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Sermorelin's 29-residue frame plus an albumin-binding linker: a single injection raised growth hormone for a week in healthy adults — then development stopped.
Also known as: CJC1295 · DAC:GRF · GRF 1-29 (CJC1295) · CJC-1295 with DAC
Part of the Growth hormone & IGF peptides cluster
Overview
CJC-1295 (C165H269N47O46, ≈3,647 Da) is a 30-residue analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone(1-29) engineered by ConjuChem to bind serum albumin covalently after injection, extending its action from minutes to days. In healthy adults a single injection raised growth hormone 2- to 10-fold for six days or more and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days, with an estimated half-life of 5.8–8.1 days. It was never approved: a phase 2 trial in HIV-associated visceral obesity was terminated, and it is now an unapproved research peptide prohibited in sport.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Synthetic GHRH analog
Primary research or clinical context: Research compound — never approved. Phase 1/2 studies in healthy adults (2006) and a phase 2 in HIV visceral obesity that was terminated; sold unapproved and prohibited in sport.
What CJC-1295 is
CJC-1295 is a long-acting analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone developed by the Canadian company ConjuChem. It keeps the active 29-residue frame of GHRH that sermorelin also uses, adds substitutions that resist enzymatic breakdown, and — its defining feature — carries a reactive group that couples the peptide covalently to serum albumin after injection, so the hormone signal persists for days instead of minutes. Its molecular formula is C165H269N47O46 and its mass about 3,647 Da. PubChem lists it under the synonym GRF 1-29 (CJC1295), which is a reminder that the grey market also sells the linker-free version under the same name.
'With DAC' and 'without DAC'
The name CJC-1295 properly refers to the albumin-binding conjugate, sometimes called DAC:GRF (Drug Affinity Complex). Sellers also market “CJC-1295 without DAC” — the same substituted GHRH(1-29) without the linker, also known as modified GRF(1-29) — which lacks the albumin-binding mechanism and therefore the multi-day action that the clinical data describe. A 2026 review of performance-enhancing peptides lists both forms as encountered in self-administration protocols (Dominikowski et al., Frontiers in Endocrinology 2026). Only the DAC form has published human pharmacokinetics.
What the human studies showed
The evidence rests on ConjuChem's phase 1/2 work in healthy adults. After a single subcutaneous injection there were dose-dependent increases in mean plasma growth hormone of 2- to 10-fold for six days or more and in IGF-1 of 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days; the estimated half-life of CJC-1295 was 5.8–8.1 days; after multiple doses, IGF-1 remained above baseline for up to 28 days; no serious adverse reactions were reported, and the drug was described as safe and relatively well tolerated, particularly at 30 or 60 µg/kg, with evidence of a cumulative effect (Teichman et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2006). A follow-up proteomic study found that CJC-1295 treatment changed serum protein profiles — including apolipoprotein A1 and transthyretin isoforms — in normal adults, with one spot tracking IGF-1 levels (Sackmann-Sala et al., Growth Hormone & IGF Research 2009).
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Growth hormone after one dose | 2- to 10-fold increase for ≥ 6 days |
| IGF-1 after one dose | 1.5- to 3-fold increase for 9–11 days |
| Estimated half-life | 5.8–8.1 days |
| IGF-1 after multiple doses | Above baseline for up to 28 days |
| Tolerability | No serious adverse reactions; best at 30–60 µg/kg |
Why development stopped
ConjuChem's phase 2 trial of CJC-1295 in HIV patients with visceral obesity (NCT00267527) is listed as terminated, and no later trial exists. The evidence pack does not state the reason; what it shows is that the programme ended before any efficacy trial reported, and no marketing application followed. The indication it targeted — visceral fat in HIV lipodystrophy — was later taken by tesamorelin, the full-length GHRH analogue approved in 2010. CJC-1295 therefore has better human pharmacokinetic data than any other unapproved secretagogue on this site, and no efficacy data at all.
Mechanism
CJC-1295 activates the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, driving growth hormone release and, downstream, IGF-1. Because it circulates bound to albumin, the receptor is stimulated continuously rather than in the pulses that native GHRH and sermorelin produce; the 2006 study's sustained elevation of GH for six days is the direct signature of that difference. Whether continuous GHRH-receptor stimulation is desirable is a pharmacological question the terminated programme never answered.
Regulatory status and sport
CJC-1295 is not approved anywhere. It is prohibited by WADA as a GHRH analogue, and anti-doping laboratories include it — together with sermorelin, its metabolite and tesamorelin — in validated urine screening methods at low picogram-per-millilitre concentrations (Coppieters et al., Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 2022; Memdouh et al., Drug Testing and Analysis 2021). Its use is documented in online communities: a netnographic study of female users described use centred on weight loss, muscle enhancement, youthful skin, sleep and injury healing, with users voicing concerns about dosing, cycling and long-term consequences (Van Hout & Hearne, Substance Use & Misuse 2016).
