Compound reference
CJC-1295
Also known as CJC-1295 DAC, Modified GRF 1-29
A long-acting GHRH(1-29) analogue with a crucial catch — nearly all the human data are on the albumin-binding "DAC" form (which raises GH and IGF-1 for days), while the "CJC-1295 without DAC" (Modified GRF 1-29) sold most widely has essentially no human evidence. Neither form is approved anywhere, and the FDA flags it as a significant-risk compounding substance.
- Sequence
- Modified GRF(1-29): [D-Ala², Gln⁸, Ala¹⁵, Leu²⁷]-hGRF(1-29); the DAC form adds a Lys³⁰ maleimidopropionyl linker for covalent binding to serum albumin
- Half-life
- DAC form ≈5.8–8.1 days; no-DAC ('Modified GRF 1-29') on the order of minutes
Investigational/research peptide; not FDA-approved as a drug.
Mode of action
CJC-1295 is a long-acting analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone, built on the active 1–29 fragment of GHRH with four amino-acid substitutions ([D-Ala², Gln⁸, Ala¹⁵, Leu²⁷]) that resist enzymatic breakdown. As a GHRH-receptor agonist it stimulates the pituitary to release the body's own growth hormone in its natural pulsatile pattern, rather than supplying GH directly. The defining — and frequently misunderstood — feature is that CJC-1295 exists in two forms. The "DAC" form (drug affinity complex) adds a maleimidopropionyl-lysine that covalently binds circulating albumin, stretching its half-life to roughly a week and producing multi-day elevations of GH and IGF-1. The "no-DAC" form — sold as Modified GRF 1-29 — lacks that albumin tether and is short-acting, on the order of minutes, behaving much like sermorelin. The distinction matters enormously, because essentially all the human data are on the DAC form.
Main intended effect
Sustained stimulation of the body's own growth-hormone and IGF-1 secretion.
Areas of interest
CJC-1295 was explored as a way to treat growth-hormone deficiency and catabolic/wasting states (a phase 2 trial in HIV-associated visceral obesity was registered but terminated without results). Today its interest is overwhelmingly in the gray-market bodybuilding and "anti-aging" space, where it is used to raise GH and IGF-1 for body-composition and recovery goals, frequently stacked with a growth-hormone-releasing peptide such as ipamorelin.
Evidence for intended effects
The pharmacology of the DAC form is well demonstrated; clinical outcomes are not. Foundational work (Jetté, 2005) established the albumin-binding DAC mechanism in rats, and the long-acting form normalised growth in GHRH-knockout mice. In healthy adults, early-phase trials (JCEM 2006) showed a single subcutaneous injection of DAC-CJC-1295 raised mean GH 2- to 10-fold for six or more days and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days, with a 5.8–8.1-day half-life; repeat dosing kept IGF-1 elevated for up to 28 days, and GH pulsatility was preserved. These are pharmacodynamic studies, not outcome trials — there is no controlled evidence that CJC-1295 improves body composition, strength, healing, or any clinical endpoint, and the no-DAC/Modified GRF 1-29 form sold most widely has essentially no adequate human data at all.
| Strand | What exists | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| GH/IGF-1 pharmacodynamics (DAC form) | Early-phase human RCTs (JCEM 2006) | Established (PK/PD only) |
| Animal proof-of-concept | Rat / GHRH-knockout mouse | Preclinical |
| Clinical outcomes (body composition, performance) | None | No trials |
| No-DAC / Modified GRF 1-29 (the common gray-market form) | No adequate human data | Essentially none |
Studied amounts (literature dosing context)
The human pharmacology studies of the DAC form used subcutaneous doses around 30–60 µg/kg, which were the best-tolerated in those trials. These are study figures for a long-acting form; gray-market regimens — especially of the short-acting no-DAC form — are not trial-derived. There is no approved dose, and this page does not provide dosing guidance.
