Hormonal Peptides: Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, PT-141 & More
Complete guide to hormonal research peptides: Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Sermorelin, Tesamorelin, HGH, HCG, IGF-1 LR3, Melanotan-2 & PT-141. EU shipping.
Hormonal Peptides: Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, PT-141 & More
Hormonal peptides cover an unusually broad range of biological targets. Growth hormone secretagogues, melanocortin agonists, gonadotropins -- these compounds all share one thing: they interact with the endocrine system through specific receptor pathways. That specificity is what makes them so useful in research settings, and also what makes choosing between them a genuine decision rather than a coin flip.
Every peptide listed here ships with a Janoshik Analytical certificate of analysis.
Defining the Category
What Are Hormonal Peptides?
Hormonal peptides are synthetic analogs or modulators of endogenous hormones. They bind to receptors along the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, in gonadal tissue, or in peripheral organs -- modulating hormone secretion, receptor sensitivity, or downstream signaling cascades. The category spans everything from pulsatile GH release to melanocortin-driven pigmentation.
The Product Range
Selective GHRP targeting the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R). Clean GH release without cortisol or prolactin interference.
Dual-mechanism GH secretagogue combining GHRH analog (DAC) with ghrelin receptor agonist for synergistic GH pulses.
GHRH(1-29) analog producing physiological, pulsatile GH release that closely mimics the endogenous pattern.
FDA-approved stabilized GHRH analog (Egrifta). Primary research focus on visceral adipose tissue reduction.
Recombinant human growth hormone. Direct GH receptor binding, bypassing all secretagogue pathways.
Modified insulin-like growth factor with extended half-life. Reduced IGFBP binding for sustained IGF-1 receptor activation.
Human chorionic gonadotropin. LH mimetic central to fertility research and testicular function studies.
Melanocortin agonist (MC1R-MC5R). Research spans pigmentation, sexual function, and appetite modulation.
Growth Hormone Secretagogues
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide that stimulates GH release from the anterior pituitary through the ghrelin receptor. What sets it apart from older GHRPs like GHRP-6 or GHRP-2 is its selectivity. Ipamorelin triggers GH secretion without meaningfully raising cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH. That clean profile matters in research because it isolates the GH variable -- you get dose-dependent, predictable pulses without the confounding hormonal noise.
Practical Advantages
Ipamorelin does not appear to desensitize with repeated administration, and it has no significant appetite-stimulating effect (a common nuisance with GHRP-6).
CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin
The CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination is probably the most studied GH secretagogue blend in the research literature. The logic behind it is straightforward.
Pharmacological Synergy, Not Just Additive Stacking
CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) has a half-life of roughly eight days. It binds the GHRH receptor and raises baseline GH and IGF-1 levels over a sustained period. Ipamorelin, acting through the ghrelin receptor, creates sharp GH pulses on top of that elevated baseline. The combined effect consistently exceeds what either peptide achieves alone -- a genuine pharmacological synergy, not just additive stacking. Both peptides carry favorable safety profiles in published research.
Sermorelin
Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of native GHRH (which is 44 amino acids long). Because it works through the natural GHRH pathway, it preserves the endogenous feedback loop -- the hypothalamus and pituitary still regulate the output. This makes Sermorelin the most physiological approach to GH stimulation currently available as a research peptide.
It was historically FDA-approved (as Geref) for diagnostic and therapeutic use, giving it one of the best-characterized safety profiles in this class. Researchers studying age-related GH decline often prefer Sermorelin precisely because it mimics the body's own signaling rather than overriding it.
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog marketed as Egrifta. The trans-3-hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus improves its stability and receptor binding. It remains the only FDA-approved GHRH analog, with its indication being HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Clinical data show significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue, improved triglyceride and LDL profiles, and -- interestingly -- potential neuroprotective effects observed in cognitive studies among HIV patients. Notably, Tesamorelin does not appear to worsen glucose metabolism, which has been a concern with some GH-related interventions.
Direct Hormones and Growth Factors
HGH (Recombinant Growth Hormone)
HGH -- recombinant human somatropin -- is the exogenous hormone itself. Where secretagogues coax the pituitary into releasing more GH, HGH bypasses that step entirely. The distinction matters for research design: secretagogues depend on a functioning pituitary, while exogenous HGH does not.
IGF-1 LR3
Extended Half-Life Through Dual Modification
IGF-1 LR3 carries two modifications relative to native IGF-1: a 13-amino acid N-terminal extension and an arginine-to-glutamate substitution at position 3. Together, these changes dramatically reduce binding to IGF binding proteins, extending the effective half-life from roughly 20 minutes to 20-30 hours.
That extended activity window makes IGF-1 LR3 useful across multiple research contexts -- muscle hypertrophy and satellite cell activation, neuroprotection, cartilage and bone biology, and as a supplement in cell culture media where sustained IGF-1 signaling is needed.
HCG
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) functions as an LH mimetic. It binds LH receptors on Leydig cells and other gonadal tissue, stimulating steroidogenesis and supporting testicular function. HCG is a cornerstone of fertility research and remains indispensable for any work involving gonadal stimulation pathways.
Melanocortin Peptides
Melanotan-2
Melanotan-2 is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-MSH. It activates melanocortin receptors MC1R through MC5R, which gives it a surprisingly broad research profile.
Multi-Receptor Activity
Through MC1R, it drives melanogenesis -- the production and distribution of melanin in skin tissue. MC4R activation is where sexual function research comes in: Melanotan-2 has shown pro-erectile effects in multiple studies, which eventually led to the development of PT-141 (bremelanotide) as a more targeted MC4R agonist. The same MC4R pathway mediates anorectic effects, and MC3R activation contributes anti-inflammatory signaling. Few single peptides touch this many distinct biological systems.
Choosing the Right Peptide for Your Protocol
Reconstitution Required
All lyophilized peptides require reconstitution with Bacteriostatic Water before use.
All products ship with a Janoshik Certificate of Analysis. EU-wide delivery in 2-3 business days.