Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
Orthopaedics review of therapeutic peptides; groups CJC-1295 with GH secretagogues tied to IGF-1 signaling, but notes clinical trials are lacking.
- Growth hormone secretagogues, including ipamorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin, sermorelin and AOD-9604, are described as activating IGF-1 signaling and satellite cell repair
- BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu are grouped as wound-healing peptides that promote angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling and fibroblast activation
- Preclinical studies are promising, but clinical trials are currently lacking
Summary
Review article (not original research) on therapeutic peptides as possible adjuncts in managing orthopaedic injuries. The authors frame peptide effects through signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt, mTOR, MAPK, TGF-β and AMPK, which they link to tissue regeneration, inflammation resolution and neuromuscular recovery. They sort the peptides into four groups: wound-healing peptides, growth hormone secretagogues (including CJC-1295), recovery-enhancing agents, and neuroactive peptides. Preclinical studies are promising, but the authors note a current lack of clinical trials.
Key Findings
- Growth hormone secretagogues, namely ipamorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin, sermorelin and AOD-9604, are described as activating IGF-1 signaling and satellite cell repair
- Wound-healing peptides (BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu) are described as promoting angiogenesis, integrin-mediated extracellular matrix remodeling and fibroblast activation
- Recovery-enhancing agents (epithalon, delta sleep-inducing peptide and pinealon) are described as targeting circadian and mitochondrial regulators
- Neuroactive peptides (selank, semax and dihexa) are described as enhancing BDNF and HGF/c-Met pathways involved in neuroplasticity
- Although preclinical studies are promising, clinical trials are currently lacking; the review emphasizes safety, efficacy and future directions
Relevance to CJC-1295
The review places CJC-1295 among growth hormone secretagogues proposed to support musculoskeletal repair through IGF-1 signaling and satellite cell repair. This is a mechanistic summary, not new trial evidence, and the authors state that clinical trials are lacking. The abstract does not report data on CJC-1295 specifically or on CJC-1295 combined with Ipamorelin.
Citation
Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2026;10(1):e25.00236. doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00236. PMID: 41490200
See Also
- Parent compound: CJC-1295
- Ipamorelin
- Tesamorelin
- BPC-157
- TB-500
- GHK-Cu
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