CJC-1295 DAC
Also known as: Modified GRF 1-29 DAC, Drug Affinity Complex CJC
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Key Facts: CJC-1295 DAC
- Category
- Growth Hormone
- FDA Status
- Not FDA Approved
- Clinical Status
- Investigational - Research compound
- Administration
- Subcutaneous injection
- Typical Dose
- Limited community data available
- Frequency
- See research protocols
- Duration
- 8-12 weeks typical
Mechanism of Action
GHRH is the natural signal your hypothalamus sends to the pituitary to release growth hormone in pulses. CJC-1295 binds and activates the same GHRH receptor on the pituitary, prompting it to make and release more of its own growth hormone, which then raises IGF-1 from the liver. The four amino acid substitutions make it resist breakdown by the enzyme DPP-IV, and the DAC linker covalently bonds it to circulating albumin so it is not cleared quickly. Because it amplifies the body's own pulsatile signaling rather than injecting growth hormone directly, the effect is a sustained elevation rather than a single spike.
Research Summary
The core human evidence is a single early-phase study, Teichman and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2006, in healthy adults. A single subcutaneous dose raised GH roughly 2 to 10 fold and IGF-1 about 1.5 to 3 fold, with GH staying up for 6 days or more and IGF-1 elevated for 9 to 11 days, and repeated dosing kept IGF-1 above baseline for up to 28 days. The estimated half-life was about 5.8 to 8.1 days and no serious adverse reactions were reported in that short trial. Beyond that, the data is mostly animal work, such as a study showing once-daily CJC-1295 normalized growth in GHRH knockout mice. Importantly, clinical development by the original sponsor (ConjuChem) was stopped, and a related long-acting analog program saw a Phase II lipodystrophy study halted after a participant death, although the attending physician attributed that death to pre-existing coronary disease rather than the drug. So the honest read is: short-term pharmacology in humans is documented, but there are no long-term safety or efficacy trials, no approval, and real questions about chronically elevating IGF-1.
Dosing Information
Typical Dosingⓘ
Community experience
Limited community data available
See research dosing
See research protocols
Research Dosingⓘ
Scientific studies
Doses from research protocols
Doses from Studies
1-2 mg weekly
Some use twice weekly
Duration
8-12 weeks typical
Administration
Subcutaneous injection
Timing & Administration
Best Time to Take
Before bed or morning (fasted)
Follow specific peptide protocol
Food Recommendation
Take on empty stomach
Why This Timing?
GH-related peptides work best on an empty stomach to maximize growth hormone release.
Possible Side Effects
Not everyone experiences these effects. Individual responses vary based on dosage, duration, and personal factors.
- ●Generally well-tolerated
- ●Injection site reactions
- ●Facial flushing
- ●Water retention
- ●Headache
- ●Side effects persist longer due to 8-day half-life
- ●May trigger histamine release - use caution with MCAS or histamine sensitivity
- ●Clinical trial discontinued
References
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/91/3/799/2843281
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/
- https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00201.2006
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CJC-1295
- https://www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-2006/lipodystrophy-study-halted-after-patient-death
Research This Peptide Further
Buy in shop
CJC-1295 DAC from $86/kit
4 verified vendors, ≥99% purity, COAs included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CJC-1295 DAC do?
CJC-1295 DAC is a synthetic, long-acting analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), built from a modified GRF(1-29) sequence with four amino acid swaps plus a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) that lets it latch onto your own albumin after injection. That albumin trick stretches its half-life from minutes to roughly 6 to 8 days, so a single shot keeps nudging growth hormone and IGF-1 up for over a week. It is not FDA approved for any use; it was an investigational drug whose company development was halted, and today it circulates only as a research-grade or gray-market peptide.
How does CJC-1295 DAC work?
GHRH is the natural signal your hypothalamus sends to the pituitary to release growth hormone in pulses. CJC-1295 binds and activates the same GHRH receptor on the pituitary, prompting it to make and release more of its own growth hormone, which then raises IGF-1 from the liver. The four amino acid substitutions make it resist breakdown by the enzyme DPP-IV, and the DAC linker covalently bonds it to circulating albumin so it is not cleared quickly. Because it amplifies the body's own pulsatile signaling rather than injecting growth hormone directly, the effect is a sustained elevation rather than a single spike.
Is CJC-1295 DAC FDA approved?
No, CJC-1295 DAC is not currently FDA approved. Current status: Investigational - Research compound
What are the side effects of CJC-1295 DAC?
Reported side effects include: Generally well-tolerated, Injection site reactions, Facial flushing, Water retention, Headache. Individual responses vary based on dosage, duration, and personal health factors.
What is the typical dose of CJC-1295 DAC?
Community-reported common dose: Limited community data available (See research protocols). Range: See research dosing. Administration: Subcutaneous injection. Community-reported doses. Not medical advice. Consult healthcare provider.
Related Peptides
Peptides commonly compared with CJC-1295 DAC or used in similar applications.
Ipamorelin
Clinical TrialsIpamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue developed by Novo Nordisk and derived from GHRP-1. It is researched mainly for stimulating the body's own growth hormone (GH) release, and was studied in humans primarily for postoperative ileus and gut motility rather than anti-aging. It is not an approved drug anywhere: it reached Phase II trials, was discontinued for insufficient efficacy, and is now sold only as a research chemical.
Growth HormoneMK-677
Clinical TrialsMK-677 (ibutamoren) is not actually a peptide, it is a small, orally active non-peptide molecule that mimics ghrelin, your hunger and growth-hormone hormone. Taken as a daily pill, it reliably pushes up growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, which is why it is popular for muscle and recovery. It has been through real human trials but was never approved as a drug, and the trials that mattered most for older adults and Alzheimer's came up short.
Growth HormoneCJC-1295 (No DAC)
Clinical TrialsCJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), specifically a modified GHRH(1-29), engineered for a long duration of action. The form most people mean by CJC-1295 includes a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) that binds blood albumin to extend its half-life to roughly 6 to 8 days, raising GH and IGF-I for days from a single injection. It was developed by ConjuChem, reached Phase II trials and was abandoned; it is not an approved drug and is sold only as a research chemical. A version without DAC (Modified GRF 1-29) acts for only about 30 minutes.
Growth HormoneTesamorelin
FDATesamorelin is a stabilized analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-44) with a chemical modification that protects it from rapid breakdown. It is FDA-approved (brand name Egrifta) to reduce excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, which makes it one of the few growth-hormone-axis peptides with a real approval behind it. Its evidence base is solid for that specific population and thinner for the general anti-aging and fat-loss uses it gets promoted for online.
Growth HormoneGHRP-6
Clinical TrialsGHRP-6 is a synthetic six-amino-acid peptide (His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that tricks the body into releasing its own growth hormone. It was one of the first growth hormone secretagogues ever made, and the hunt to find out why it worked led scientists straight to the discovery of ghrelin. It has no approval as a drug anywhere and is used only as a research compound.
Growth HormoneGHRP-2
Clinical TrialsGHRP-2 (generic name pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue and a second-generation cousin of GHRP-6. It prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone and is the one peptide in this family with an actual regulatory approval: it is licensed in Japan as a diagnostic agent for growth hormone deficiency. Outside that narrow diagnostic use it has no approval and is sold elsewhere only as a research compound.
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