Evidence current through August 2026

CJC-1295 without DAC

[D-Ala²,Gln⁸,Ala¹⁵,Leu²⁷]-hGRF(1-29)-NH₂

CJC-1295 without DAC is a common name for a synthetic 29-amino-acid analogue of the active N-terminal portion of human growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH). The most precise description is [D-Ala²,Gln⁸,Ala¹⁵,Leu²⁷]-hGRF(1-29)-NH₂. The same intended sequence is frequently called Modified GRF (1-29) or Mod GRF 1-29.

Those names are useful, but they carry an important historical complication. In the original ConjuChem development program, the name CJC-1295 referred to a longer, albumin-binding derivative that added a maleimide-bearing lysine to the 29-residue core. The added group—the Drug Affinity Complex, or DAC—was designed to form a covalent bond with circulating albumin and substantially extend exposure.

Research areas

Research question
Molecular identity
GHRH-pathway activity
Disposition
Human pharmacokinetics
Human GH or IGF-1 response
Body composition, metabolism, sleep, recovery, cognition, or performance
Human safety
Product identity and quality

Evidence at a glance

What the current record supports

Research question: What the identified evidence supports

Molecular identity: FDA, patent, and analytical sources converge on a tetrasubstituted, amidated 29-mer

GHRH-pathway activity: Patent experiments reported growth-hormone release in rat pituitary cells and an acute rat study

Disposition: Patent assay did not detect the non-DAC core after 60 minutes in rats; a later analytical method detected intact peptide through eight hours

Qualification

Limitations and evidence gaps

Limitations and contradictory findings

The exact non-DAC molecule has limited direct evidence: analytical identification and rat-system activity do not establish human pharmacokinetics, endocrine effects, clinical outcomes, or efficacy. Evidence from CJC-1295 with DAC is excluded because albumin binding materially changes exposure, and products labeled only “CJC-1295” may not establish which form was tested.

No controlled human outcome research or direct controlled evidence for combinations with ipamorelin was identified. Free-base versus acetate characterization, independent product-identity testing, and quantitative preclinical pharmacokinetics remain unresolved.

Safety and evidence gaps

The lack of a human adverse-event dataset prevents reliable estimates of frequency or severity. It also makes two opposite errors possible: assuming the molecule is safe because few events have been reported, or presenting class-based hazards as though they were observed event rates for this exact peptide.

FDA’s 2024 review discussed plausible concerns associated with growth-hormone and IGF-1 elevation, including glucose intolerance, fluid retention, intracranial hypertension, endocrine interactions, and neoplasm-related questions. For the non-DAC form, these remain mechanism- and class-based cautions rather than measured clinical incidence.

Research path

Connected research articles

Overview

CJC-1295 Without DAC Research Overview

Read overview

Full review

CJC-1295 Without DAC: Full Evidence Review

Looking for the shorter version? Start with the CJC-1295 Without DAC Research Overview.

Read evidence review

Study map

Connected study records

Direct non-DAC evidenceSee approved evidence mapCompleted

Long lasting growth hormone releasing factor derivatives

CJC-STUDY-P001

Bridon DP, Boudjellab N, Léger R, Robitaille M, Jetté L, Benquet C. Long lasting growth hormone releasing factor derivatives. US20030073630A1; US7268113B2. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20030073630A1/en

View study

Direct non-DAC evidenceSee approved evidence mapCompleted

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

CJC-STUDY-P002

Knoop A, Thomas A, Fichant E, Delahaut P, Schänzer W, Thevis M. Qualitative identification of growth hormone-releasing hormones in human plasma by means of immunoaffinity purification and LC-HRMS/MS. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 2016;

View study

Direct non-DAC evidenceSee approved evidence mapCompleted

Drug Testing and Analysis

CJC-STUDY-P003

Henninge J, Pepaj M, Hullstein I, Hemmersbach P. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2010;2:647–650. DOI: 10.1002/dta.233. PMID: 21204297. https://p

View study

Source ledger

References

P001Direct non-DAC evidence

Long lasting growth hormone releasing factor derivatives

Bridon DP, Boudjellab N, Léger R, Robitaille M, Jetté L, Benquet C. Bridon DP, Boudjellab N, Léger R, Robitaille M, Jetté L, Benquet C. Long lasting growth hormone releasing factor derivatives. US20030073630A1; US7268113B2. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20030073630A1/en
P002Direct non-DAC evidence

