Growth hormone secretagogues compared: ipamorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin and sermorelin

Four peptides that prompt the body to release its own growth hormone. How they work, how strong the evidence is, which were ever approved, and where WADA stands.

"Growth hormone secretagogue" means anything that makes the pituitary gland release growth hormone (GH). Instead of injecting GH itself, these peptides send a signal that triggers the body's own release. Four of them come up again and again: ipamorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin and sermorelin.

They are often lumped together, but they differ in how they work, how much human evidence exists, and whether a regulator has ever approved them.

Two different signals

The pituitary responds to two main "release GH" signals, and these peptides copy one or the other.

GHRH analogs mimic growth-hormone-releasing hormone, the brain's natural signal. They act on the GHRH receptor. Sermorelin, CJC-1295 and tesamorelin are all in this group.

Ghrelin mimics act on a different receptor, the one used by ghrelin (the "hunger hormone"). Ipamorelin is in this group, along with older compounds such as GHRP-6 and the oral drug ibutamoren (MK-677).

Because the two signals work through separate receptors, a GHRH analog and a ghrelin mimic together produce a bigger GH pulse than either alone. That is the logic behind blends such as CJC-1295 (no DAC) + ipamorelin.

All of these still work through the pituitary, so the body's own brakes, such as somatostatin, still apply. That is one reason GH levels tend to stay in a more natural pattern than with injected GH.

Sermorelin: the original

Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of natural GHRH, the part that does the work. It was sold in the US as Geref, approved by the FDA in 1997 to treat children with growth hormone deficiency.

EMD Serono stopped making Geref by 2008. In 2013 the FDA published a formal finding that it was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The decision was commercial, as recombinant GH had taken over the market. There is no approved sermorelin brand today; it is mainly prepared by compounding pharmacies with a prescription.

Evidence: human trials supported its pediatric approval. Evidence for adult "anti-aging" use is small and mostly older.

CJC-1295: two very different drugs with one name

CJC-1295 is a modified version of the same 29-amino-acid GHRH fragment, with four amino acid swaps that make it more resistant to breakdown. The name covers two forms:

CJC-1295 with DAC has an added chemical link (Drug Affinity Complex) that lets it bind to albumin in the blood, stretching its action from minutes to days. In a 2006 human study, one injection raised average GH levels two- to ten-fold for about six days and IGF-1 for over a week. A phase 2 trial in people with HIV and excess belly fat was stopped in 2006 after a participant died. The investigating physician judged the death unrelated to the drug, but development was not resumed.
CJC-1295 without DAC, also called Modified GRF 1-29, is short-acting and closer to natural pulses. This is the form in most research blends. It has very little published human research of its own; its expected effects are inferred from sermorelin and other GHRH work.

Evidence: limited, and the main human data is for the DAC form, not the one most people encounter. The FDA lists CJC-1295 among bulk substances that may present safety risks in compounding, noting reports of increased heart rate and flushing-type reactions.

Tesamorelin: the one with strong trials

Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid GHRH analog. The FDA approved it as Egrifta in November 2010 to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Approval rested on two phase 3 trials involving 816 people. Over 26 weeks, people on tesamorelin lost roughly 15 to 17% more visceral fat (the deep fat around the organs, measured by CT scan) than people on placebo. Newer formulations followed: Egrifta SV, and in March 2025, Egrifta WR, which only needs mixing once a week.

Evidence: the strongest of the four, but for one specific use. It is not approved for general weight loss, body composition or anti-aging, and a research vial is not the approved, quality-controlled product.

Ipamorelin: selective, but never approved

Ipamorelin was developed by Novo Nordisk and described in 1998 as the first "selective" GH secretagogue. In early research it raised GH without the rise in cortisol and prolactin seen with older ghrelin mimics such as GHRP-6.

It reached a phase 2 trial for postoperative ileus (slow gut recovery after bowel surgery). In 114 patients, the median time to first tolerated meal was 25.3 hours with ipamorelin versus 32.6 hours with placebo, a difference that was not statistically significant. Development stopped.

Evidence: good data that it releases GH in people; little controlled data on body composition, sleep or recovery, which are the reasons people seek it out. The FDA also lists ipamorelin among bulk substances with possible compounding safety risks.

Side by side

	Type	Approved?	Human evidence
Sermorelin	GHRH analog	Formerly (Geref, 1997; discontinued by 2008)	Moderate, mainly pediatric
CJC-1295 (no DAC)	GHRH analog	Never	Very limited
Tesamorelin	GHRH analog	Yes (Egrifta, 2010), HIV-associated belly fat only	Strong for that use
Ipamorelin	Ghrelin mimic	Never	GH release shown; outcomes thin

Shared cautions

All four raise GH and IGF-1. That is why people with active cancer or a cancer history are generally warned off them, and why blood sugar can rise. Common side effects across the group include flushing, water retention, joint aches and injection-site reactions.

WADA status

All four are banned in sport at all times. The 2026 WADA Prohibited List, section S2, names GHRH and its analogues "e.g. CJC-1293, CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin" and GH secretagogues including ipamorelin. Being a former or current prescription drug does not change that.

The bottom line

These peptides share a goal but not a track record. Tesamorelin has solid trials for a narrow use. Sermorelin was once approved and then withdrawn for business reasons. Ipamorelin reliably releases GH but failed its one target indication. CJC-1295 without DAC, the most commonly sold form, has the least human data of all.

You can compare full entries on the ipamorelin, CJC-1295 + ipamorelin, tesamorelin and sermorelin pages.

This is educational information, not medical advice.