CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Long-acting GHRH analog with albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex
- Class
- GHRH analog
- Half-life
- ~6–8 days
- Route
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Cadence
- Weekly
- Evidence
- Mixed / early human
Overview
CJC-1295 with DAC is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) designed to stick around in your system for days instead of minutes. It works by binding to albumin in your blood, which stretches its half-life to about a week — long enough to sustain growth hormone and IGF-1 elevation from a single injection. The idea was to create a once- or twice-weekly GH secretagogue that could replace daily injections or recombinant GH.
It made it to Phase 2 human trials for HIV-associated lipodystrophy in 2006, but development was halted after one participant died of a heart attack two hours after the 11th weekly dose. The trial investigators concluded the death was likely unrelated (underlying coronary disease), but ConjuChem, the developer, shelved the program and the compound never reached approval. Since then it's lived entirely in the research-chemical market — no regulatory oversight, no quality standards, and no long-term human safety data beyond 13 weeks.
The peptide itself — four amino acid substitutions on native GHRH(1-29) plus a lysine-linked maleimide moiety — is real and well-characterised. The Phase 1 data showed dose-dependent GH and IGF-1 increases lasting 6–11 days, and short-term tolerability was decent. But the long half-life is a double-edged sword: you get convenience, but if you have a problem, it takes a week to clear. And crucially, no one knows what happens after 3–6 months of sustained supraphysiologic IGF-1.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- Not approved anywhere. Development was discontinued in 2006 after a Phase 2 trial participant died of myocardial infarction two hours after the 11th weekly dose. Trial investigators attributed it to underlying coronary disease, but the program was shelved.
- No published human trial longer than 13 weeks. The longest safety window is 3 months — everything beyond that is user-generated anecdote, not evidence.
- Long half-life (6–8 days) means adverse effects — injection site reactions, flushing, headache, GI symptoms — can persist for days and are harder to reverse than with short-acting peptides.
+ 3 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching CJC-1295 (with DAC).
- IGF-1 (typically rises 1.5–3× baseline and stays elevated)
- Fasting glucose and HbA1c (GH/IGF-1 can impair insulin sensitivity)
- Lipid panel
- Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, induration, hives)
- Subjective: sleep quality, joint pain, fluid retention, headaches
Frequently asked questions
What is CJC-1295 (with DAC)?
Long-acting GHRH analog with albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex. CJC-1295 with DAC is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) designed to stick around in your system for days instead of minutes. It works by binding to albumin in your blood, which stretches its half-life to about a week — long enough to sustain growth hormone and IGF-1 elevation from a single injection. The idea was to create a once- or twice-weekly GH secretagogue that could replace daily injections or recombinant GH.
How is CJC-1295 (with DAC) administered?
Subcutaneous (SubQ), typically weekly.
What is the half-life of CJC-1295 (with DAC)?
~6–8 days — DAC binds albumin, extending half-life from minutes to nearly a week.
Is CJC-1295 (with DAC) approved for human use?
CJC-1295 (with DAC) is investigational — not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA for human use at the time of writing.
What does the evidence show for CJC-1295 (with DAC)?
Evidence tier: Mixed / early human. Teichman 2006 (JCEM, Phase 1, n=47 healthy adults, 28–49 days): single subcutaneous doses ranged 1–30 μg/kg. At 30 μg/kg, mean GH increased 10-fold and IGF-1 rose 1.5–3-fold above baseline, remaining elevated for 9–11 days. No serious adverse events reported.
What is commonly monitored when researching CJC-1295 (with DAC)?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: IGF-1 (typically rises 1.5–3× baseline and stays elevated), Fasting glucose and HbA1c (GH/IGF-1 can impair insulin sensitivity), Lipid panel, Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, induration, hives), Subjective: sleep quality, joint pain, fluid retention, headaches.
Related compounds
Open this in AIx Core for the full picture
Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.