Summary
CJC-1295 with DAC is a modified GHRH analog that attaches itself to albumin in the blood, extending its half-life to about six to eight days. In healthy adults, a single injection raised GH levels for six days or more and IGF-1 levels for up to two weeks.
Structure
GRF(1-29) with four substitutions (D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27) plus a lysine carrying a maleimidopropionic acid group that binds covalently to circulating albumin.
How it works
The Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) forms a covalent bond with albumin after injection, protecting the peptide from enzymatic breakdown and kidney clearance. It stimulates the GHRH receptor continuously, yet a follow-up study found GH secretion stayed pulsatile.
Research use cases
Areas where CJC-1295 (with DAC) has been studied. Inclusion here does not mean it works for that purpose.
- Long-acting stimulation of the GH axis
- GH deficiency (early clinical development)
- HIV-associated lipodystrophy (development halted)
What the research found
Pharmacokinetics in healthy adults
Single doses raised mean GH concentrations 2- to 10-fold for six days or more and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days. The estimated half-life was 5.8 to 8.1 days.1
Pulsatility preserved
Frequent sampling showed that GH pulses continued during CJC-1295 exposure, with higher trough levels between pulses.2
Albumin bioconjugate design
Preclinical work in rats identified CJC-1295 as the GRF-albumin bioconjugate with the longest-lasting activity.3
Safety and open questions
In early trials, injection-site reactions, flushing, headache and transient water retention were reported. Clinical development was stopped, so long-term human safety is unknown.
Regulatory status
Not approved. Clinical development by ConjuChem was discontinued in the 2000s. Named in the February 2026 HHS compounding announcement.
Status was accurate when this page was last reviewed on October 26, 2026. Regulations change; check with the relevant authority before relying on it.
CJC-1295 (with DAC): common questions
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with and without DAC?
With DAC, the peptide binds albumin and lasts about a week. Without DAC (also sold as Modified GRF 1-29), it has the same four amino acid substitutions but lasts about 30 minutes. They behave very differently, so labelling matters.
Is CJC-1295 (with DAC) approved for human use?
Not approved. Clinical development by ConjuChem was discontinued in the 2000s. Named in the February 2026 HHS compounding announcement.
References
- Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, et al. (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. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
- Ionescu M, Frohman LA. (2006). Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
- Jetté L, Léger R, Thibaudeau K, et al. (2005). 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.
Links open a PubMed search for the exact title, or the original source where one is given.