Educational  ·  Two Variants Covered

CJC-1295 - what the science actually shows

CJC-1295 is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog studied for growth hormone secretion and body composition. Not FDA-approved. Evidence base: some human pharmacokinetic studies; limited efficacy data.

A modified GHRH analog that comes in two chemically distinct variants: CJC-1295 with DAC (extended albumin binding, ~8-day half-life) and CJC-1295 without DAC - also called Mod GRF 1-29 - which mimics natural pulsatile GHRH. One compound, two very different pharmacokinetics. Here is what the evidence shows for each.

29
Amino acids (active)
2 Variants
DAC vs. no-DAC
Not
FDA approved
Scroll
On this page
  1. What CJC-1295 is & the two variants
  2. Mechanism, in plain English
  3. What the evidence shows
  4. FDA status
  5. Common synonyms
  6. Safety and adverse-event landscape
  7. Frequently asked questions
Mechanism
GHRH receptor agonist; stimulates pulsatile GH release. DAC variant extends half-life via albumin binding; no-DAC variant mimics natural GHRH pulse duration.
Evidence Level
Investigational. Phase II human clinical data (Teichman 2006); no FDA approval. Robust preclinical data.
FDA Status
Not approved for any human indication. Subject to July 2026 FDA advisory panel review on peptide compounding.
Landmark Papers
Teichman 2006, J Clin Endocrinol Metab
Class / Type
Modified GHRH(1-29) analog; tetrasubstituted for DPP-IV resistance; DAC variant adds maleimidoproprionic acid for albumin binding
Last Reviewed
August 9, 2026

What CJC-1295 is - and the two variants

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone) - the hypothalamic signal that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. It was developed by ConjuChem, a Canadian biotech, using a "Drug Affinity Complex" (DAC) technology to extend the half-life of the native GHRH(1-29) fragment beyond its natural ~7-minute clearance.

Understanding the two variants is essential before reading any literature on this compound:

CJC-1295 with DAC (the original ConjuChem compound)

This is the compound that was actually studied in clinical trials. The DAC modification adds a reactive linker that covalently binds serum albumin after injection, creating a depot effect. Published half-life: approximately 6-8 days. This creates a sustained, non-pulsatile GH elevation pattern that differs from the body's natural rhythm.

CJC-1295 without DAC - also called Mod GRF 1-29

This is a modified GHRH(1-29) fragment with four amino acid substitutions to resist degradation by the enzyme DPP-IV, but without the albumin-binding linker. Its half-life is approximately 30 minutes - much closer to the natural GHRH pulse window. This is what most community discussions about "pulsatile" CJC-1295 use refer to, though the names are frequently confused. The names "CJC-1295 no-DAC" and "Mod GRF 1-29" refer to the same compound.

The compound that was actually studied in ConjuChem's clinical trials is the DAC version. Community discussions frequently conflate the two variants. Reading the original Teichman (2006) paper makes the distinction clear.

Peptexa editorial note

Mechanism, in plain English

GHRH is the hypothalamic signal that binds GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotroph cells, triggering a pulse of growth hormone release. CJC-1295 mimics this signal with greater DPP-IV resistance (the enzyme that normally degrades natural GHRH within minutes), allowing it to signal for a longer period before degradation.

The DAC variant extends this further by albumin binding, creating essentially a long-acting GHRH reservoir in circulation. Downstream, elevated GH stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1, which mediates many of the anabolic, recovery, and body composition effects associated with GH axis activity.

GHRH-R
Pituitary GHRH receptor agonism - GH pulse initiation
DPP-IV
Resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase IV - extended receptor signal duration
Albumin
DAC variant: covalent albumin binding extends half-life to ~8 days
IGF-1
Liver IGF-1 synthesis - primary downstream mediator of GH effects

Want all the GH secretagogues in one reference?

The Peptexa Muscle Recovery & Healing guide covers CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin, MK-677, and every related compound - mechanism, evidence, and FDA status.

Get the Guide →

What the evidence shows

The pivotal human reference is Teichman et al. (2006) in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. In a Phase II trial of healthy adults, CJC-1295 DAC produced dose-dependent, sustained IGF-1 elevation that persisted for 6-9 days per injection. GH elevations were also observed. The compound was generally well tolerated with flushing, nausea, and injection site reactions as the primary adverse events.

The Mod GRF 1-29 (no-DAC) variant is less formally studied in humans. Its design logic rests on preclinical pharmacokinetic data and the reasoning that pulse-matched GHRH stimulation is more physiological than sustained elevation. This theoretical framing has not been definitively tested against the DAC variant in a published head-to-head human trial.

No large randomized controlled trial for body composition, athletic recovery, or longevity has been published for either variant.

FDA status

CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any human indication. ConjuChem's clinical program was not advanced to a New Drug Application. Both the DAC and no-DAC variants were subject to the July 2026 FDA advisory panel review on peptide compounding access. Last reviewed 2026-08-09.

Common synonyms researchers use

CJC-1295 with DAC: CJC-1295, DAC:GRF, ConjuChem CJC-1295.
CJC-1295 without DAC: Mod GRF 1-29, Modified GRF(1-29), tetrasubstituted GRF 1-29, CJC-1295 no-DAC. Note: community discussions frequently use "CJC-1295" to refer to the no-DAC version, which is technically incorrect.

Safety & adverse-event landscape

In the Teichman (2006) Phase II trial, the most common adverse events were transient flushing, nausea, dizziness, and injection site reactions. Headache and water retention were also reported. No serious adverse events led to trial discontinuation at studied doses. Long-term safety data in humans has not been published.

The theoretical safety considerations for CJC-1295 mirror those of all GH secretagogues: potential effects on insulin sensitivity, fluid retention, and the unresolved question of whether sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation influences undetected neoplasm growth. Peptexa does not provide dosing guidance. Consult a qualified healthcare provider.

Frequently asked questions

CJC-1295 with DAC binds serum albumin via a reactive linker, creating a half-life of approximately 8 days. CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) lacks this modification and has a half-life of approximately 30 minutes, designed to approximate the natural GHRH pulse window. They are chemically related but pharmacokinetically very different.
No. CJC-1295 reached Phase II clinical trials but was not advanced to an approved drug application by ConjuChem or any successor program.
CJC-1295 acts at the GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin acts at the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a). They operate via distinct receptor pathways that are physiologically complementary - GHRH and ghrelin both modulate GH release but through different mechanisms. This is why they are often discussed in combination in the research literature. See our Ipamorelin article.
No. Peptexa is an educational resource only. We do not sell or recommend any peptide product.
The Teichman (2006) JCEM publication used the DAC variant - CJC-1295 with the albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex. The no-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) variant has not been published in an equivalent human Phase II trial.

Related on Peptexa

Ipamorelin - selective GHRP explained Sermorelin - the original GHRH analog Take the peptide education quiz Peptexa home - all peptide references

Want this in your inbox weekly?

Get the Peptexa Top-5 free - five compounds, mechanism-led. One email a week. No spam.

The full Muscle Recovery & Healing reference

31 compounds. Mechanism, evidence level, and FDA status for every one.

Get the Muscle Recovery & Healing Guide →