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Research peptidescjc-1295

CJC-1295: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects and Legality

CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC behave differently. What the human PK study found, the common research dose, side effects, and legal and sport status.

Sebastian Hunter, Founder and EditorWritten bySebastian Hunter, Founder and EditorI'm a 42-year-old senior advisor and distance runner who came to peptides as a sceptic. I'm not a doctor: I read the research, run my own experiment and keep honest notes. Read full bio

The short version

CJC-1295 is a research growth hormone peptide sold in two forms that behave differently in the body. The form with DAC has a published half-life of several days; the form without DAC has no verified human half-life. Neither is FDA-approved, and it is banned in sport.

  • With DAC and without DAC are different molecules that last very different lengths of time in the body.
  • In healthy adults the long-acting form raised growth hormone and IGF-I for days after one injection.
  • Not FDA-approved; sold as a research chemical.
  • Banned in sport under WADA growth hormone rules.

CJC-1295 at a glance

What it is
Synthetic GHRH (1-29) analogue
Main use
Investigated as a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue to raise GH and IGF-I. Reached Phase 2 and was discontinued; never approved for any indication.
Also called
CJC-1295 with DAC, CJC-1295 without DAC, Modified GRF (1-29), mod GRF 1-29, Tetrasubstituted GRF(1-29)
Molecular formula
C165H269N47O46 (3647.2 g/mol) Structure
Evidence
Limited human data
US status
Research use only
Australia
Not on the ARTG
Half-life
DAC form: an estimated 5.8–8.1 days in healthy adults, from two randomised, placebo-controlled trials. Without-DAC form (mod GRF 1-29): not established in humans; no published human PK study located.
How it is taken
Subcutaneous injection
Common protocol
100-300 mcg, once daily, 5 days a week (5 days on, 2 off), usually the no-DAC form, for 8-16 weeks (common practice, not trial-established) Dosage chart

CJC-1295 has something many research peptides lack: controlled human studies showing that one injection of its long-acting form raises growth hormone and IGF-I for days. The catch is that “CJC-1295” is one label for two different molecules. Which one is in a vial decides whether the effect lasts hours or days.

Dosing: what the one published human study used.

What is CJC-1295?

FormStructure ideaHuman PK I can point to
With DACGHRH analogue plus an albumin-binding “Drug Affinity Complex” linkerTeichman et al. 2006 reports an estimated half-life of 5.8–8.1 days for the long-acting conjugate in healthy adults (abstract)
Without DAC (mod GRF 1-29)Same general peptide idea without the albumin-binding extensionNo peer-reviewed human PK study establishing a half-life figure that I could verify

Binding to albumin, a blood protein, is meant to keep the DAC form in circulation much longer. A figure of about 30 minutes for the form without DAC circulates widely. I treat it as unverified until I see a primary human study.

CJC-1295 structure

2D chemical structure of CJC-1295, C165H269N47O46
2D structure from PubChem CID 91971820 (NCBI, public domain). Open it in PubChem to zoom or view in 3D.
Molecular formula
C165H269N47O46
Molecular weight
3647.2 g/mol
Length
30 amino acids
Sequence
YADAIFTQSYRKVLAQLSARKLLQDILSRK
Modifications
D-Ala at position 2; Gln8, Ala15 and Leu27 substitutions versus native GHRH(1-29); extra Lys30 carrying an N-epsilon-3-maleimidopropionyl group (the Drug Affinity Complex); C-terminal amide.
PubChem CID
91971820

This is CJC-1295 WITH DAC, the molecule tested in the published human trials. 'CJC-1295 without DAC' (Modified GRF 1-29) is a different, smaller molecule that lacks the C-terminal maleimidopropionyl-lysine; many vials sold as 'CJC-1295' are actually that one.

Identity checked against FDA Global Substance Registration System (UNII 62RC32V9N7).

CJC-1295 benefits: what the research shows

CJC-1295 was developed as a long-acting way to raise growth hormone and IGF-I through the body’s own GHRH pathway. On that narrow question, the human results are clear.

These are hormone measurements, not outcomes such as muscle, fat, sleep or recovery. Development reached Phase 2 and was stopped, it has never been approved, and I found no controlled human data for the form sold without DAC.

Limited human data

Small or uncontrolled human studies. Too little to settle the question either way. Published human PK/pharmacodynamic data for the long-acting (DAC) form; no approved clinical indication; without-DAC form lacks verified human PK. Development stopped at Phase 2.

