A long-acting GHRH analog that sustains the body's own growth hormone
Injection · 503A Compounding
Educational content. This page describes CJC-1295 for informational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a licensed provider before starting, stopping, or modifying any therapy.
Researched and maintained by the PepHookup team. Regulatory status last verified April 12, 2026.
In healthy adults, a single subcutaneous dose raised mean growth hormone 2- to 10-fold for six days or more, a duration no other GHRH analog has matched in human studies.[1]
GH continued to be released in natural pulses rather than a flat continuous stream, with pulse frequency and amplitude unchanged while basal GH rose roughly 7.5-fold.[2]
A single injection lifted IGF-1 by 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days, and weekly or biweekly dosing kept IGF-1 elevated for up to 28 days.[1]
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) developed by ConjuChem Biotechnologies. It is built on the GRF(1-29) fragment, the biologically active portion of natural GHRH, with four amino acid substitutions that resist enzymatic breakdown and a maleimidopropionyl linker that forms the molecule's signature Drug Affinity Complex (DAC).
Two versions circulate in practice and they behave very differently. CJC-1295 with DAC carries the albumin-binding linker and stays active for days. The no-DAC version, often sold as Modified GRF 1-29, lacks that linker and clears within minutes, producing sharper short-lived GH spikes instead of sustained elevation.
CJC-1295 is not approved by the FDA for any use. Its closest approved relative is tesamorelin (Egrifta), a full-length GHRH analog cleared for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, which underwent complete Phase III trials that CJC-1295 never finished.
After subcutaneous injection, the maleimidopropionyl group on CJC-1295 reacts with a cysteine residue on circulating serum albumin, forming a stable covalent bond. Tethered to this large carrier protein, the analog is shielded from the enzymes and kidney filtration that normally clear small peptides within minutes.
The albumin-bound analog still reaches and activates GHRH receptors on the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, prompting them to synthesize and release growth hormone. Because the pituitary remains in control of timing, GH is still secreted in physiologic pulses rather than the continuous flat exposure seen with injected GH itself.
Downstream, the sustained GH signal drives the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), the mediator of most of GH's anabolic and metabolic effects. In healthy adults this translated into measurable shifts in the serum protein profile of the GH/IGF-1 axis, confirming the analog engages the pathway it targets.
A long-acting GHRH analog that sustains the body's own growth hormone
CJC-1295 covalently anchors to serum albumin through its Drug Affinity Complex, turning a short-lived GHRH fragment into an analog that circulates for 6 to 8 days. It activates pituitary GHRH receptors to stimulate the body's own growth hormone while preserving natural pulsatility, sustaining elevated GH and IGF-1 for days at a time.
Single subcutaneous doses of 30 or 60 mcg/kg raised mean GH 2- to 10-fold for 6 or more days and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days, with an estimated half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days. Repeated weekly or biweekly dosing kept IGF-1 elevated up to 28 days. No serious adverse reactions occurred.
Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA · J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 91(3):799-805 (2006) · PubMed
During sustained stimulation, GH secretion stayed pulsatile: pulse frequency and amplitude were unchanged while trough (basal) GH rose about 7.5-fold, mean GH rose about 46%, and IGF-1 rose about 45% at one week.
Ionescu M, Frohman LA · J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 91(12):4792-4797 (2006) · PubMed
Activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis by CJC-1295 produced measurable changes in the circulating serum protein profile, providing biochemical confirmation that the analog engages its intended pathway in humans.
Sackmann-Sala L, Ding J, Frohman LA, Kopchick JJ · Growth Horm IGF Res, 19(6):471-477 (2009) · PubMed
Once-daily CJC-1295 normalized body weight, body length, and lean mass and was associated with proliferation of pituitary somatotrophs. This is animal data and does not establish growth or body-composition benefits in humans.