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Knoop A, Thomas A, Fichant E, Delahaut P, Schänzer W, Thevis M. Qualitative identification of growth hormone-releasing hormones in human plasma by means of immunoaffinity purification and LC-HRMS/MS. Knoop A, Thomas A, Fichant E, Delahaut P, Schänzer W, Thevis M. Qualitative identification of growth hormone-releasing hormones in human plasma by means of immunoaffinity purification and LC-HRMS/MS. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 2016;408:3145–3153. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9377-3. PMID: 26879649. PMCID: PMC4830873. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4830873/(2016). DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9377-3
P003Direct non-DAC evidence

Drug Testing and Analysis

Henninge J, Pepaj M, Hullstein I, Hemmersbach P. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Henninge J, Pepaj M, Hullstein I, Hemmersbach P. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2010;2:647–650. DOI: 10.1002/dta.233. PMID: 21204297. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21204297/(2010). DOI: 10.1002/dta.233
P004Regulatory and authoritative evidence

CJC-1295-Related Bulk Drug Substances: Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Scientific Review

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. CJC-1295-Related Bulk Drug Substances: Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Scientific Review. 2024. https://www.fda.gov/media/183819/download(2024)
P005Regulatory and authoritative evidence

Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes. 4 December 2024. https://www.fda.gov/media/185641/download(2024)
P006Regulatory and authoritative evidence

Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting Summary

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting Summary. 2024. https://www.fda.gov/media/185642/download(2024)
P007Regulatory and authoritative evidence

2026 Prohibited List

World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026listenfinalcleanseptember2025.pdf(2026)
P008Regulatory and authoritative evidence

Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks

Health Canada. Health Canada. Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/unauthorized-injectable-peptide-drugs-seized-and-sold-canada-peptide-may-pose-serious
P009Regulatory and authoritative evidence

National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 91976842, CJC1295 Without DAC. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/91976842

National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 91976842, CJC1295 Without DAC. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/91976842
P010Related-analogue context only

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Soule S, King JA, Millar RP. Incorporation of D-Ala² in growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH₂ increases the half-life and decreases metabolic clearance in normal men. Soule S, King JA, Millar RP. Incorporation of D-Ala² in growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH₂ increases the half-life and decreases metabolic clearance in normal men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 1994. DOI: 10.1210/jcem.79.4.7962295. PMID: 7962295. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7962295/(1994). DOI: 10.1210/jcem.79.4.7962295
P011Related-analogue context only

Journal of Peptide Research

Campbell RM, et al. PEGylated growth hormone-releasing hormone analogues. Campbell RM, et al. PEGylated growth hormone-releasing hormone analogues. Journal of Peptide Research. 1997. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3011.1997.tb01160.x. PMID: 9266480. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9266480/(1997). DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3011.1997.tb01160.x
P012Related-analogue context only

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Izdebski J, et al. Synthesis and biological evaluation of superactive agonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Izdebski J, et al. Synthesis and biological evaluation of superactive agonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1995. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.11.4872. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC41809/(1995). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.11.4872
P013CJC-1295 DAC evidence — attribution to non-DAC prohibited

Endocrinology

Jetté 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. Jetté 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. DOI: 10.1210/en.2004-1286. PMID: 15817669. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15817669/(2005). DOI: 10.1210/en.2004-1286
P014CJC-1295 DAC evidence — attribution to non-DAC prohibited

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2006. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2005-1536. PMID: 16352683. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/(2006). DOI: 10.1210/jc.2005-1536
P015CJC-1295 DAC evidence — attribution to non-DAC prohibited

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone analog. Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone analog. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2006. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2006-1702. PMID: 17018654. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17018654/(2006). DOI: 10.1210/jc.2006-1702
P016CJC-1295 DAC evidence — attribution to non-DAC prohibited

Growth Hormone & IGF Research

Sackmann-Sala L, et al. Effects of sustained physiologic increases in serum growth hormone and IGF-1 levels on circulating levels of selected markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk. Sackmann-Sala L, et al. Effects of sustained physiologic increases in serum growth hormone and IGF-1 levels on circulating levels of selected markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk. Growth Hormone & IGF Research. 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2009.03.001. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2787983/(2009). DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2009.03.001
P017CJC-1295 DAC evidence — attribution to non-DAC prohibited

ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT00267527. Terminated long-acting CJC-1295/DAC:GRF study in HIV-associated visceral obesity. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00267527

ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT00267527. Terminated long-acting CJC-1295/DAC:GRF study in HIV-associated visceral obesity. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00267527