CJC-1295 with DAC: what it is, what the studies show and where it stands
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone: human GRF(1-29) with four substitutions plus a lysine-maleimide group at the C terminus (the drug affinity complex, DAC) that bonds to albumin in the blood, so one injection keeps acting for days.
At a glance
US Not approved
Canada Not authorized
Group Growth hormone
Sources 13
Checked 10 Oct 2026What is CJC-1295 with DAC?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone: human GRF(1-29) with four substitutions plus a lysine-maleimide group at the C terminus (the drug affinity complex, DAC) that bonds to albumin in the blood, so one injection keeps acting for days. [1]
Other names: CJC-1295, CJC 1295, CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 with drug affinity complex.
How it has been given to people: injection under the skin in the published human trials.
Looking for doses? CJC-1295 with DAC dosage chart and vial math
Is CJC-1295 with DAC approved in the US and Canada?
United States: Not FDA approved; FDA lists CJC-1295 among compounding bulk substances that were placed in category 2 (significant safety risks) and whose nominations were then withdrawn. [8]
Canada: No CJC-1295 product is in Health Canada's Drug Product Database, and Health Canada names CJC-1295 among unauthorized injectable peptide drugs it has seized. [10]
Both were checked on 10 Oct 2026 against the regulators' own product databases.
Which approved products contain CJC-1295 with DAC?
No approved medicine containing CJC-1295 with DAC was found in the US or Canada. Anything sold under this name is not a regulated product, so there is no label to check a dose against.
What human studies of CJC-1295 with DAC exist?
The 8 findings listed here: 2 from randomized human trials, 4 from smaller or observational human studies and 2 from animal or lab work.
After one injection, mean plasma growth hormone rose 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more and mean IGF-I rose 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days, more so at higher doses. [2]
After repeated doses, mean IGF-I stayed above baseline for up to 28 days, and the authors saw signs of a cumulative effect. [2]
One week after a single injection, growth hormone was still released in pulses; the number and size of the pulses were unchanged. [3]
The rise came from a higher floor between pulses: trough growth hormone was 7.5-fold higher. [3]
Mean growth hormone was 46% higher and IGF-I 45% higher one week after the injection, with no significant difference between 60 and 90 mcg/kg. [3]
A serum protein study in 11 healthy young men compared samples from before and one week after an injection. It looked for biomarkers and did not measure any clinical outcome. [4]
In rats, CJC-1295 gave a 4-fold larger growth hormone response over 2 hours than unmodified hGRF(1-29). [1]
In mice lacking GHRH, 2 mcg once daily for 5 weeks gave normal body weight and length; the same dose every 48 or 72 hours did not fully normalise growth. [5]
What are the side effects of CJC-1295 with DAC?
Reported in human studies or on a label:
- In the two healthy-volunteer trials no serious adverse reactions were reported. The abstract does not list the adverse events that did occur. [2]
- The trial authors called it relatively well tolerated, particularly at 30 or 60 mcg/kg. The abstract does not say how the other doses tested were tolerated. [2]
- FDA says it has identified serious adverse events with CJC-1295, including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction. [8]
- FDA says compounded CJC-1295 may trigger immune reactions by some routes and that clinical data are limited. [8]
What is the half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC?
Estimated at 5.8 to 8.1 days in healthy adults after injection under the skin. [2]
How does CJC-1295 with DAC compare with others in its group?
