CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). In commerce the name covers two different structures: a form with an albumin-binding Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) and a form without it (often called mod GRF 1-29). Neither is FDA-approved for any indication.

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

With DAC, a chemical linker lets the peptide bind circulating albumin, which keeps it in the bloodstream much longer. Without DAC, that linker is absent. Human pharmacokinetic data published for the long-acting conjugate report an estimated half-life on the order of days. We could not locate a peer-reviewed human PK study establishing a numeric half-life for the without-DAC form.

It is not FDA-approved for human use in the US. It is sold as a research chemical by some vendors. It is prohibited at all times in sport under WADA 2026 section S2.2.4 as a growth hormone releasing factor. This is not legal advice.

Was CJC-1295 ever approved?

No. Development reached Phase 2 clinical trials and was discontinued. It has never been approved by the FDA or, to our knowledge, any other regulator for any indication.

Research peptidescjc-1295

CJC-1295: With DAC and Without DAC, Explained

Two molecules share one name and behave nothing alike. One has a published multi-day half-life, the other has no human PK study. Plus legal status and sport bans.

Written bySebastian Hunter, Founder and Editor

Published July 16, 2026Updated August 22, 2026

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Plain English

CJC-1295 is a research growth-hormone-related peptide sold in two forms that behave differently in the body: with DAC has a published multi-day half-life, without DAC does not. Neither is FDA-approved, and sport bans apply.

With DAC vs without DAC is a real chemistry difference, not marketing fluff.
Not FDA-approved; sold in research channels.
Prohibited in sport under WADA growth-hormone-related rules.

“CJC-1295” is one label for two different molecules. If you do not know which form is in a vial, you do not know whether any signal lasts hours or days.

With DAC vs without DAC

Form	Structure idea	Human PK we can point to
With DAC	GHRH analogue plus an albumin-binding “Drug Affinity Complex” linker	Teichman 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 extension	No peer-reviewed human PK study establishing a half-life figure that we could verify

The directional claim that is safe: albumin binding is meant to keep the DAC form around much longer. Vendor numbers for “without DAC ≈ 30 minutes” circulate widely; we treat them as unverified until a primary human PK paper is in hand.

What it was studied for

CJC-1295 was investigated as a long-acting way to raise GH and IGF-I through a GHRH pathway. Teichman 2006 is a pharmacokinetic / hormone-response study in healthy adults - surrogate measures, not a lifestyle “recovery” trial.

Development reached Phase 2 and was discontinued. It has never been approved.

Evidence strength

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.

Legal and sport status

US legal status - Research use only · not for human use

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 US indication.
Sold as research chemical / not for human use by grey-market vendors.
WADA 2026 S2.2.4 names CJC-1295 among growth hormone releasing factors, prohibited at all times.

Ipamorelin - another GH-axis research peptide
BPC-157
Research peptides and the law
How to reconstitute peptides (arithmetic only)
Dosage calculator

References

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

1.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 in the abstract.- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Oxford Academic)other
2.Wikipedia - CJC-1295. Secondary reference for nomenclature (mod GRF 1-29 / without DAC) and development status.- Wikipediaother
3.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
4.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
5.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