A two-pathway blend versus a single GHRH analogue
Both products relate to the growth hormone (GH) axis, but they are different kinds of material. Tesamorelin is a single synthetic peptide: an analogue of full-length growth hormone–releasing hormone, GHRH(1–44). The Morris Peppy CJC-1295 (No DAC) / Ipamorelin product is a two-component blend that pairs a shortened GHRH analogue with a separate ghrelin-receptor agonist.
The blend lists 5 mg CJC-1295 (No DAC) and 5 mg Ipamorelin per vial. Those are the two labeled component amounts, not 10 mg of each. Tesamorelin is listed in 10 mg vials.
Side-by-side reference data
| Property | CJC-1295 (No DAC) | Ipamorelin | Tesamorelin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format in vial | Blend component, 5 mg | Blend component, 5 mg | Single peptide, 10 mg |
| Class | GHRH(1–29) analogue | Synthetic pentapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist | GHRH(1–44) analogue |
| Receptor target in the literature | GHRH receptor | Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) | GHRH receptor |
| Length | 29 residues | 5 residues | 44 residues |
| Key modifications | Four amino-acid substitutions that reduce enzymatic cleavage; no drug affinity complex (DAC) | Non-coded residues (Aib, D-2-naphthylalanine, D-phenylalanine); C-terminal amide | trans-3-Hexenoyl group on the N-terminal tyrosine |
| CAS number | 863288-34-0 (as catalogued) | 170851-70-4 | 218949-48-5 |
| Molecular formula | See the lot identity report* | C₃₈H₄₉N₉O₅ | C₂₂₁H₃₆₆N₇₂O₆₇S |
| Molecular weight | See the lot identity report* | 711.9 g/mol | 5,135.9 g/mol |
| Regulatory status | Not an approved medicine | Not an approved medicine; reached clinical trials without approval | Approved medicine in some jurisdictions for a specific indication in adults with HIV |
*Public structure records for the No DAC form are inconsistent, and our reference notes have not verified an exact match, so we do not quote a formula here. Use the identity section of the lot certificate.
Mechanisms described in the literature
GHRH analogues such as CJC-1295 (No DAC) and tesamorelin act at the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotroph cells. Ipamorelin acts at a different receptor, the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). Early pharmacology work described ipamorelin as a selective GH secretagogue, comparing it with other secretagogues in rat pituitary cells, rats and swine. Raun et al.: ipamorelin selectivity.
Native GHRH is rapidly cleaved at its N-terminus by the enzyme DPP-4. The two GHRH analogues address this differently: CJC-1295 (No DAC) uses amino-acid substitutions in a truncated 29-residue sequence, while tesamorelin keeps all 44 residues and adds a trans-3-hexenoyl group at the N-terminus. A physiology study examined tesamorelin in relation to pulsatile GH secretion. Stanley et al.: tesamorelin physiology.
Typical research questions
- GHRH receptor pharmacology: comparing a truncated, substituted analogue with a full-length, N-terminally modified one.
- Pathway interaction: how GHRH-receptor and ghrelin-receptor signalling combine, which requires testing each component alone as well as together.
- Secretagogue selectivity: how ipamorelin compares with other ghrelin-receptor agonists in cell and animal models.
- Clinical literature: tesamorelin has been studied in randomized trials in adults with HIV-associated conditions; ipamorelin reached clinical trials for a gastrointestinal indication without being approved.
Evidence for one component or one clinical formulation does not transfer to a blend or to a research vial. A response to a blend cannot, on its own, be attributed to either component; see Peptide Blends vs Single Peptides.
Analytical considerations: a blend needs more reporting
For tesamorelin, a single-peptide report needs one identity result, one purity figure and one measured quantity per vial. At 5,135.9 g/mol it appears in LC-MS as a series of multiply charged ions. It contains a methionine that can oxidise, and the long sequence gives more positions for deamidation or deletion impurities.
For the blend, each component needs its own identity evidence and its own measured quantity. The two components differ greatly in size and chemistry, so they elute and respond to the detector differently; equal peak areas do not mean equal milligrams. A purity figure should state how the two intended components are treated in the calculation. See Research Peptide Quantity Testing Explained.
How Morris Peppy tests each batch
Each Morris Peppy batch is tested by an independent U.S. laboratory. Five vials are selected at random from a single production run and put through a ten-check panel: purity (HPLC), quantity, identity, solubility, endotoxin (LAL), multi-vial conformity, fentanyl screening, container integrity, heavy metals and sterility.
Results for current batches are pending. A testing-in-progress card is not a completed result. Completed certificates of analysis are published on Lab Results before a batch is released, and each vial can be matched to its lot on Verify Product. The full process is described in how we test research peptides.
Storage and handling of lyophilized vials
Both products are supplied as freeze-dried powder, and the same guidance applies to unopened vials:
- On arrival, refrigerate unopened lyophilized vials at 2–8°C for short-term storage.
- For longer-term storage, −20°C or below is preferred.
- Keep vials sealed, away from light and moisture.
- Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
- Let a cold vial reach room temperature while still sealed before opening, to reduce condensation.
These conditions apply to sealed, dry material. They are not a shelf-life claim, and this page does not cover prepared solutions.
Before relying on a vial
- Match the full lot number and cap colour on Verify Product.
- For the blend, find identity evidence for both CJC-1295 (No DAC) and Ipamorelin.
- Find a measured quantity for each blend component, not only a combined total.
- For tesamorelin, check the measured quantity against the 10 mg label.
- Read endotoxin, microbial, sterility and heavy-metal results separately from purity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin and tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a single 44-residue GHRH analogue that acts at the GHRH receptor. The CJC-1295 (No DAC) / Ipamorelin product is a blend of a 29-residue GHRH analogue and a 5-residue ghrelin-receptor agonist, so it involves two receptor pathways and two components to test.
Does the blend contain 10 mg of each peptide?
No. The vial lists 5 mg CJC-1295 (No DAC) and 5 mg Ipamorelin. Those are the two labeled component amounts, not 10 mg of each.
Is CJC-1295 (No DAC) the same as CJC-1295 with DAC?
No. The DAC form carries an albumin-binding drug affinity complex and was studied as a long-acting molecule. Research on the DAC form cannot be treated as research on the No DAC material.
Are these approved medicines?
Tesamorelin is an approved medicine in some jurisdictions for a specific indication in adults with HIV. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not approved medicines. Morris Peppy supplies all of them strictly for laboratory research, not for human or veterinary use.
How is a blend tested differently from a single peptide?
A blend needs identity evidence and a measured quantity for each component, not only a combined total. Morris Peppy batches go through up to 10 checks at independent U.S. laboratories, and results for current batches are pending until completed reports are published on the Lab Results page.
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