CJC-1295 vs sermorelin, tesamorelin and ipamorelin
Sermorelin is the same 29-residue frame without substitutions or linker, short-acting and formerly approved. Tesamorelin is the full 44-residue GHRH with a stabilising group, approved for HIV lipodystrophy. CJC-1295 sits between them in design and outside both in status: long-acting by albumin conjugation, never approved. Ipamorelin acts at a different receptor (ghrelin) and is commonly sold in combination with CJC-1295 — a pairing that no trial in the pack has tested. Recent sports-medicine reviews find that human studies of CJC-1295 and its neighbours are limited to a handful of investigations, most lacking robust controls (Tewari et al., 2026). This profile is educational; it is not guidance on obtaining or using any product and it is not medical advice.
Structure & chemistry
Molecular identity & reference confidence
Source-supported reference
Reference values are taken from the cited molecular record or curated profile. A database match is not independent laboratory verification; modifications, counter-ions, and formulations can change the measured mass.
- Molecular form
- GHRH(1-29) frame with stabilising substitutions plus a C-terminal lysine carrying a reactive linker (the 'Drug Affinity Complex', DAC) that couples to serum albumin in vivo
- Species
- Not established by this molecular identity audit
- Termini (N / C)
- Not specified / Not specified
Average reference mass
Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05
- PubChem molecular record · 2026-10-01
- Molecular formula
- C165H269N47O46
- Average reference mass
- ≈ 3,647.2
- Plasma half-life
- Estimated 5.8–8.1 days after subcutaneous injection in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006)
- Receptors
- Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R)
- Backbone
- GHRH(1-29) frame with stabilising substitutions plus a C-terminal lysine carrying a reactive linker (the 'Drug Affinity Complex', DAC) that couples to serum albumin in vivo
- Status
- Not approved anywhere. Phase 2 in HIV visceral obesity (ConjuChem, NCT00267527) terminated. WADA-prohibited; screened for in doping control.
- PubChem CID: 91971820
- CAS RN: 446262-90-4
- UNII: 62RC32V9N7
Chemistry values: curated profile, PubChem · fetched 2026-10-01.
Clinical development snapshot
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 1 registered study with “CJC-1295” as an intervention (snapshot 2026-09-06). A registry footprint is not evidence of efficacy or approval.
| NCT | Title | Phase | Status | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT00267527 | A Study to Evaluate CJC 1295 in HIV Patients With Visceral Obesity | Phase 2 | terminated | 2006-10-16 |
CJC-1295 — reconstitution calculator
Enter how much peptide is in the vial and how much diluent (e.g. bacteriostatic water) is added. The tool returns the resulting solution concentration — and, for any amount you type, the volume it corresponds to. This is educational arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
Reference form: GHRH(1-29) frame with stabilising substitutions plus a C-terminal lysine carrying a reactive linker (the 'Drug Affinity Complex', DAC) that couples to serum albumin in vivoAverage reference mass: 3,647.2 Da
Enter an amount to see the volume it corresponds to.
Educational concentration mathematics only. This tool does not recommend a dose, amount, or protocol, and nothing here is medical advice. Many peptides are not authorized by Health Canada for human use — see our reconstitution and bacteriostatic-water guides for context.
Change log
Dated observations from the data pipeline (registry flags, trial footprints, identifiers) and editorial reviews of this profile.
- EditorialProfile content reviewed and updated by the editorial team.
FAQ about CJC-1295
What is CJC-1295?+
CJC-1295 (C165H269N47O46, ≈3,647 Da) is a 30-residue analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone(1-29) engineered by ConjuChem to bind serum albumin covalently after injection, extending its action from minutes to days. In healthy adults a single injection raised growth hormone 2- to 10-fold for six days or more and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days, with an estimated half-life of 5.8–8.1 days. It was never approved: a phase 2 trial in HIV-associated visceral obesity was terminated, and it is now an unapproved research peptide prohibited in sport.
What Canadian product status is recorded for CJC-1295?+
Canadian product status for CJC-1295 has not been verified in this profile. No verified record here does not mean no authorization exists. Status depends on the product, formulation and use; consult Health Canada's product records.
What is the typical length of CJC-1295?+
CJC-1295 is commonly described as approximately 30 amino acids (Long-acting GHRH analogue (research compound)).
What is CJC-1295?+
A 30-residue GHRH(1-29) analogue with an albumin-binding linker that sustains growth hormone and IGF-1 release for days after one injection. Developed by ConjuChem; never approved.
