Three of the most-discussed growth-hormone-axis research peptides, frequently mentioned together (and sometimes as a "stack"). This page compares mechanism and receptor target only — not how to combine or dose them.
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Get my free report + free book →| CJC-1295 | Ipamorelin | Sermorelin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanism class | GHRH (growth-hormone-releasing hormone) analog | Ghrelin-receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue) | GHRH analog |
| Receptor target | GHRH receptor | Ghrelin/growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor | GHRH receptor |
| Relationship to natural GHRH | A modified, longer-acting version of the natural GHRH signal | Not a GHRH analog — acts on a separate receptor pathway that also stimulates GH release | A shorter fragment of natural GHRH, closer in structure to the native hormone than CJC-1295 |
| Regulatory status | Research-use-only | Research-use-only | Has an FDA-approved history (marketed in the past under the brand Geref, though not currently commercially marketed in the US) — distinct regulatory history from the other two |
All three are studied in connection with the same downstream goal — stimulating the body's own growth hormone release — which is why they show up in the same conversations and the same "GH-axis" category on our categories page. But "same downstream goal" doesn't mean "same mechanism." CJC-1295 and Sermorelin both work through the GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin works through an entirely separate ghrelin-receptor pathway. That's the actual distinction worth understanding — not which one is "strongest," which isn't a question mechanism comparison can answer.
Sermorelin has a different regulatory history than the other two: a GHRH-analog product was FDA-approved and commercially marketed in the US in the past (under the brand name Geref), even though it isn't a current, actively marketed product today. CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin have not gone through that same approval history — they remain research-use-only. This is a meaningful difference in regulatory pedigree even though all three are frequently sold through similar RUO channels today.
Each compound has its own entry on the compounds reference page. For the legal/regulatory framework these distinctions sit inside, see are research peptides legal. For more comparisons, see the comparisons hub.
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