Safety and regulatory status
CJC-1295 is not approved as a drug in any form in any country. The FDA lists it as a bulk substance that may present significant safety risks in compounding (a Category 2 determination), citing immunogenicity, peptide-related impurities and inadequate characterisation, and reported serious adverse events in humans including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reactions; animal studies noted reduced food intake, decreased activity and injection-site irritation. The FDA has separately declined to add the no-DAC free-base/acetate forms to the 503A compounding list, noting the human literature is on the DAC form. It is prohibited in sport (WADA class S2, growth-hormone-releasing factors) and has been identified in forensic seizures of illicit peptides (Denmark, Norway) and named in regulatory seizures (Health Canada, 2025). It sits in the GHRH-analogue family alongside sermorelin and tesamorelin (the latter still approved for a specific indication). Material sold as "CJC-1295" is an unregulated research chemical of unverified identity and purity.
Sources
Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults
Phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose trial in healthy adults aged 21–61 years evaluating subcutaneous CJC-1295 (DAC-conjugated GHRH analog) across two studies with 28-day and 49-day durations. Primary outcomes were GH and IGF-I peak concentrations and area under the curve. A single injection produced dose-dependent increases in mean GH concentrations of 2- to 10-fold sustained for 6 or more days and IGF-I increases of 1.5- to 3-fold sustained for 9–11 days; the estimated compound half-life was 5.8–8.1 days. After multiple doses, mean IGF-I remained above baseline for up to 28 days. No serious adverse reactions were reported and the compound was particularly well tolerated at 30–60 µg/kg. These findings established the pharmacokinetic rationale for infrequent dosing of long-acting CJC-1295.
Prolonged Stimulation of Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Secretion by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting Analog of GH-Releasing Hormone, in Healthy Adults
Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose studies (Ionescu and colleagues) evaluated subcutaneous CJC-1295 (DAC-conjugated GHRH analog) in healthy adults aged 21–61 years across 28-day and 49-day protocols. Study 1 tested four ascending single doses; Study 2 tested two or three weekly or biweekly administrations. A single injection raised mean GH concentrations 2- to 10-fold for 6 or more days and IGF-I concentrations 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days, with a CJC-1295 half-life of 5.8–8.1 days. After multiple doses, mean IGF-I remained elevated above baseline for up to 28 days. No serious adverse reactions were reported; the compound was well tolerated particularly at 30–60 µg/kg. This trial evaluates the DAC form, not the no-DAC/modified GRF 1-29 preparation.
Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog
Prospective within-subject pharmacodynamic study in healthy men aged 20–40 years receiving a single subcutaneous injection of CJC-1295 (DAC form) at 60 or 90 µg/kg, with 20-minute blood sampling over a 12-hour overnight period at baseline and one week post-injection. Basal GH levels increased 7.5-fold (P < 0.0001) and mean GH levels increased 46% (P < 0.01), while IGF-I rose 45% (P < 0.001) with no significant difference between dose groups. Despite these marked trough and mean elevations, GH pulse frequency and magnitude were unaltered, demonstrating preserved physiological pulsatility. No adverse events were reported. These data support the concept that sustained GHRH-axis stimulation does not disrupt normal GH secretory architecture, but they pertain to the DAC form rather than the shorter-acting no-DAC preparation.
Activation of the GH/IGF-1 Axis by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting GHRH Analog, Results in Serum Protein Profile Changes in Normal Adult Subjects
Single-arm exploratory proteomics study in 11 healthy young adult men examining serum protein changes one week after a single injection of CJC-1295 (DAC form), using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Five protein spots showed significant intensity changes: apolipoprotein A1 and transthyretin isoforms decreased, while beta-hemoglobin, a C-terminal albumin fragment, and an immunoglobulin/albumin fragment increased. A linear relationship was found between the combined immunoglobulin/albumin spot and IGF-1 levels, identifying it as a potential GH-axis biomarker. No safety data were reported in this biomarker-discovery context; molecular mechanisms linking the identified proteins to GH/IGF-1 activity were not clarified. This is an exploratory analysis tied to DAC-form CJC-1295 exposure, not an efficacy trial of the no-DAC preparation.
