Ipamorelin

Volume Pricing

Price per pack (10 vials). Discount applies to this compound only – no mix and match.

Ipamorelin — GHS-R1a Agonist | Selective Growth Hormone Secretagogue

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) and selective agonist of the ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a). Originally developed by Novo Nordisk in the late 1990s and derived from GHRP-1, ipamorelin was the first GH secretagogue demonstrated to stimulate GH release with a selectivity profile comparable to endogenous growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) — making it a landmark compound in secretagogue research. Its defining characteristic is what it does not do: unlike earlier GHRPs such as GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, ipamorelin does not significantly elevate ACTH, cortisol, or prolactin, even at doses exceeding 200 times its ED50 for GH release. This receptor selectivity makes it one of the most mechanistically clean tools available for studying pituitary GH secretion, IGF-1 axis dynamics, and downstream anabolic signaling.

Why Ipamorelin’s Selectivity Profile Matters

Every GH secretagogue triggers GHS-R1a, but most activate secondary hormonal pathways as a consequence — producing cortisol and ACTH elevation that confounds research data and narrows the usable dose window. Ipamorelin’s unique chemical structure eliminates this off-target activation, allowing researchers to study GH/IGF-1 signaling in isolation.

Upon binding GHS-R1a in the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus, ipamorelin activates the cAMP/PKA cascade in somatotroph cells, triggering pulsatile GH secretion. Simultaneously, it modulates somatostatin tone — the inhibitory brake on GH release — allowing GH pulses to occur without blunting the natural feedback architecture of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

This selectivity is what separates ipamorelin from GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 — both of which reliably elevate cortisol and ACTH — and why ipamorelin has become the preferred GHRP in research settings where hormonal isolation is a priority.

Research Applications

Ipamorelin is used in studies examining:

• Pituitary GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a) pharmacology and dose-response characterization
• GH pulse amplitude and frequency modulation under GHRP stimulation
• IGF-1 axis regulation and downstream anabolic signaling in skeletal muscle and bone
• Bone mineral content and longitudinal bone growth dynamics (established in preclinical models)
• Glucocorticoid-induced bone loss attenuation via GH/IGF-1 pathway upregulation
• Gastric motility and postoperative ileus in rodent models (ghrelin mimetic pathway)
• Body composition changes under sustained GH axis stimulation
• Comparative GHRP selectivity studies (ipamorelin vs. GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin)
• Combination protocols with GHRH analogs (e.g., CJC-1295, Sermorelin) for synergistic GH axis stimulation

Specifications

Reconstitution

Ipamorelin arrives as lyophilized powder and must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water prior to use. Use the formula:

Total mg ÷ Volume added (mL) = Concentration (mg/mL)

Example: 5mg vial + 2mL BAC water = 2.5mg/mL solution Example: 10mg vial + 2mL BAC water = 5mg/mL solution Example: 10mg vial + 3mL BAC water = 3.33mg/mL solution (commonly used for precise mcg-level dosing with insulin syringes)

Add bacteriostatic water slowly by angling the needle against the inside wall of the vial — do not inject directly onto the powder. Gently swirl to dissolve; do not shake. Reconstituted peptide should be stored at 2–8°C and used within 28–30 days.

Protocol Notes

Ipamorelin has a short half-life of approximately 2 hours, which means dosing frequency is a key variable in research design. It is most commonly administered subcutaneously, with timing often aligned to the body’s natural GH secretion windows — particularly the nocturnal pulse — to study additive vs. independent secretagogue effects.

Typical research dosing framework:

• Starting dose: 100mcg per administration
• Escalation: Increase by 50mcg every 1–2 weeks as tolerated
• Target range: 200–300mcg per administration
• Frequency: 1–3 times daily depending on endpoint (once daily for body composition studies; up to 3× daily for bone/metabolic endpoints)
• Study duration: 8–12 weeks standard; up to 16 weeks for body composition and bone mineral endpoints
• Common timing: Pre-sleep administration (aligns with nocturnal GH pulse); fasted state preferred to minimize insulin interference

Commonly observed effects in research models:

• Endocrine: Elevated GH pulse amplitude; elevated serum IGF-1 with sustained dosing
• Injection site: Mild transient redness or irritation — generally self-resolving; rotate sites systematically
• Other: Mild water retention or flushing at higher doses; headache and lightheadedness reported anecdotally during dose escalation; no meaningful cortisol or ACTH elevation at research-relevant doses

Research Stacks

Ipamorelin is commonly paired in research settings with:

• CJC-1295 No DAC — CJC-1295 No DAC is a GHRH analog that acts on the GHRH receptor to amplify the somatotroph response, while Ipamorelin acts via the ghrelin/GHS-R pathway; pairing the two mimics the synergistic hypothalamic-pituitary interplay between GHRH and ghrelin, producing a larger GH pulse than either compound alone in rodent studies.
• GHRP-6 — Both GHRP-6 and Ipamorelin are GHS-R agonists, but GHRP-6 also stimulates ghrelin-mediated appetite and cortisol release to a greater degree; co-administration studies compare receptor selectivity profiles and examine whether combining two GHS-R ligands produces additive or saturating effects on GH secretion.
• Sermorelin — Sermorelin is a truncated GHRH(1–29) analog; pairing it with Ipamorelin provides simultaneous GHRH-receptor and GHS-R stimulation, a dual-axis approach studied for its ability to recapitulate physiological GH pulsatility in aging animal models.

Purity Guarantee

Every batch is ≥99% purity. If you independently test your compound and the results don’t match — send us the COA and we’ll issue store credit, no questions asked.