Ipamorelin

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

Research documentation only. Dated 2026-09-20. Part of the GH-secretagogues deep-research track.

Overview

Ipamorelin (development code NNC 26-0161) is a synthetic pentapeptide — sequence Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 — and the first widely recognized selective ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist. Designed through a structure-activity program that specifically excluded the Ala-Trp dipeptide blamed for non-selective endocrine activity in earlier secretagogues, it stimulates GH release with high specificity: laboratory studies show no significant effect on ACTH, prolactin, cortisol, FSH, LH, or TSH release — the "clean pulse" that defines its reputation. It advanced through human clinical testing but was never FDA- or EMA-approved; it circulates as a research chemical not for human use. As of 2026 it is the default GHRP half of the community's dominant stack (CJC-1295 no DAC + Ipamorelin), and educators contrast it explicitly against older, non-selective GHRPs (GHRP-2/6, hexarelin) as the milder, more selective, long-term-tolerable option.

Social standing

The selective GHRP the community converged on. Ipamorelin is paired with CJC-1295 no DAC in the most-shared stack across Instagram, Facebook groups, and Threads. Standard community-reported dosing: 100 mcg 1–3x daily (RIPD.FIT's comparison table lists 100–300 mcg 1–2x/day fasted, 8–12 week cycles; FB-group threads report bedtime-fasted administration 2–3 hours after eating as consensus, with some morning-fasted protocols).

Viral/education moments: A May 4, 2026 IG educator reel on peptide cycling is the source of the widely repeated claim that ipamorelin desensitizes — GH output dropping ~45% by week 16 with recovery after 4 weeks off — while CJC-1295/tesamorelin do not (creator-cited, UNVERIFIED). A June 10, 2026 @chemicalupgrade text post maps a week-by-week GH-stack timeline; a commenter corrects it to say only Ipamorelin needs cycling off, reflecting community nuance. Creator Nick Barrow's Sept 2026 reel ranks CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin #1 for sleep and GH pulses. Dr. Karl Zarse, MD (Apr 17, 2026) and Adam Nessim, MD (Apr 28, 2026) reels both explain Ipamorelin's selectivity (minimal cortisol/prolactin effect) to medical-adjacent audiences. Josh Holyfield's Aug 9, 2026 reel walks through the dual receptors (GHRH-R vs GHS-R1A) the stack hits. A Restore Clinic IG explainer (Jul 10, 2026) contrasts Ipamorelin (selective, milder, long-term) with Hexarelin (stronger, prolactin-raising). A Salem Savage/ChemCenterBio reel (Sep 16, 2026) argues early GHRP-6/GHRP-2 trials caused "internal systemic chaos" in animals — hearts/livers swelling, cortisol/prolactin-driven gynecomastia — while positioning ipamorelin as the selective successor (vendor video, animal-data claims UNVERIFIED).

FB Groups: The Feb 4, 2026 timing thread covers Ipamorelin protocols in depth (fasting windows, morning vs bedtime). Del Jayson's Feb 3, 2026 blood-sugar thread: community singles out Ipamorelin in the A1c discussion, urging metabolic-health-first caution before any GH peptide. FB Marketplace: zero listings for ipamorelin — consistent with off-platform sales. Comments on HNR Labs' Sept 1, 2026 FB explainer include users reporting sleep disruption, water retention, flushing, pins and needles — alongside positive sleep and weight-loss reports.

Main praise: deep sleep, recovery, modest fat loss, "clean" GH pulse without the hunger or hormone crosstalk of older GHRPs; selective enough that educators recommend it for long-term use. Main complaints: possible need to cycle off (desensitization claim, UNVERIFIED); flushing/headaches; pins-and-needles; sleep disruption in a minority; and the usual group-thread noise of supplier spam crowding out signal.

Threads: @m_hunter416 (Mar 2025) asked for Ipamorelin/CJC-1295 benefits and side effects (URL not captured; paraphrased).

Social validation — Tier 1

FB Groups + Instagram owner content + Threads all present.

Key specs table

Property Value
Class Pentapeptide; selective ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist (GHRP)
Sequence Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (H-Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2)
Formula C38H49N9O5
Molecular weight 711.868 g/mol
CAS 170851-70-4
PubChem CID 20754357 (compound)
Mechanism Selective GHS-R1a agonism on pituitary somatotrophs → GH pulse via calcium-surge pathway, independent of the GHRH/cAMP pathway; no significant effect on ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, FSH, LH, TSH in lab studies
Half-life ~2 hours (human)
Route Subcutaneous injection (IV also studied)
Community-reported dosing 100–300 mcg 1–3x daily, fasted/bedtime (community-reported; NOT medical guidance)
Development NNC 26-0161; advanced through human clinical testing; developer attribution (Helsinn) UNVERIFIED from sources this round
FDA/EMA status Not approved

Sources: sequence, formula, MW, CAS verified via Profound Aminos product spec, SmartPeps COA (manufacturing Mar 2026), and Wikipedia's Ipamorelin entry (web check 2026-09-20); selectivity claims from Lumin Peptides vendor research summary and educator reels; half-life ~2h from Wikipedia and Profound Aminos.