A Study to Evaluate CJC 1295 in HIV Patients With Visceral Obesity
ClinicalTrials.gov registry record (NCT00267527) for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of CJC-1295 in HIV-infected patients with visceral obesity, sponsored by ConjuChem and enrolling 120 participants. The parallel-assignment protocol planned 12 weeks of treatment followed by a 6-week follow-up period. The trial was terminated (verified October 2006) and no results were posted to the registry. No published efficacy or safety data are available from this trial. The reason for early termination is not disclosed in the registry record, and the exact CJC-1295 formulation studied (DAC vs. no-DAC) was not specified.
Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog
Jetté and colleagues synthesized maleimido-derivatized hGRF(1-29) analogs conjugated to human serum albumin, testing them in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells and male Sprague-Dawley rats. The lead compound CJC-1295 — featuring four stabilizing amino-acid substitutions and a C-terminal maleimidopropionamide-lysine for covalent Cys34 albumin binding — produced a 4-fold increase in GH area under the curve over 2 hours versus native hGRF(1-29) and remained detectable in plasma beyond 72 hours post-injection, with albumin-bound complexes confirmed by Western blot beyond 24 hours. This foundational study establishes the DAC (drug affinity complex) mechanism and the amino-acid backbone shared by both DAC and no-DAC forms of CJC-1295. All data are from rodent models; direct extrapolation to human GH physiology requires clinical investigation.
Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse
This preclinical study tested CJC-1295 (2 µg per dose) administered every 24, 48, or 72 hours for 5 weeks beginning at 1 week of age in GHRH knockout mice, with heterozygous littermates and placebo-treated knockouts as controls. Daily dosing fully normalized body weight and length, with 48- and 72-hour intervals producing partial but incomplete growth restoration. Femur and tibia length were normal in 24- and 48-hour groups, and relative lean mass and subcutaneous fat mass were normal across all treated groups. The compound's albumin-binding DAC chemistry extended its half-life, and pituitary analysis revealed increased total RNA and GH mRNA, suggesting somatotroph proliferation. Findings are limited to GHRH-deficient mice and used the long-acting DAC-conjugated form; they are not applicable to the no-DAC free-base peptide or to human subjects.
CJC-1295: a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue
Review in Growth Hormone & IGF Research summarizing the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and early clinical development of CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analogue engineered to bind covalently to circulating albumin and thereby greatly extend its plasma half-life relative to native GHRH(1-29). It describes how subcutaneous dosing produces sustained, multi-day elevations in growth hormone and IGF-1 while preserving the pulsatile pattern of GH secretion, reflecting prolonged GHRH bioavailability rather than tonic receptor overstimulation. The review frames CJC-1295 as a candidate for growth-hormone-deficiency states and other catabolic conditions, drawing on early-phase dosing studies in healthy volunteers. As a narrative overview it synthesizes a small early-phase evidence base rather than reporting new controlled-trial outcomes, and human efficacy data remained limited at the time of publication.
CJC-1295 Bulk Drug Substance for Compounding
FDA webpage listing bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks when used in compounding under section 503A. CJC-1295 is listed as a substance that may present significant safety risks, with the listing updated in January 2024. The FDA's concerns for CJC-1295 include the absence of pharmacopoeia standards, limited human clinical safety data, and risks associated with compounding peptide preparations such as immunogenicity and impurity profiles. This Category 2 determination prohibits 503A compounding pharmacies from using CJC-1295 as a bulk substance. CJC-1295 has no FDA-approved drug application in any form.
Review of Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding: CJC-1295
FDA review memorandum (December 4, 2024) evaluating CJC-1295 free base and CJC-1295 acetate as bulk drug substances nominated for the 503A Bulks List, which would permit their use in compounding. The memorandum draws a regulatory distinction between CJC-1295 without DAC (the free base/acetate forms being reviewed) and CJC-1295 with DAC, noting that available clinical literature predominantly studied the DAC-conjugated form and that no adequate human safety or efficacy studies for the free base or acetate forms were identified. The FDA concluded that the available data were insufficient to support inclusion on the 503A Bulks List, effectively maintaining the prohibition on compounding with these CJC-1295 forms. This document is the primary regulatory source establishing the clinical and regulatory distinction between CJC-1295 with and without DAC.
