Not growth hormoneNone of these peptides is growth hormone itself. They signal the pituitary gland to release the body's own. Approval, evidence and legal status differ sharply between them, as the table shows.[14]
The four HGH peptides side by side
Tesamorelin has the strongest evidence and the only current approval; CJC-1295 and ipamorelin have neither an approval nor a trial in the way they are usually sold.
| Sermorelin | Tesamorelin | CJC-1295 | Ipamorelin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Copies GHRH(1-29) | Copies GHRH(1-44), modified | Modified GHRH(1-29); DAC form binds albumin | Ghrelin-receptor agonist |
| Size | 29 amino acids | 44 amino acids | 29 amino acids (+ linker for DAC) | 5 amino acids |
| FDA status | Discontinued | Approved | Not approved | Not approved |
| Approved use | GH deficiency in children (Geref, 1997–2009)[1] | Excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy[3] | None | None |
| Largest human study | 110 children, open-label[2] | Two phase 3 RCTs, 412 and 404 adults[3] | 63 healthy adults in total (DAC form)[4] | 114 adults, IV, after bowel surgery[7] |
| Compounding | 503B: component of an approved drug[10] | Biologic since 2020; not eligible[11] | Advisory committee voted no (2024)[8] | Advisory committee voted no (2024); 503B Category 2[9][10] |
| WADA 2026 | S2.2.4 | S2.2.4 | S2.2.4 | S2.2.4 |
Each peptide has its own page with the sources in full: sermorelin, tesamorelin and CJC-1295 and ipamorelin.
Sermorelin vs tesamorelin
Both copy GHRH; tesamorelin is the full 44-amino-acid hormone with a modification and is approved today, while sermorelin's product was discontinued in 2008.[15][1] The detailed comparison has its own page: sermorelin vs tesamorelin.
Ipamorelin vs sermorelin
They work through different receptors, and only sermorelin was ever approved.
- Mechanism. Sermorelin acts on the GHRH receptor; ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor agonist, a "growth hormone secretagogue".[6]
- Evidence. Ipamorelin's human data are intravenous: a pharmacokinetic study in 48 men and a phase 2 trial after bowel surgery that showed no significant benefit.[6][7] No human trial of ipamorelin under the skin was found.
- Regulators. The FDA's advisory committee voted 0 in favor of adding ipamorelin to the compounding list in 2024.[9]
No trial has compared ipamorelin with sermorelin directly.
Tesamorelin vs ipamorelin
Tesamorelin is an approved prescription drug with labeled doses; ipamorelin is an unapproved substance tested only intravenously.
- Dosing information. Tesamorelin has an FDA label: 1.4 mg (Egrifta SV) or 1.28 mg (Egrifta WR) once daily.[3] Ipamorelin has no label; its trial used 0.03 mg/kg intravenously.[7]
- Combined products. In August 2026 the FDA warned research-peptide sellers that offered tesamorelin and ipamorelin blends, treating them as unapproved drugs.[12][13]
What about CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH(1-29) sold in two forms, and only the long-acting DAC form has human data: three small studies in 63 healthy adults.[4] In one, its half-life was 5.8 to 8.1 days and flushing, headache and injection-site reactions were common.[5] The FDA's advisory committee voted against adding any form to the compounding list.[8]
The older growth hormone-releasing peptides
Two more peptides belong in this family and are named by WADA in the same section: GHRP-6, which the FDA placed in 503B Category 2 over cortisol and blood-sugar concerns, and hexarelin, which is on no FDA list at all. Like ipamorelin they act on the ghrelin receptor rather than the GHRH receptor, but neither is selective: both moved cortisol and prolactin in healthy volunteers, and in a 16-week hexarelin study the growth hormone response itself faded.
Related pages
- Peptides status tableEvery peptide on this site, one table
- Banned peptides in sportWADA 2026 listings quoted
- Are peptides safe?What the FDA says about research peptides
Frequently asked questions
What are HGH peptides?
Peptides that prompt the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. The common ones are GHRH copies (sermorelin, tesamorelin, CJC-1295) and ghrelin-receptor agonists (ipamorelin). They are not growth hormone itself.
Which is better, sermorelin or ipamorelin?
No trial has compared them. Sermorelin has a former FDA approval and a 110-child study; ipamorelin has never been approved and has been studied only intravenously. Neither has been tested head to head with the other.
What is the difference between sermorelin and tesamorelin?
Are HGH peptides banned in sport?
Yes. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names sermorelin, tesamorelin and CJC-1295 as GHRH analogues and ipamorelin as a growth hormone secretagogue, all under S2.2.4.[14]
Sources
- Withdrawal of approval of 92 new drug applications, including Geref (74 FR 23407)
- Thorner M et al. Sermorelin in prepubertal children with growth hormone deficiency (JCEM 1996;81:1189–96)
- Egrifta SV (tesamorelin) prescribing information
- FDA briefing document: CJC-1295-related bulk drug substances
- Teichman SL et al. CJC-1295 in healthy adults: two ascending-dose trials (JCEM 2006;91:799–805)
- FDA briefing document: ipamorelin-related bulk drug substances
- Beck DE et al. Ipamorelin for postoperative ileus after bowel resection: phase 2 trial (Int J Colorectal Dis 2014;29:1527–34)
- Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, December 4, 2024: final summary minutes
- Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, October 29, 2024: transcript (ipamorelin and kisspeptin-10)
- Bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding under section 503B (category lists)
- List of approved NDAs for biological products that were deemed to be BLAs on March 23, 2020
- Warning letter: Royal Peptides LLC
- Warning letter: NuScience Peptides LLC
- World Anti-Doping Code: Prohibited List 2026
- PubChem CID 16137828: tesamorelin