase III trial. ## How does CJC-1295 differ from ipamorelin? ### How does CJC-1295 differ from ipamorelin? The CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin distinction is at the receptor. CJC-1295 is a GHRH-receptor analog [1][7]; ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor (GHSR / GHS-R1a) agonist [9]. They stimulate GH release through two distinct receptor systems, which is the mechanistic rationale for combining them. ## How does CJC-1295 differ from sermorelin? ### How does CJC-1295 differ from sermorelin? Both are GHRH(1-29) analogs. Sermorelin is the unmodified GHRH(1-29) with a plasma half-life of approximately 11-12 minutes [19]. CJC-1295 adds four amino-acid substitutions for DPP-IV resistance, and the DAC variant adds an albumin-binding linker that extends half-life to 5.8-8.1 days [1][2]. Sermorelin was previously FDA-approved (Geref) for pediatric GH deficiency before commercial withdrawal [19]. ## How does CJC-1295 differ from tesamorelin? ### How does CJC-1295 differ from tesamorelin? Tesamorelin is the only FDA-approved GHRH analog, indicated for HIV-associated lipodystrophy [11]. CJC-1295 has no FDA-approved indication [14]. Both are GHRH(1-29)-derived analogs with stabilizing modifications; tesamorelin uses a different N-terminal modification, CJC-1295 uses tetrasubstitutions plus optional DAC albumin linkage [11][1]. ## Does CJC-1295 affect testosterone? ### Does CJC-1295 affect testosterone? CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH-receptor / pituitary GH axis, not the HPG (testosterone) axis [1][7]. Published Phase I trials measured GH and IGF-1 endpoints, not testosterone [1]. Clinic marketing claims of testosterone elevation are not supported by the primary literature. ## Is CJC-1295 FDA-approved? ### Is CJC-1295 FDA-approved? No. CJC-1295 has no FDA-approved clinical indication [14]. It was placed on the FDA's Category 2 interim 503A bulks list in September 2023 and removed in September 2024 after sponsor-withdrawn nominations [17]. It is not currently eligible for routine 503A pharmacy compounding [14][17]. ## Is CJC-1295 banned in sport? ### Is CJC-1295 banned in sport? Yes. CJC-1295 is on the WADA Prohibited List under S2 — peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances — prohibited at all times in and out of competition [15]. Sermorelin, tesamorelin, and CJC-1293 are also covered under S2 [15]. ## Rationale for the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin pairing ### Rationale for the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin pairing GHRH analogs (CJC-1295) and ghrelin-receptor agonists (ipamorelin) act on independent pathways, producing additive GH release in animal and clinic-protocol observations [9][10]. The pairing is widely used in compounding pharmacies but is not an FDA-approved combination [14]. ## Reconstitution ### How is CJC-1295 reconstituted? Lyophilized peptide is reconstituted with bacteriostatic water in research settings. Specific volumes depend on the vial mass and intended concentration; this is laboratory handling, not a clinical prescription [1]. ## References [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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/ [2] Teichman SL, et al. CJC-1295 Phase I pharmacokinetics — half-life and IGF-1 elevation duration data. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/ [7] Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) and its signaling (review). Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12137518/ [9] Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, Thøgersen H, Madsen K, Ankersen M, Andersen PH. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(5):552-561. https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/article-abstract/139/5/552/6748390 [10] Ishida J, Saitoh M, Ebner N, Springer J, Anker SD, von Haehling S. Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism of action, and clinical development. JCSM Rapid Communications. 2020;3(1):25-37. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rco2.9 [11] Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(23):2359-2370. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa072375 [14] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Briefing Document — Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) Meeting on peptide bulk drug substances. 2024. https://www.fda.gov/media/183819/download [15] World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List — International Standard (Section S2: Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics). WADA Prohibited List 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf [17] Lexology editorial. FDA removes certain peptide bulk drug substances from Category 2 of interim 503A bulks list and sets dates for PCAC review. 2024. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=2e55b76a-3173-4e04-beda-bf021202f18d [19] Frohman LA, Kineman RD. Growth hormone-releasing hormone: synthesis and signaling. Recent Prog Horm Res. 1995;50:65-110. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7740167/ --- A compounding-pharmacy reading room for the CJC-1295 research record — Phase I evidence rendered in solid rules, gray-literature claims in dashed ones, no scripts filled on the premises.