What people who use it report

CJC-1295 is widely sold outside any trial, usually alongside ipamorelin. In November 2025 a CNN report found a prominent wellness influencer selling it in vials labelled “research use only”. In April 2026 Health Canada named it among the unauthorized injectable peptides it had seized. User reports point in more than one direction:

None of this separates the compound from placebo, a change in routine or other things people started at the same time. A sports-medicine review notes that social media can amplify the placebo effect with peptides Mendias 2026 - Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2026;56(8):1921-1935., in the references below. A trial measuring sleep or body composition would settle it.

CJC-1295 dosage

The common CJC-1295 dose is 100-300 mcg, once daily, 5 days a week (5 days on, 2 off), usually the no-DAC form. From a 5 mg vial mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, 200 mcg is 8 units (0.08 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.

See the full CJC-1295 dosage chart →

No clinical trial has set a dose. Research-community sources agree on 100-300 mcg injected under the skin once a day, 5 days on and 2 off, before bed on an empty stomach, usually the no-DAC form. Cycles run 8-16 weeks with a 4-6 week break. That is common practice, not a tested dose. Full sourcing, and the weekly with-DAC pattern some vendors describe: CJC-1295 dosage.

CJC-1295 side effects

The human safety data are thin. Teichman et al. 2006 ran two short placebo-controlled trials of the long-acting form in healthy adults, followed for 28 and 49 days. No serious adverse reactions were reported, and the authors found CJC-1295 relatively well tolerated, especially at 30 or 60 mcg/kg. That was a small, monitored group of healthy volunteers. I found no trial with safety data for the form without DAC.

FDA says it has identified serious adverse events with CJC-1295, including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction (blood vessels widening throughout the body). It adds that clinical data are limited and that compounded versions may trigger immune reactions for some routes of use. FDA doesn’t say how often these events happened.

For redness, itching or swelling at the injection site, see injection-site reactions.

There is no label or trial threshold for when to seek care. Get emergency care for signs of a severe allergic reaction (swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing) or any severe or rapidly worsening symptom. If you have taken more than intended, see CJC-1295 overdose: what to do.

US legal status - Research use only

Sold for laboratory research use only. Not approved by the FDA for human use, and cannot be lawfully marketed as a supplement or a medicine. Products sold this way are not made to pharmaceutical quality standards, and their contents are not verified by anyone.

AU legal status - Not on the ARTG

Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard, named with its CAS number, and Appendix D, clause 5 - prescription only, and possession without authority is illegal. Appendix D also captures growth hormone releasing hormones as a class, so both forms are covered whichever one is in the vial. Nothing containing it is on the ARTG.

Regulators reach their own conclusions on their own timelines. Where these two disagree, the difference is the point - not an error.

  • Not FDA-approved for any use in the US.
  • Sold by grey-market vendors as a research chemical, not for human use.
  • WADA 2026 S2.2.4 names CJC-1295 among growth hormone releasing factors, banned at all times.

Regulatory changes for this compound and others, as they happen: US peptide regulation tracker.

How CJC-1295 compares

GHRH analogues (act on the GHRH receptor). Doses for unapproved compounds are common practice, not trial-established. All growth hormone and muscle peptides →

CompoundMain useEvidenceUsual doseUS status
CJC-1295Investigated as a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue to raise GH and IGF-I. Reached Phase 2 and was discontinued; never approved for any indication.Limited human data100-300 mcg, once daily, 5 days a week (5 days on, 2 off), usually the no-DAC formResearch use only
TesamorelinApproved for reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.Strong human evidenceFDA labelFDA-approved · prescription only
SermorelinMarketed to adults for sleep, body composition and aging. Its former FDA approvals, as Geref, were for growth hormone deficiency in children and a 0.05 mg diagnostic test; both are discontinued.Limited human data200-600 mcg, once nightly; most protocols run 5-7 nights a week, some as 5 days on/2 offUnapproved drug

Where to buy CJC-1295 for research

Each vendor is checked against my vendor checklist.

  1. 1.Next Level PharmFeatured

    5 mg vial

    • No FDA warning letter found
    • Names its testing lab
    • Batch COAs published
    • Takes card payment

    $28.99as of 3 October 2026

    View product →My Next Level Pharm review

  2. 2.BioEdge Research Labs

    10 mg vial

    • No FDA warning letter found
    • Names its testing lab
    • Batch COAs published

    $78.00as of 3 October 2026

    View product →My BioEdge Research Labs review

Compare every checked vendor for CJC-1295 →

See all vendors and how they compare →

Common questions

What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC?

