CJC-1295 (No DAC)

CJC-1295 without DAC (also called modified GRF 1-29 / mod-GRF 1-29) is a synthetic analogue of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), with four amino-acid substitutions that increase resistance to enzymatic degradation. It acts as an agonist at the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotroph cells, activating adenylate cyclase and raising intracellular cAMP, which stimulates synthesis and pulsatile release of growth hormone (GH). Unlike the DAC version, it lacks the drug-affinity-complex (maleimide) group that binds serum albumin, so it has a short half-life (reported around 30 minutes) and produces a brief, pulse-like GH stimulus rather than the multi-day sustained elevation seen with the DAC form.

Human evidence

Limited human data. The most-cited Phase 1 work (Teichman et al., JCEM 2006; n=21 healthy adults) studied the long-acting DAC form of CJC-1295 and reported dose-dependent GH increases (2-10x) and IGF-1 increases (1.5-3x) lasting many days, with a multi-day half-life (5.8-8.1 days) - findings that characterize the DAC analogue, not the short-acting no-DAC (mod-GRF 1-29) form. There are no large or long-term controlled clinical trials, and essentially no published human trial data specific to the no-DAC form; most no-DAC use evidence is preclinical or anecdotal.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved for any indication and has no approved drug product anywhere; the only FDA-approved GHRH analogue is tesamorelin (Egrifta / Egrifta SV / Egrifta WR), approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. CJC-1295 was placed in Category 2 of the FDA interim 503A bulk-substances list (significant safety concerns). After the original nomination was withdrawn it was removed from Category 2 effective September 27, 2024, but this was a procedural reset, not a clearance: the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) then reviewed CJC-1295 on December 4, 2024 and voted AGAINST adding it to the 503A bulks list, with FDA citing immunogenicity/aggregation risk, peptide-related impurities, and cardiac (heart-related) adverse reports. CJC-1295 is now identified by FDA among bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks and is not compoundable. CJC-1295 is NOT among the peptides removed from Category 2 in the April 2026 HHS/FDA action and is NOT on the July 23-24, 2026 PCAC agenda (that meeting covers BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-C, DSIP, Semax, and Epitalon); any future change for any peptide would still require notice-and-comment rulemaking. Marketed and sold as a "research chemical," not for human use.

• —Studied as a growth hormone secretagogue to characterize stimulated GH and IGF-1 secretion and pituitary GHRH-receptor pharmacology in research models.
• —Investigated for its ability to preserve pulsatile GH release (increasing pulse amplitude and trough levels) in contrast to exogenous recombinant GH, used as a research tool for GH-axis physiology.
• —Frequently combined with the GH-secretagogue ipamorelin in research protocols to study additive GH release via complementary GHRH and ghrelin-receptor pathways.
• —Examined in proteomic/biomarker research as a way to activate the GH/IGF-1 axis and observe downstream serum protein changes.

• ⚠Because it raises GH and downstream IGF-1, the GH/IGF-1 axis has been epidemiologically associated with cancer incidence and progression (e.g., elevated cancer risk in acromegaly, where chronic IGF-1 excess correlates with malignancy), giving rise to a theoretical proliferation/cancer-risk concern; this is a mechanistic flag, not a demonstrated outcome for this peptide.
• ⚠FDA's December 2024 PCAC review of CJC-1295 specifically flagged potential immunogenicity (peptide aggregation when formulated for subcutaneous injection), peptide-related impurities, and cardiac (heart-related) adverse reports as safety concerns; the committee voted against 503A compounding inclusion on that basis.
• ⚠Long-term safety in humans has not been established; published clinical exposure is short (Phase 1) and the main human pharmacokinetic/safety data (Teichman et al., JCEM 2006) involved the long-acting CJC-1295 DAC form rather than chronic use of the short-acting no-DAC version.
• ⚠GHRH-analog GH stimulation can be associated with class effects reported for GH secretagogues, such as injection-site reactions, water retention/edema, joint discomfort, and changes in insulin sensitivity/glucose; these are class-level considerations rather than no-DAC-specific trial findings.
• ⚠Material sold for research is unregulated, so identity, purity, sterility, and dose of products marketed as CJC-1295 / mod-GRF 1-29 are not quality-assured; the FDA has classified CJC-1295 among bulk substances that may present significant safety risks.