Is CJC-1295 approved or legal?

CJC-1295 is not approved by the FDA for any human therapeutic use and is sold only as a research compound. Its regulatory status in the US has been in flux around FDA compounding reviews, and it is not a controlled substance, but it is not a permitted medicine for general use. It is also prohibited in competitive sport by WADA. Consult a qualified clinician before considering it.

What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29)?

The with-DAC version contains a linker that binds blood albumin, giving it a half-life of roughly 5.8-8.1 days and producing sustained, multi-day GH and IGF-1 elevation. The without-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) lacks that linker, clears in about 30 minutes to 2 hours, and produces a short, more natural GH pulse. They are the same core peptide with very different pharmacokinetics.

What is the half-life and how often is CJC-1295 used?

Without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) the half-life is about 30 minutes to 2 hours, so anecdotal protocols use it multiple times per day. With DAC the half-life is about 5.8-8.1 days, so it is used far less frequently. Note that frequency figures from the community are anecdotal and not clinical dosing guidance.

Does CJC-1295 actually work?

Phase 1 human data on the with-DAC form clearly show it raises GH (2-10 fold) and IGF-1 (1.5-3 fold). However, those trials measured hormones, not real-world outcomes like fat loss or recovery, and the commonly sold without-DAC form has little direct human trial evidence. Benefits beyond raising GH/IGF-1 are mostly anecdotal.

Why is CJC-1295 often combined with ipamorelin?

CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH receptor while ipamorelin acts on the ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor. Stimulating both pathways together is reported to produce a larger combined GH pulse than either alone. This rationale is mechanistically plausible but the combination is used anecdotally, not as an approved therapy.

Hormonal

CJC-1295

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

A synthetic GHRH analog studied for stimulating growth hormone and IGF-1 release; not approved for human use.

Last updated July 11, 2026

Reconstitute this peptide Buy CJC-1295

Overview

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) built from the first 29 amino acids of human GHRH (the sequence often called Mod GRF 1-29). Substitutions to the peptide backbone improve resistance to enzymatic breakdown, allowing it to bind GHRH receptors on the pituitary and prompt release of the body's own growth hormone (GH) rather than supplying GH directly. The name covers two distinct formulations. The original CJC-1295 "with DAC" (Drug Affinity Complex) adds a linker that binds circulating albumin, dramatically extending its half-life and producing a sustained, multi-day rise in GH and IGF-1. The version sold as "CJC-1295 without DAC" or "Mod GRF 1-29" lacks this linker, clears within hours, and produces a short, pulse-like GH release closer to natural physiology. Most published human data come from a single Phase 1 program on the DAC version (Teichman et al., 2006). The no-DAC form has little direct human trial evidence and is used primarily as a research compound, frequently paired with a ghrelin-receptor agonist such as ipamorelin in anecdotal protocols. CJC-1295 is not approved by the FDA for human use and is prohibited in sport by WADA.

How it works

CJC-1295 binds GHRH receptors on somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, activating adenylate cyclase and raising intracellular cAMP, which stimulates synthesis and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone. The downstream GH rise increases hepatic production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The with-DAC variant uses a maleimido linker that bonds covalently to serum albumin, greatly prolonging circulation and producing continuous receptor stimulation and a multi-day IGF-1 elevation. The without-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) variant has no albumin binding, so it clears quickly and produces a brief GH pulse, leaving the negative-feedback and somatostatin systems comparatively intact.

Researched effects

Clinical Raises mean plasma growth hormone 2- to 10-fold after a single dose (with-DAC form, healthy adults)
Clinical Increases plasma IGF-1 roughly 1.5- to 3-fold for several days (with-DAC form)
Anecdotal Preserves pulsatile, more physiologic GH release when used without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29)
Anecdotal Synergistic GH pulse when combined with a ghrelin agonist such as ipamorelin
Anecdotal Improved recovery, sleep quality, body composition and skin/connective-tissue feel
Anecdotal Reduced fat and increased lean mass over multi-week use

Evidence levels: Clinical (human trials) · Preclinical (animal/lab) · Anecdotal (community-reported).

Dosing reference

For research reference only — not a recommendation.

Clinical / studied dosing

Human dosing exists only from Phase 1 research on the with-DAC form. Teichman et al. (2006) gave single subcutaneous doses of 1-30 mcg/kg, and repeat weekly or biweekly doses, in healthy adults; doses of 30 and 60 mcg/kg were described as safe and relatively well tolerated. There is no established clinical dosing for the without-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) form in humans, and CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any therapeutic use.