With DAC, a chemical linker lets the peptide bind albumin in the blood, which keeps it circulating much longer. Without DAC, the linker is absent. Human data for the long-acting form report an estimated half-life of several days. I couldn't find a peer-reviewed human study giving a half-life for the form without DAC.

Was CJC-1295 ever approved?

No. Development reached Phase 2 trials and was stopped. As far as I know, no regulator has ever approved it for anything.

What is the usual CJC-1295 dose?

No clinical trial has set one. Research-community sources describe 100-300 mcg injected under the skin once a day, 5 days on and 2 off, before bed on an empty stomach, usually the no-DAC form. Cycles run 8-16 weeks with a 4-6 week break. That is common practice, not a tested dose; the dosing page has the sourcing.

What are the side effects of CJC-1295?

Two short trials of the long-acting form in healthy adults, followed for 28 and 49 days, reported no serious adverse reactions and found it relatively well tolerated, especially at 30 or 60 mcg/kg. FDA says it has identified serious adverse events, including increased heart rate and a whole-body vasodilatory reaction, and that clinical data are limited. I found no trial with safety data for the form without DAC.

Does CJC-1295 affect testosterone?

I found no study showing that it does. The human studies I cite measured growth hormone and IGF-I, which both rose after the long-acting form, and their abstracts don't report testosterone. Claims that it raises or lowers testosterone aren't backed by any study I could find.

Does CJC-1295 help with weight loss?

That hasn't been shown. The one registered Phase 2 trial in a fat-related condition, 12 weeks in people with HIV-associated visceral obesity, was registered by ConjuChem in 2005 and recorded as terminated in 2006, with no results posted. The other human studies measured growth hormone and IGF-I, not weight or fat.

Public cases involving CJC-1295

Official decisions naming CJC-1295, each linked to the announcement. They record what the ruling body found, not whether CJC-1295 works.

Official decisions and statements

References (13 sources)

Bibliographic detail is fetched from PubMed, not written by me - so a citation here cannot drift from the paper it names. Study design comes from PubMed's own tags rather than my judgement.

  1. 1.Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B et al. 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. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805.Randomised trialPMID 16352683
  2. 2.Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(12):4792-7.Clinical trialPMID 17018654
  3. 3.Dominikowski A, Rękoś Z, Olejarz M et al. The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026;17:1822475.ReviewPMID 42395176full text
  4. 4.Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2026;56(8):1921-1935.ReviewPMID 41966639
  5. 5.Teichman et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 - primary human pharmacokinetic study of long-acting CJC-1295 (albumin-binding conjugate), estimated half-life reported as 5.8–8.1 days and no serious adverse reactions reported in the abstract.- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Oxford Academic)other
  6. 6.FDA - Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 22 April 2026). Its CJC-1295 entry states that FDA has identified serious adverse events including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reaction, that available clinical data are limited, and that compounded versions may pose a risk of immunogenicity for certain routes of administration.- US Food and Drug Administrationregulatory
  7. 7.Wikipedia - CJC-1295. Secondary reference for nomenclature (mod GRF 1-29 / without DAC) and development status.- Wikipediaother
  8. 8.WADA 2026 Prohibited List, section S2.2.4 - growth hormone releasing factors including CJC-1295 (national anti-doping agency mirror, PDF).- World Anti-Doping Agency (mirrored by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission)regulatory
  9. 9.Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard - June 2026) Instrument 2026, the current Poisons Standard (SUSMP). CJC-1295 (CAS No. 863288-34-0) is a Schedule 4 (prescription only) entry, and Appendix D, clause 5 - which also covers growth hormone releasing hormones as a class.- Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Governmentstatute
  10. 10.TGA - Unapproved therapeutic goods. Goods not on the ARTG have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness, and reach patients only through defined pathways such as the Special Access Scheme.- Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australian Governmentregulatory
  11. 11.CNN, 15 November 2025 - The trend of unproven peptides is spreading through influencers and RFK Jr. allies. Reports that a prominent wellness influencer sells ipamorelin and CJC-1295, with vials labelled "research use only", and that doctors are fielding more patient questions about peptides.- CNNnews
  12. 12.Health Canada, 9 April 2026 - Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you. Names CJC-1295 and ipamorelin among the unauthorized injectable peptides it has seized.- Health Canada, Government of Canadaregulatory
  13. 13.TIME, 24 February 2026 (Dominique Mosbergen) - Why "anti-aging" peptide shots are trending on social media. Describes CJC-1295 as a peptide "which proponents say can promote fat loss and better sleep".- TIMEnews

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