Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 (no DAC) are GHRH-axis ligands. Ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist. None of them is a GLP-1, GIP, or glucagon receptor agonist. Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide live in the incretin / glucagon GPCR family. Mixing those catalogs under one “peptide” heading is convenient. It is also how a methods section names the wrong receptor.
That is the whole distinction. Growth-hormone secretagogue tools and incretin-receptor agonists can both appear in a research-peptide list. They do not share a receptor. They do not share a native hormone. A COA for tesamorelin is not a semaglutide document with a different SKU.
Two axes, two native ligands
GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) is a hypothalamic peptide. Its receptor is GHRHR, a class B GPCR. Tesamorelin is a GHRH analogue. In the United States it exists as an FDA-approved drug product (Egrifta / tesamorelin) for a labeled indication in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. A research reagent with tesamorelin identity is not that drug product. The receptor fact still holds: GHRHR, not GLP-1R.
CJC-1295 without DAC, in research catalogs, is a modified GRF(1-29) / GHRH-analogue style sequence. It is still aimed at the GHRH receptor, not at GLP-1R. “No DAC” is a catalog way of saying the sequence is not the Drug Affinity Complex variant. It is not an incretin footnote.
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR / GHS-R1a), a class A GPCR. Ghrelin is the native ligand. That is a third receptor, still not GLP-1R, GIPR, or GCGR. Pairing CJC-1295 (no DAC) with ipamorelin in a catalog blend is a pairing of GHRH-axis plus ghrelin-axis tools. It is not a dual incretin.
Where the incretin peptides sit
Research catalog name
Primary receptor family (research identity)
Not this
Tesamorelin
GHRHR
GLP-1R / GIPR / GCGR
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
GHRH analogue (GHRHR)
GLP-1R / GIPR / GCGR
Ipamorelin
GHSR (GHS-R1a)
GLP-1R / GIPR / GCGR
Semaglutide
GLP-1R
GHRHR / GHSR
Tirzepatide
GIPR + GLP-1R
GHRHR / GHSR
Retatrutide (LY3437943)
GIPR + GLP-1R + GCGR
GHRHR / GHSR. Also not a “GLP-3 receptor.”
Worked example: what to write in a notebook
If the vial is tesamorelin, write GHRHR and the CAS on the COA. Do not write “GLP.” If the vial is retatrutide, write GIPR, GLP-1R, and GCGR. Do not write “growth hormone peptide.” If the vial is a CJC + ipamorelin blend, you have two receptor stories in one cap. The COA has to list both components. The nickname does not merge them into an incretin. See ignore the blend name; read the COA.
NAD+ is a cofactor, not a peptide and not an incretin agonist. It is in many catalogs for a different reason. Do not file it under either column of this table.
What this page will not do
It will not compare “secretagogue versus incretin” as if those were shopping categories. It will not discuss outcomes, reconstitution, or use in people. Tesamorelin’s existence as an approved drug is an identity fact about a different product. Research reagents remain laboratory chemicals.
GHRH-Axis Tools Are Not Incretin Agonists
Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 (no DAC) are GHRH-axis ligands. Ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist. None of them is a GLP-1, GIP, or glucagon receptor agonist. Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide live in the incretin / glucagon GPCR family. Mixing those catalogs under one “peptide” heading is convenient. It is also how a methods section names the wrong receptor.
That is the whole distinction. Growth-hormone secretagogue tools and incretin-receptor agonists can both appear in a research-peptide list. They do not share a receptor. They do not share a native hormone. A COA for tesamorelin is not a semaglutide document with a different SKU.
Two axes, two native ligands
GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) is a hypothalamic peptide. Its receptor is GHRHR, a class B GPCR. Tesamorelin is a GHRH analogue. In the United States it exists as an FDA-approved drug product (Egrifta / tesamorelin) for a labeled indication in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. A research reagent with tesamorelin identity is not that drug product. The receptor fact still holds: GHRHR, not GLP-1R.
CJC-1295 without DAC, in research catalogs, is a modified GRF(1-29) / GHRH-analogue style sequence. It is still aimed at the GHRH receptor, not at GLP-1R. “No DAC” is a catalog way of saying the sequence is not the Drug Affinity Complex variant. It is not an incretin footnote.
Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR / GHS-R1a), a class A GPCR. Ghrelin is the native ligand. That is a third receptor, still not GLP-1R, GIPR, or GCGR. Pairing CJC-1295 (no DAC) with ipamorelin in a catalog blend is a pairing of GHRH-axis plus ghrelin-axis tools. It is not a dual incretin.
Where the incretin peptides sit
Worked example: what to write in a notebook
If the vial is tesamorelin, write GHRHR and the CAS on the COA. Do not write “GLP.” If the vial is retatrutide, write GIPR, GLP-1R, and GCGR. Do not write “growth hormone peptide.” If the vial is a CJC + ipamorelin blend, you have two receptor stories in one cap. The COA has to list both components. The nickname does not merge them into an incretin. See ignore the blend name; read the COA.
NAD+ is a cofactor, not a peptide and not an incretin agonist. It is in many catalogs for a different reason. Do not file it under either column of this table.
What this page will not do
It will not compare “secretagogue versus incretin” as if those were shopping categories. It will not discuss outcomes, reconstitution, or use in people. Tesamorelin’s existence as an approved drug is an identity fact about a different product. Research reagents remain laboratory chemicals.
Related reading: GLP-3 is not a receptor · Peptide incretin vs non-peptide oral GLP-1 · Tesamorelin overview · CJC-1295 (no DAC) + Ipamorelin overview
References
For laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use. This article is not legal advice and not medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-15