Alba M, Fintini D, Sagazio A, Lawrence B, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA, Salvatori R · Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 291(6):E1290-E1294 (2006) · PubMed
start low, go slow
Subcutaneous injection (with DAC)
Subcutaneous injection (no DAC / Modified GRF 1-29)
Subcutaneous injection (with DAC): The albumin-binding DAC form supports once-weekly dosing because of its multi-day half-life.
Subcutaneous injection (no DAC / Modified GRF 1-29): Short half-life produces brief GH pulses; commonly paired with a ghrelin-receptor agonist such as Ipamorelin and dosed at bedtime.
Dosing is determined by a licensed provider based on your goals, body weight, and lab work; the figures above describe protocols reported in the literature and community practice, not a recommendation.
The two forms are not interchangeable. The DAC version gives steady multi-day elevation, while the no-DAC version gives sharper short-lived pulses, so dose and frequency differ dramatically between them.
Bedtime administration is often preferred to reinforce the body's natural nocturnal GH pulse, and periodic IGF-1 and fasting glucose checks are commonly used to monitor response.
In published Phase I studies in healthy adults, CJC-1295 was well tolerated at 30 to 60 mcg/kg with no serious adverse reactions reported.
Formal development was discontinued in 2006 after a participant in ConjuChem's Phase II HIV-lipodystrophy trial died of a fatal heart attack following an injection. The trial physician attributed the death to pre-existing asymptomatic coronary artery disease rather than the drug, and the sponsor stated the relationship was under investigation, but the program was halted and never resumed.
The FDA has flagged compounded CJC-1295 for immunogenicity and peptide-aggregation risk, meaning impurities or aggregated peptide could trigger immune reactions. There are no large or long-term controlled human safety trials, so periodic IGF-1 and glucose monitoring under a provider is prudent.
| Peptide | Primary Use | Administration | Cycle Length | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJC-1295 | Anti-Aging & Recovery | Subcutaneous injection (weekly with DAC, daily without) | 8-12 weeks | The only GHRH analog with a covalent albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex, extending its half-life to 6-8 days for once-weekly dosing |
| SS-31 (Elamipretide) | Mitochondrial restoration and rare mitochondrial disease | Subcutaneous injection (daily); IV in trials | Ongoing daily dosing | The first FDA-approved mitochondria-targeted therapeutic; binds cardiolipin on the inner mitochondrial membrane to support electron transport efficiency |
| GHK-Cu | Anti-Aging & Skin Regeneration | Topical, Injection | 8-12 weeks | A naturally occurring copper-carrier peptide that rebuilds the skin matrix and, per gene-expression analysis, shifts expression of about a third of human genes toward repair |
| Sermorelin | GH restoration and healthy aging | Subcutaneous injection, daily at bedtime | 3-6 months | The GHRH analog with prior FDA approval and a multi-decade clinical record, preserving natural feedback rather than replacing growth hormone |
| Glutathione | Antioxidant & Detoxification | IV, Oral, Sublingual, Topical | Ongoing supplementation | The body's own master antioxidant, with controlled human data showing oral and sublingual forms can raise body stores and immune markers |
The FDA placed this substance in Category 2 of the 503A bulk drug substances evaluation, flagging significant safety risks. 503A compounding carries FDA enforcement risk, so most pharmacies decline to prepare it and many physicians hesitate to prescribe it.
Nomination withdrawn September 2024, then reviewed by PCAC on December 4, 2024. PCAC voted against inclusion. FDA cited aggregation, immunogenicity risks, and limited clinical data. Remains ineligible for 503A compounding. Not among the 12 peptides HHS withdrew from Category 2 in April 2026.
PCAC reviewed and recommended against inclusion on 503A bulks list
Removed from Category 2 (nomination withdrawn by nominators)
Placed in 503A Category 2 with significant safety risks identified
Last verified April 12, 2026. PepHookup tracks public FDA actions. This is not legal or medical advice.
Jette L, Leger R, Thibaudeau K, Benquet C, Robitaille M, Pellerin I, 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, 146(7):3052-3058 (2005)
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