These are the peptides filed under growth hormone. The last column says whether a randomized human trial is on record for each.
| Peptide | US | Canada | Half-life | Randomized human trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipamorelin | Not approved | Not authorized | Terminal half-life of about 2 hours after a 15-minute intravenous infusion in healthy men. No human figure after injection under the skin was found. | Yes |
| CJC-1295 without DAC | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | Not approved | Not authorized | Estimated at 5.8 to 8.1 days in healthy adults after injection under the skin. | Yes |
| Sermorelin | No longer sold | Not authorized | Disappearance half-time of about 4.3 minutes after a 90-minute intravenous infusion in 10 healthy men. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found in the abstracts read. | Yes |
| Tesamorelin | Approved for one use | No longer sold | About 8 minutes in healthy adults after one 1.4 mg dose of Egrifta SV under the skin. Other labels give other figures for other formulations and conditions (see also). | Yes |
| IGF-1 LR3 | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| GHRP-2 | Not approved | Not authorized | About 0.55 hours (33 minutes) for the slower phase after a single dose into a vein in 10 children. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found in the abstracts read. | Yes |
| GHRP-6 | Not approved | Not authorized | After a single dose into a vein in nine healthy men: distribution half-life about 7.6 minutes, elimination half-life about 2.5 hours. No human half-life after injection under the skin was found. | No |
| HGH | Approved, prescription | Authorized, prescription | About 3.8 hours after an injection under the skin in healthy subjects. The label says this long figure reflects slow absorption from the injection site. | Yes |
What could not be found
These were searched for and did not turn up. They are listed so a missing number is not mistaken for a hidden one.
- The full dose list of the two ascending-dose trials [2]: the abstract says four ascending single doses were used but names only 30 and 60 mcg/kg. The full paper sits behind a bot check and was not read.
- The adverse events seen at the higher doses in [2]: not in the abstract.
- Why the Phase 2 trial in HIV-associated visceral obesity (NCT00267527, [6]) was terminated: the registry record gives no reason, names the arms only as low dose and high dose, and has no results.
- Any published human trial measuring body composition, fat, muscle, sleep, recovery or any other clinical outcome. PubMed lists two clinical trial publications for CJC-1295 [2], [3]; both measured hormone levels in healthy adults.
- Any human study longer than 49 days, and any published study in women only, older adults or patients.
- Which form FDA's CJC-1295 entry refers to [8]: the page does not say.
- No approved label anywhere, so no official contraindications, interaction list, missed-dose rule or storage instructions.
CJC-1295 with DAC questions
Is CJC-1295 with DAC approved in the US?
Not FDA approved; FDA lists CJC-1295 among compounding bulk substances that were placed in category 2 (significant safety risks) and whose nominations were then withdrawn.
Is CJC-1295 with DAC authorized in Canada?
No CJC-1295 product is in Health Canada's Drug Product Database, and Health Canada names CJC-1295 among unauthorized injectable peptide drugs it has seized.
What is the half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC?
Estimated at 5.8 to 8.1 days in healthy adults after injection under the skin.
Has CJC-1295 with DAC been tested in a randomized human trial?
Yes. At least one randomized human trial is listed on this page.
Sources
Each one was opened on 10 Oct 2026 and matched to the line it supports.
- Jette L et al. Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog. Endocrinology 2005. PubMed 15817669.
- Teichman SL et al. 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. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006. PubMed 16352683.
- Ionescu M et al. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006. PubMed 17018654.
- Sackmann-Sala L et al. Activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, results in serum protein profile changes in normal adult subjects. Growth Horm IGF Res 2009. PubMed 19386527.
- Alba M et al. Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2006. PubMed 16822960.
- A Study to Evaluate CJC 1295 in HIV Patients With Visceral Obesity clinicaltrials.gov. Trial NCT00267527.
- Memdouh S et al. Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs. Drug Test Anal 2021. PubMed 34665524.
- Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks US Food and Drug Administration 2026-04-22. fda.gov.
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act US Food and Drug Administration 2026-05-14. fda.gov.
- Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you Health Canada 2026-04-09. recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- Unauthorized health products sold online and seized at Rize Fitness may pose serious health risks Health Canada 2025-12-24. recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- Health Canada Drug Product Database: brand name search for CJC (0 records) Health Canada. health-products.canada.ca.
- The Prohibited List (2026 list as shown on the WADA website) World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org.
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CJC-1295 with DAC dosage2 mg vialGrowth hormoneStatus in Canada
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