What is CJC-1295's half-life?+
An estimated 5.8–8.1 days in healthy adults after subcutaneous injection (Teichman et al., 2006) — for the DAC form.
CJC-1295 with DAC vs without DAC?+
"With DAC" is the albumin-binding conjugate with the multi-day action; "without DAC" is the same modified GHRH(1-29) minus the linker, and the 2006 pharmacokinetics do not apply to it.
Is CJC-1295 approved?+
No. Its phase 2 trial in HIV visceral obesity was terminated and no application followed. It is prohibited in sport.
CJC-1295 vs sermorelin?+
Same 29-residue GHRH frame; CJC-1295 adds stabilising substitutions and an albumin linker that turn minutes of action into days. Neither is currently approved.
Does CJC-1295 work with ipamorelin?+
They act at different receptors (GHRH vs ghrelin), which is the rationale sellers give. No trial in the evidence pack has tested the combination.
What are CJC-1295's side effects?+
The 2006 study reported no serious adverse reactions in healthy adults at 30–60 µg/kg. No long-term or efficacy-trial safety data exist.
Further reading
- ComparisonCJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: Growth Hormone Secretagogue ComparisonAn educational comparison of CJC-1295 (a GHRH analog) and ipamorelin (a selective ghrelin/GHS-R agonist) as research compounds—receptors, selectivity, and framing. Not medical advice.
- ComparisonCJC-1295 vs Sermorelin: Comparing GHRH AnalogsAn educational comparison of CJC-1295 and sermorelin—two GHRH-analog research compounds—covering DAC vs no-DAC design, half-life concepts, and framing. Not medical advice.
- GH secretagoguesTesamorelin vs CJC-1295: Two GHRH Analogs, ComparedTesamorelin and CJC-1295 are both GHRH analogs, but one is an approved medicine and the other a research compound. Compare their design, half-life, and how the literature treats them. Educational only.
- Hormone axisGH Secretagogue Peptides Explained: CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, GHRPsEducational overview of growth hormone secretagogue peptides—GHRH analogs vs GHRPs, DAC vs no DAC, receptors, and research context.
- Not a peptideIs MK-677 (Ibutamoren) a Peptide? No — It Is an Oral Small-Molecule Ghrelin Mimetic. What the Trials ShowedMK-677 (ibutamoren) is sold next to peptides and stacked with them, but it is a small synthetic molecule that activates the ghrelin receptor by mouth. This guide explains what it is, how it differs from GHRH and GHRP peptides, what its clinical trials showed — including the safety signal that stopped one — and its regulatory status.
- SafetyPeptide Safety and Risks: A Balanced Educational OverviewAn objective, balanced overview of what research does and does not establish about peptide risks—unknowns, purity and contamination concerns, and why unapproved compounds carry uncertainty. Not reassurance and not medical advice.
Related peptides
References & further reading
- 1.Teichman et al. (2006). 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. J Clin Endocrinol Metab
- 2.Ionescu et al. (2006). Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. J Clin Endocrinol Metab
- 3.Jetté et al. (2005). 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. Endocrinology
- 4.Sackmann-Sala et al. (2009). 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. Growth Horm IGF Res
- 5.Stanley et al. (2011). Effects of a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog on endogenous GH pulsatility and insulin sensitivity in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab
- 6.Falutz et al. (2007). Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med
- 7.Falutz et al. (2010). Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
- 8.Halmos et al. (2023). Signaling mechanism of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor. Vitam Horm
- 9.Baker et al. (2012). Effects of growth hormone–releasing hormone on cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults: results of a controlled trial. Arch Neurol
- 10.Friedman et al. (2013). Growth hormone-releasing hormone effects on brain γ-aminobutyric acid levels in mild cognitive impairment and healthy aging. JAMA Neurol
- 11.Vittone et al. (1997). Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men. Metabolism
- 12.Merriam et al. (2003). Growth hormone-releasing hormone and growth hormone secretagogues in normal aging. Endocrine
- 13.Memdouh et al. (2021). Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs. Drug Test Anal
- 14.Van Hout MC, Hearne E (2016). Netnography of female use of the synthetic growth hormone CJC-1295: pulses and potions. Substance Use & Misuse
- 15.Coppieters G et al. (2022). Detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
- 16.Tewari K et al. (2026). Peptide supplements and their therapeutic applications in sports medicine. American Journal of Sports Medicine
- 17.Dominikowski A et al. (2026). Performance-enhancing peptides modulating the GH-IGF1 axis. Frontiers in Endocrinology
- 18.PubChem — CJC-1295 (CID 91971820)