Pricing

  • MSRP: none — research chemical.
  • Research-chem street: Ipamorelin 5 mg: $26.49 (Eternal Peptides), $29.95–$59.95 (Pure Peptide Labs, listed/sale), $30 sale / $50 regular (Elite Peptide), $44 list / ~$22 effective (Ascension Peptides benchmark via PeptidePub catalog data, captured 2026-07-14); CAD $59.99 sale (Peptides Canada). Blend 5 mg/5 mg (CJC/Ipa): $52–$70 (see CJC file). Observations 2026-09-20.
  • Compounded/clinic: Holistic Health and Medical (Miami Lakes) sells "CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin" with third-party COA (scannable QR) per Aug–Sep 2026 promotional reels; standalone ipamorelin clinic pricing not observed — UNVERIFIED.
  • Facebook Marketplace range: no listings observed 2026-09-20 (zero listings for ipamorelin/tesamorelin/MK-677; sales occur off-platform).

What's included / what's needed

Vial: white lyophilized powder (commonly 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg; UK vendors list 10 mg). Needed for laboratory use: bacteriostatic water for reconstitution, sterile syringes, refrigerated storage after reconstitution (use promptly; avoid repeated freeze-thaw). No usage protocol documented here — community dosing figures are reported evidence only.

Support reality

  • Warranty: n/a for research chemicals.
  • Vendor COA practices: published COAs range from per-batch HPLC/MS with QR verification (PurePeptides product shot shows QR "COA", HPLC-UV-MS, "Tested in USA") to minimal documentation. A 2026 SmartPeps COA (lot JT-175012, manufactured March 2026) shows 99.49% HPLC purity — illustrating the documentation end-state of the reputable tier. No vendor endorsements.
  • Community reliability patterns: supplier spam is pervasive in comment sections (Napsgear, PepSource, Telegram groups, "DM for price lists"), and the "Peptide Community 101" FB group is admin-run supplier spam — sourcing signal requires filtering. Clinics (e.g., Holistic Health and Medical) offer third-party COAs and bloodwork as a trust alternative.

Regulatory & safety status

Research chemical not for human use. Never FDA- or EMA-approved; clinical development (NNC 26-0161) did not reach market. WADA: prohibited in sports (S2). Literature/educator safety profile: well-tolerated in human studies at tested doses; selective profile means minimal cortisol/prolactin/ACTH effects, but it remains an experimental GH-axis compound with no approved therapeutic use. Community-reported adverse effects: flushing, headaches, water retention, pins-and-needles, sleep disruption in a minority. The desensitization claim (~45% output drop by week 16, UNVERIFIED) is the main community cycling rationale.

Community verdict

Ipamorelin is the community's preferred GHRP precisely because it is the selective one: the clean-pulse reputation (no cortisol/prolactin crosstalk) survived every comparison against GHRP-2/6 and hexarelin, and its pairing with CJC-1295 no DAC became the default stack. Evidence remains anecdotal for outcomes, and the main open pharmacological question — whether long-term use truly desensitizes the ghrelin receptor — is still creator-claim territory.

Image log

  • hero: present — ipamorelin-hero.jpg (Peptide Pure Ipamorelin 5mg, "99% Purity / Clinician Use Only"). Source: https://www.peptidepure.com/peptides/ghrp-2-10mg, observation 2026-09-20.
  • side: present — ipamorelin-side.jpg (UK Peptology Ipamorelin 10mg, "FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY"). Source: https://www.ukpeptology.store/product/ipamorelin-10mg/, observation 2026-09-20.
  • rear: present — ipamorelin-rear.jpg (Biomed Peptides Ipamorelin 2mg/Vial, "RESEARCH USE ONLY"). Source: https://biomed.is/product/ipamorlin-5mg/, observation 2026-09-20.
  • top: missing — no cap/top-down view found.
  • detail: present — ipamorelin-detail.jpg (PurePeptides Ipamorelin 2mg with QR-code COA, "HPLC-UV-MS / Tested in USA / Purity ≥ 98%"). Source: https://purepeptides.com, observation 2026-09-20.
  • inuse: missing — one generic stock vial-with-syringe image was rejected (auto-generated content-farm source, not item-specific); no authentic owner-use photo found.
  • scale: missing — no scale/reference object shot found.
  • box: missing — no retail-box shot found among candidates.

Open questions / UNVERIFIED

  • The ~45% GH-output drop by week 16 / 4-week-off recovery desensitization claim — creator-cited (May 4, 2026 IG educator reel); verify before stating as fact.
  • Helsinn as the clinical developer of ipamorelin — not confirmed by sources this round; UNVERIFIED.
  • ChemCenterBio claims about early GHRP-2/6 animal trials ("hearts and livers swelling to nearly twice normal size") — vendor video claims; UNVERIFIED and presented as animals-only disclaimers.
  • Community efficacy claims (sleep, recovery, IGF-1 increases) — anecdotal.
  • Clinic/compounded pricing — not observed; UNVERIFIED.

Not medical advice. This file is research documentation only; nothing here is a recommendation to use any compound.

Ipamorelin — detail view
detail view Original vendor page URL not recorded in research dossier
Ipamorelin — hero view
hero view Original vendor page URL not recorded in research dossier
Ipamorelin — rear view
rear view Original vendor page URL not recorded in research dossier
Ipamorelin — side view
side view Original vendor page URL not recorded in research dossier

Sources