Community-reported dosing (anecdotal)

Anecdotal and research-reference-only; not medical advice. Community guides and forum users (including r/Peptides discussions) commonly report the no-DAC/Mod GRF 1-29 form at roughly 100 mcg subcutaneously, taken 1-3 times daily on an empty stomach, with ~100 mcg cited as a practical saturation dose where higher amounts add little extra GH release. It is frequently paired 1:1 with ipamorelin (e.g. 100 mcg + 100 mcg) per injection, timed before bed and/or post-workout. The with-DAC form is anecdotally dosed far less often (e.g. once or twice weekly) due to its multi-day half-life. These figures are user-reported, vary widely, and are presented only as research context, not as instructions for human use.

Half-life: Without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29): ~30 minutes to 2 hours. With DAC: ~5.8-8.1 days.
Routes: subcutaneous, intramuscular

Safety & side effects

In the Phase 1 with-DAC trials no serious adverse reactions were reported; common effects were injection-site reactions (redness, swelling, itching), transient flushing or warmth, headache, and occasional diarrhea, generally mild and self-limiting. As a GH secretagogue, plausible class-related concerns with sustained or high GH/IGF-1 elevation include water retention, joint aches, tingling/numbness (carpal-tunnel-like symptoms), and reduced insulin sensitivity or higher blood glucose. The sustained tonic stimulation of the with-DAC form raises more concern about chronic IGF-1 elevation than the short-acting no-DAC form. Long-term human safety data are lacking. Product purity and accurate dosing from unregulated sources are not guaranteed. CJC-1295 is not approved for human consumption, is sold for research use only, and is banned in competitive sport by WADA. People should consult a qualified clinician before considering any GH-axis intervention.

Research summary

The strongest evidence for CJC-1295 is the 2006 Teichman et al. Phase 1 program in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, which studied the long-acting with-DAC form in healthy adults. Single subcutaneous doses (1-30 mcg/kg) produced dose-dependent mean GH increases of 2- to 10-fold lasting six or more days and IGF-1 increases of about 1.5- to 3-fold lasting 9-11 days, with repeat dosing keeping IGF-1 above baseline up to 28 days. The estimated half-life of the with-DAC molecule was 5.8-8.1 days, and it was judged safe and relatively well tolerated. This demonstrates the compound can durably stimulate the GH/IGF-1 axis, but the trials measured hormone levels, not clinical outcomes such as fat loss, muscle gain, or recovery. Evidence for the without-DAC / Mod GRF 1-29 form, which is what most people actually buy, is much thinner and largely mechanistic or extrapolated; it is expected to produce brief GH pulses rather than sustained elevation, but lacks comparable published human efficacy or safety trials. Claims about body composition, recovery, sleep, and skin are predominantly anecdotal and community-reported. Overall, CJC-1295 has a plausible, partly validated mechanism and short-term human pharmacology data for one formulation, but no large or long-term outcome trials, no FDA approval for human use, and a WADA prohibition. It should be regarded as an investigational research compound, and any reported benefits beyond raising GH/IGF-1 should be treated cautiously and as low-quality evidence.

FAQ

Is CJC-1295 approved or legal?: CJC-1295 is not approved by the FDA for any human therapeutic use and is sold only as a research compound. Its regulatory status in the US has been in flux around FDA compounding reviews, and it is not a controlled substance, but it is not a permitted medicine for general use. It is also prohibited in competitive sport by WADA. Consult a qualified clinician before considering it.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29)?: The with-DAC version contains a linker that binds blood albumin, giving it a half-life of roughly 5.8-8.1 days and producing sustained, multi-day GH and IGF-1 elevation. The without-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) lacks that linker, clears in about 30 minutes to 2 hours, and produces a short, more natural GH pulse. They are the same core peptide with very different pharmacokinetics.
What is the half-life and how often is CJC-1295 used?: Without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) the half-life is about 30 minutes to 2 hours, so anecdotal protocols use it multiple times per day. With DAC the half-life is about 5.8-8.1 days, so it is used far less frequently. Note that frequency figures from the community are anecdotal and not clinical dosing guidance.
Does CJC-1295 actually work?: Phase 1 human data on the with-DAC form clearly show it raises GH (2-10 fold) and IGF-1 (1.5-3 fold). However, those trials measured hormones, not real-world outcomes like fat loss or recovery, and the commonly sold without-DAC form has little direct human trial evidence. Benefits beyond raising GH/IGF-1 are mostly anecdotal.
Why is CJC-1295 often combined with ipamorelin?: CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH receptor while ipamorelin acts on the ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor. Stimulating both pathways together is reported to produce a larger combined GH pulse than either alone. This rationale is mechanistically plausible but the combination is used anecdotally, not as an approved therapy.

References

All content is for research and educational use only and is not medical advice. Products are sold for laboratory research only and are not for human consumption.