Ipamorelin
Ghrelin / GHSR pathway GH-release peptide
Overview
Ipamorelin is a synthetic 5-amino-acid pentapeptide (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂) engineered as a highly selective GHSR (ghrelin / growth-hormone secretagogue receptor) agonist. Unlike the broader GHRP family (GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin), Ipamorelin's selectivity for GHSR over the related receptors that regulate cortisol, prolactin, and ACTH release makes it the most clean GH-selective GHSR agonist in routine research use, the absence of cortisol-axis activation is the defining pharmacological feature relative to the older GHRP analogues. Lyochem supplies Ipamorelin acetate as a lyophilized powder at ≥99.0% HPLC purity. The short sequence makes synthesis straightforward, and the analytical packet emphasizes peak-integration HPLC plus mass spec, sequence verification by LC-MS/MS is available on request but is rarely the critical test for a 5-residue peptide. Ipamorelin is most commonly combined with a GHRH-pathway agonist (CJC-1295 no-DAC, Sermorelin, or Tesamorelin) in dual-pathway research and compounding workflows; the canonical CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin blend is supplied pre-co-lyophilized under the cjc-1295-ipamorelin SKU at standard 5+5 mg ratios with custom ratios via OEM service. For the full pharmacology of the dual-pathway approach, see our [CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin guide](/lab-notes/cjc-1295-ipamorelin-blend-pharmacology-guide).
Who buys this, and why
GH-axis peptides ship to research labs studying somatotropic-pathway pharmacology, IGF-axis signalling, and pulse vs. sustained-elevation GH biology. Buyers qualifying a new source typically request sequence verification on the first lot, the counter-ion form (acetate by default), and stability data at −20 °C. Blends — the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin co-formulated lot is the canonical example — are co-lyophilised rather than solution-mixed so the ratio is locked at the lyophilisation step.
Primary buyer fit: academic and contract research laboratories and research laboratories that have validated this peptide into their workflow.
Specifications
- CAS
- 170851-70-4
- Purity (HPLC)
- ≥ 99.0%
- Common vial sizes
- 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
- MOQ
- On request
- Lead time
- 7–14 days
- Storage
- -20°C, protect from light
Documentation available on request
- Lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
- RP-HPLC chromatogram with peak integration
- ESI-MS identity confirmation (±0.5 Da)
- Sequence verification by LC-MS/MS
- Water content by Karl Fischer
- SDS / MSDS
- Counter-ion analysis (acetate vs TFA)
- Stability at −20 °C across 12 months
- Solubility in BAC water / PBS reconstitution
Regulatory note
Sold for Research Use Only under the receiving laboratory's institutional and jurisdictional regulations. Not a finished dosage form, not labelled for human administration, and not supplied to compounding pharmacies — Lyochem's GH-axis lots are scoped to research workflows only. Buyers studying somatotropic pharmacology should specify the counter-ion form (acetate by default) and any pulse-vs-sustained study design notes at quote stage.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Ipamorelin different from GHRP-2 and GHRP-6?▾
All three are GHSR (ghrelin receptor) agonists, but they differ in their selectivity profile. GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 also activate the receptors involved in cortisol release, prolactin secretion, and (for GHRP-6 especially) appetite stimulation, these off-target effects can confound research readouts and are clinically undesirable in compounding-pharmacy applications. Ipamorelin's pentapeptide design was specifically engineered to retain the GHSR-binding affinity while losing the cortisol-pathway activation, making it the cleanest GHSR-selective agonist in routine use. The trade-off is that GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 produce somewhat larger GH-release magnitudes; Ipamorelin produces a more selective but slightly smaller GH pulse.
Why is Ipamorelin combined with CJC-1295 rather than used alone?▾
Ipamorelin acts on the GHSR; CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH receptor. These are two parallel pathways converging on the same somatotroph cells, and combining a GHSR-pathway agonist with a GHRH-pathway agonist produces GH-release magnitudes substantially larger than either component alone at comparable individual doses. The standard combination ratio is 1:1 by mass (typically 5+5 mg per vial). For research workflows studying GHSR pharmacology in isolation, Ipamorelin alone is the appropriate choice; for GH-release-maximizing workflows, the dual-pathway combination is essentially universal.
What's the recommended reconstitution and aliquoting approach for Ipamorelin?▾
Ipamorelin reconstitutes cleanly in bacteriostatic water for injection at typical research concentrations (1-5 mg/mL is common). The reconstituted solution is reasonably stable at -20 °C as single-use aliquots, but as with the rest of the GH-axis class, freeze-thaw cycling is the dominant source of measured-potency loss. The operational guidance is to split into the smallest workable aliquot volumes immediately after reconstitution and limit thaw cycles to three or fewer. The lyophilized product itself follows the standard 24-month re-test window at -20 °C.
Related peptides
Buyers who view Ipamorelin also ask about:
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
≥99.0%Modified GRF 1-29 · GHRH analog
- CAS
- 863288-34-0
- Vial
- 2 mg–10 mg
29-mer
Sermorelin
≥99.0%GHRH 1-29 fragment
- CAS
- 86168-78-7
- Vial
- 2 mg–10 mg
CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin
≥99.0%GH-axis blend (CJC-1295 no DAC + Ipamorelin)
- CAS
- —
- Vial
- 10 mg