CJC-1295
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of GHRH (growth-hormone-releasing hormone) that raises pulsatile GH secretion and, in turn, IGF-1. It exists in two forms — with DAC (long-acting) and without DAC (mod GRF 1-29, short-acting) — and has a limited body of controlled human research.
CJC-1295 reconstitution calculator
Open full calculator →Typical dosing
| Goal | Range | Route | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community protocol (no DAC / mod GRF 1-29) | 100 mcg | SubQ | 1-3x daily, often paired with a GHRP such as ipamorelin |
| Community protocol (with DAC) | 1-2 mg | SubQ | 1x weekly (long half-life, sustained IGF-1 elevation) |
Ranges compiled from research literature — not a prescription.
How it works
CJC-1295 is a synthetic agonist of the GHRH receptor (GHRH-R) on pituitary somatotrophs. Binding activates adenylate cyclase, raises intracellular cAMP, and stimulates pulsatile release of growth hormone (GH), which in the liver and peripheral tissue induces IGF-1 secretion. This is the same receptor pathway as endogenous GHRH, but the analog is modified to resist degradation by the DPP-4 enzyme, extending its half-life relative to native GHRH (minutes).
There are two fundamentally different variants of the molecule. CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) carries a maleimide group that binds covalently to serum albumin in vivo — this produces a half-life on the order of 6-8 days and creates a sustained, rather than pulsatile, elevation of GH/IGF-1. CJC-1295 without DAC is essentially mod GRF 1-29 (modified GHRH 1-29), a short-acting molecule with a half-life of about 30 minutes that more closely mimics physiological GH pulses and is often dosed several times a day.
CJC-1295 (especially the short no-DAC form) is frequently combined in unverified protocols with a growth-hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) such as ipamorelin, because the GHRP acts through a separate receptor — GHS-R1a (the ghrelin receptor) — and in preclinical models two independent signaling pathways (GHRH-R and GHS-R1a) on somatotrophs can produce a larger combined GH pulse than either agonist alone. There are essentially no direct controlled human trials of the specific CJC-1295 + ipamorelin combination with validated clinical endpoints — the combination rationale rests on mechanistic logic and scattered data on the individual components.
The main clinical support for CJC-1295 (with DAC) is the phase 1 study by Teichman et al. (2006, J Clin Endocrinol Metab): a single subcutaneous injection dose-dependently raised mean GH concentration 2-10 fold for 6 or more days, and IGF-1 1.5-3 fold for 9-11 days in healthy volunteers. This is the only relatively large controlled human study; data on safety and efficacy with long-term/repeated use, and data for the no-DAC variant, are very limited. Honestly: this is limited human evidence — short studies in healthy volunteers, without long-term outcome data.
Side effects & safety
- Injection-site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, induration) are the most common adverse effect in clinical trials.
- Fluid retention, edema, paresthesias, headache, and flushing/warmth are characteristic of raised GH/IGF-1.
- Sustained IGF-1 elevation (especially with DAC) raises theoretical concerns about proliferative effects with uncontrolled/long-term use — there is no human oncology-risk data.
- No data exist on long-term safety, optimal doses, or outcomes with regular use beyond short phase 1 studies.
- Research-grade products are unregulated: mislabeling, purity differences, and product substitution have been documented (e.g. Henninge et al. 2010).
- Prohibited by WADA (S2) for competing athletes; not FDA-approved for any indication — consult a clinician before any use.
Research
Primary sources — PubMed.
- Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GHRH, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/
- Alba M, et al. Once-daily administration of CJC-1295 in GHRH-knockout mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16822960/
- Sackmann-Sala L, et al. Growth hormone-releasing hormone analogs. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2009. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2787983/
- Henninge J, et al. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Test Anal. 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21204297/
- Timms M, et al. Detection of CJC-1295 by LC-MS/MS. Drug Test Anal. 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30938069/
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List — S2. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list