PeptidesInfo

Peptide profile · Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue

CJC-1295

Also known as: CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 without DAC, Modified GRF (1-29), Mod GRF 1-29, DAC:GRF

A synthetic GHRH analogue that raises growth hormone and IGF-1 in short human pharmacology studies. Development was discontinued; no outcome trials exist and it is not FDA-approved.

Preliminary evidenceNot FDA-approved
Abstract peptide-chain illustration for the CJC-1295 profile

Evidence level

Preliminary

Two small human studies (phase 1/2, healthy adults) show sustained increases in GH and IGF-1 with the DAC form. There are no trials of body composition, performance, healing or aging outcomes.

Regulatory status (US)

Not FDA-approved

Not FDA-approved; developer discontinued the programme. Placed in category 2 of the compounding interim policies in 2023 over immunogenicity concerns; on the FDA list current 22 April 2026 it appears among substances whose nominations were withdrawn by the nominators, which is not a safety clearance. Prohibited in sport by WADA (S2).

Mechanism (proposed)

Binds pituitary GHRH receptors to stimulate pulsatile growth hormone release, raising IGF-1. Effects on any downstream clinical outcome (body composition, recovery, aging) have not been tested in controlled trials.

Studied for: GH and IGF-1 elevation (human phase 1/2), Body composition (marketing; no trials), Anti-aging (marketing; no trials)

Full research analysis

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin: Growth Hormone Research and Unanswered Risks

The 'CJC/ipa' stack is sold for muscle, fat loss, sleep and anti-aging. The human evidence is a handful of short hormone-level studies, two abandoned development programmes, and no outcome trials — plus a set of risks that have never been studied because the trials were never run.

Read the analysis

What CJC-1295 is

CJC-1295 is a modified fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone. In its "DAC" form it attaches to albumin in the blood and keeps stimulating growth hormone release for days; without DAC it is essentially a short-acting GHRH analogue (Mod GRF 1-29). It was developed commercially in the early 2000s and abandoned before any outcome trial.

Where the evidence stands

The human evidence is two small studies in healthy adults showing that the DAC form reliably raises GH and IGF-1 for a week or more[1][2]. That is the whole of the controlled human literature. There are no trials of body composition, strength, recovery, sleep or aging outcomes. The evidence grade is preliminary for the pharmacological claim (it raises GH) and preclinical or unsupported for every outcome it is marketed for.

Regulatory position

Not approved; development discontinued. FDA placed it in category 2 of the compounding interim policies in 2023, citing immunogenicity risk for certain routes; on the list current at 22 April 2026 it appears among substances whose nominations were withdrawn by the nominators — a procedural change that does not add it to the 503A bulks list[3]. Prohibited in sport.

Safety summary

Short studies reported headache, flushing, injection-site reactions and transient effects on blood pressure and heart rate. A participant death occurred during the ConjuChem programme (reported as unrelated to the drug) and development stopped. Risks of chronic GH/IGF-1 elevation — glucose intolerance, fluid retention, theoretical tumour promotion — are unstudied for this compound.

Frequently asked questions

Does CJC-1295 build muscle or burn fat?
No controlled trial has measured either. Human studies show it raises GH and IGF-1; that is a hormone level, not an outcome.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with and without DAC?
The DAC version binds albumin and raises GH/IGF-1 for about a week per dose; the no-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) acts for minutes. Only the DAC form has published human studies.
Is CJC-1295 legal?
It is not an approved drug anywhere. FDA placed it in category 2 of the compounding interim policies in 2023; that nomination was later withdrawn, but it is still not on the 503A bulks list, so it cannot lawfully be compounded. It is prohibited in sport.

References

Numbered in order of first use. Study type is shown for every source; see our methodology for how we rank evidence.

  1. 1.

    Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA. 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 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006.

    Randomized controlled trialHealthy adults aged 21–61n = 53

    Result: Single and repeated doses raised mean GH by 2–10× for ≥6 days and IGF-1 by 1.5–3× for 9–11 days.

    Limitations: Short duration; hormone endpoints only; small sample.

    ↑ back to text
  2. 2.

    Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006.

    Human studyHealthy menn = 11

    Result: GH pulsatility was preserved with amplified pulses during CJC-1295 exposure.

    Limitations: Very small; hormone endpoints only.

    ↑ back to text
  3. 3.

    Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (category 2 list) U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.

    Regulatory source

    Result: CJC-1295 was placed in category 2 and now appears on the withdrawn-nomination list. FDA cited immunogenicity risk for certain routes of administration.

    ↑ back to text

Review status: Editorially reviewed against primary sources. This article was fact-checked against the primary sources listed in the references by our editorial team, and it has not been reviewed by a licensed clinician. It is educational content, not medical advice. Read our editorial policy and methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.

Profile by Tristen Ta. Published August 15, 2026; updated August 15, 2026.

Articles about CJC-1295

Search all →
Benefits4 min read

Peptides for Energy and Sleep: Claims Versus Trials

Better sleep and more energy are standard peptide selling points. No growth-hormone secretagogue has been tested with sleep laboratory measurement, and the one peptide with a large sleep trial works by a completely different route.

Benefits4 min read

Peptides for Muscle Growth: What the Evidence Supports

Growth-hormone peptides are sold almost entirely on muscle claims. No controlled trial has measured muscle with them. The one peptide with positive lean-mass data is the one nobody markets for it.

Benefits4 min read

Are Peptides Worth It? A Framework for Deciding

Whether a peptide is worth it depends on four things: what benefit is proven, in whom, for how long, and whether the effect lasts after you stop. Here is that framework applied to every peptide we cover.

Benefits8 min read

Peptide Benefits: What the Evidence Actually Supports

Peptides are credited with dozens of benefits. Some are proven in large trials, some are modest and real, and some have never been tested in a person. This is every major benefit claim, sorted by how strong the human evidence is.

Safety5 min read

Peptide Purity, Contamination, and the Limits of a Certificate of Analysis

A certificate of analysis is the main reassurance offered by 'research peptide' vendors. Here is what a CoA can and cannot tell you — identity, purity, quantity, sterility, endotoxin — why '99% pure' is not what it sounds like, and what independent testing of grey-market peptides has found.

Research analysis5 min read

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin: Growth Hormone Research and Unanswered Risks

The 'CJC/ipa' stack is sold for muscle, fat loss, sleep and anti-aging. The human evidence is a handful of short hormone-level studies, two abandoned development programmes, and no outcome trials — plus a set of risks that have never been studied because the trials were never run.

Regulation6 min read

FDA-Approved, Off-Label, Investigational, and Unapproved Peptides

The regulatory status of a peptide is a fact about a decision, not a verdict on the evidence. This guide explains the four categories, what compounding rules changed in 2023–2025, and where every peptide we cover currently sits.

Foundations5 min read

How to Read Peptide Research Without Falling for Marketing

Most misleading peptide claims cite real studies. This guide shows how to tell a rat model from a human trial, a mechanism from an outcome, and a case report from evidence — with worked examples from BPC-157, growth hormone secretagogues and collagen research.