CJC-1295 is one of the most-discussed growth-hormone-peptide compounds, and also
one where a single naming distinction — "with DAC" versus "without DAC" — causes
most of the confusion. This monograph clears that up.
Chemical identity & structure.
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), based
on a modified version of the first 29 amino acids of GHRH ("modified GRF 1-29").
The critical distinction:
binds covalently to albumin in the bloodstream, dramatically extending the
half-life to a matter of days.
1-29" — lacks that group and has a very short half-life, on the order of
minutes.
These are pharmacologically very different compounds despite the shared name.
Mechanism of action.
Both forms are GHRH-receptor agonists: they act on the pituitary to stimulate
growth hormone release, the same pathway natural GHRH uses. Because they act
upstream — prompting the pituitary's own pulsatile release — their effect remains
subject to the body's regulatory feedback (including somatostatin). The DAC
versus non-DAC difference is almost entirely about duration of action, not
mechanism.
Key research findings.
Early clinical research on CJC-1295 with DAC documented sustained elevations in
GH and IGF-1 levels after administration. The literature is limited and mostly
from the compound's early development period; there is no large modern outcome-
trial program.
The research / citation base.
CJC-1295 is not an approved drug. Its evidence base is early clinical
pharmacology and preclinical research. It is reasonably well-characterized as to
how it raises GH/IGF-1, but not supported by large efficacy trials for any
specific health outcome.
In the two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, ascending-dose trials by Teichman et al. (2006) in healthy subjects aged 21-61 yr, CJC-1295 or placebo was administered subcutaneously in one of four ascending single doses in the first study and in two or three weekly or biweekly doses in the second study, over trial durations of 28 and 49 d (PubMed). The trial authors reported an estimated half-life of 5.8-8.1 d and described CJC-1295 as safe and relatively well tolerated, particularly at doses of 30 or 60 microg/kg (PubMed).
Quality & sourcing notes.
The single most important COA question for CJC-1295 is **which form the vial
contains** — with-DAC and without-DAC have different masses, and the COA's mass-
spectrometry result should match the form claimed on the label. Mislabeling
between the two forms is a known market problem.
*Research-use note: Educational summary of published research. CJC-1295 is not an
approved drug; this is research context only and not medical advice.*
