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CJC-1295

Human RCT Peptideshormonal Last reviewed 2026-09-24

Summary

CJC-1295 is a long-acting GHRH analog that produced 2- to 10-fold rises in growth hormone and 1.5- to 3-fold rises in IGF-1 for over a week from a single dose in small healthy-adult trials. There are no published trials testing body-composition, performance, or health outcomes, and development was discontinued.

Mechanism

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) modified at four amino-acid positions for resistance to enzymatic breakdown. The 'with DAC' (drug affinity complex) form binds covalently to serum albumin after injection, extending its half-life to roughly 6-8 days. It activates GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs, increasing both pulsatile and trough growth hormone secretion, which in turn raises hepatic IGF-1 production.

Reported effects

Ratings are relative to peers in the same category, not absolute claims.

GH / IGF-1 elevation★★★★☆2- to 10-fold GH and 1.5- to 3-fold IGF-1 rises in small healthy-adult trials.
Body composition / performance★☆☆☆☆No published trials test these outcomes; hormone movement is not proof of benefit.
GH pulsatility preservation★★☆☆☆One study found GH pulses preserved with increased trough secretion during stimulation.

Studied dosing — research context

Published trials studied single subcutaneous doses of 30-90 mcg/kg and repeated weekly dosing in healthy adults, with GH effects persisting 6+ days and IGF-1 elevation for 9-11 days after a single dose. No trial studied body-composition or performance outcomes. This describes research protocols, not guidance.

Research context only. This is not a recommendation.

Safety

In the small published trials, no serious adverse events were reported. The most common events were injection-site reactions (pain, swelling, induration, sometimes local urticaria); transient dizziness and hypotension occurred in two subjects at the highest single dose. There are no long-term safety studies, and chronic GH-axis stimulation carries theoretical metabolic and neoplastic concerns that were never evaluated.

Limitations

The human data are small phase 1/2 trials measuring hormone levels, not clinical outcomes. There is no evidence that CJC-1295 changes body composition, strength, or any health outcome. Development was discontinued and it was never approved; 'with DAC' and 'without DAC' (modified GRF 1-29) are different compounds often conflated in discussion.

References

  1. Teichman SL et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab (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
  2. Ionescu M, Frohman LA, J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2006) — Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295