CJC-1295 Bulk Drug Substance for Compounding - FDA Safety Review
FDA safety review document (January 2024) summarizing nonclinical toxicology data for CJC-1295 submitted in the context of bulk drug substance compounding evaluation. Animal studies in rats and dogs identified findings including reduced food intake, decreased activity levels, and injection-site irritation. CJC-1295 is not recognized in any major pharmacopoeia, contributing to concerns about impurity characterization and quality standards. The review reflects the FDA's assessment that available preclinical data raise unresolved safety questions and that human safety data remain insufficient to support compounded use.
Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks
FDA regulatory page listing bulk drug substances for compounding that may present significant safety risks, updated April 2026. CJC-1295 is identified as a Category 2 substance, meaning the FDA has determined that available data raise significant safety concerns that have not been resolved. Cited concerns include immunogenicity risk, peptide-related impurities and inadequate API characterization, serious adverse events reported in humans (including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reactions), and a lack of adequate clinical safety data supporting compounded use. Placement on this list does not constitute approval of any CJC-1295 formulation; compounding of Category 2 substances is disfavored pending resolution of the identified safety questions.
Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation
Forensic analytical study by Henninge et al. (Drug Testing and Analysis, Nov–Dec 2010) characterizing an unknown pharmaceutical preparation submitted to Norwegian authorities in 2009 using liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). The preparation was identified as CJC-1295, a 29-residue C-terminally amidated GHRH analog consistent with the no-DAC / Modified GRF 1-29 form, based on full amino acid sequence determination from MS fragmentation. The authors note CJC-1295 is listed under Section S2 of the WADA Prohibited List as a growth hormone-releasing factor, with evidence of availability and use in bodybuilding communities. The paper establishes a confirmatory LC-HRMS/MS workflow for forensic identification of this peptide class and contains no clinical safety or efficacy data.
Identification of peptide and protein doping related drug compounds confiscated in Denmark between 2007-2013
Forensic survey by Hartvig et al. (Scandinavian Journal of Forensic Science, Vol. 20 No. 2, 2015) characterizing peptide and protein doping agents seized in Denmark from late 2007 to late 2013, using a high-resolution accurate-mass LC-MS method (HRAM-LC-MS) requiring minimal sample preparation. Substances identified include AOD-9604, [D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27]sermorelin — the tetrasubstituted GRF(1-29) sequence equivalent to Modified GRF 1-29 (CJC-1295 without DAC) — follistatin, and somatropin. The study documents a practical confirmatory detection workflow for illicitly traded peptides and provides forensic evidence of their availability in Denmark during that period. No clinical safety or efficacy data are reported.
An immuno polymerase chain reaction screen for the detection of CJC-1295 and other growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogs in equine plasma
Anti-doping method paper by Timms et al. (Drug Testing and Analysis, June 2019) developing an immuno-polymerase chain reaction (I-PCR) assay using a pair of monoclonal antibodies raised against CJC-1295 for detection of the peptide-protein conjugate in equine plasma. The assay achieved a limit of detection of 0.8 pg/mL and a screening threshold of 50 pg/mL in equine plasma, accounting for naturally occurring GHRH cross-reactivity; field testing in thoroughbred racehorses confirmed assay performance. The study extends anti-doping surveillance for GHRH analogs into the horse-racing context, where CJC-1295's plasma-protein binding complicates detection by conventional methods. No clinical or veterinary safety or efficacy data are presented.
Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance
Narrative review (Mendias and Awan, Sports Medicine, 2026) of approved and unapproved peptides marketed for musculoskeletal healing and athletic performance — including AOD-9604, CJC-1295, BPC-157, and others. For AOD-9604 it summarizes six randomized double-blind placebo-controlled human trials in over 900 patients that showed a favorable short-term safety profile but failed to demonstrate statistically significant dose-dependent weight loss versus placebo. The review's broader message is that many unapproved peptides carry potential for serious harm despite favorable tissue-repair or metabolic signals in animal models.