Research guide / CJC-1295
What is CJC-1295? A Complete Research Guide.
Updated August 2026 · 10 minute read
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) studied for its ability to raise growth hormone and IGF-I levels. This guide separates the small published human studies from what regulators have actually said.
01 / Overview
What is CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the hypothalamic hormone that signals the pituitary to release growth hormone. It was developed by ConjuChem using a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) designed to bind blood albumin and extend the peptide's half-life from minutes to several days.[1]
The DAC version of CJC-1295 is the form used in the published human studies. A related, shorter-acting version without the DAC modification — sometimes called CJC-1295 no DAC or Mod GRF 1-29 — behaves more like native GHRH and has not been through the same published clinical pharmacology programme. The two forms should not be treated as interchangeable.[4]
Unlike approved medicines, CJC-1295 never completed a Phase 2 or Phase 3 development programme. Its published human evidence consists of small, early-phase pharmacology studies in healthy volunteers. That limited base shapes everything below.
02 / Mechanism
How does CJC-1295 work?
CJC-1295 mimics GHRH at the pituitary GHRH receptor, stimulating the release of stored growth hormone. The DAC modification slows clearance by binding serum albumin, which is why a single injection produced measurable effects for days in the published studies.[1], [2]
| Aspect | What research reports | Research relevance |
|---|---|---|
| GHRH receptor | CJC-1295 is a GHRH analogue that stimulates pituitary growth hormone release. | The upstream signal of the growth hormone / IGF-I axis. |
| DAC half-life extension | The Drug Affinity Complex binds serum albumin, extending activity for days after a single injection. | Why the DAC form produced multi-day effects in human studies. |
| Pulsatility preserved | GH secretion remained pulsatile during continuous stimulation in a small study. | A mechanistic observation; long-term implications are unstudied. |
An important nuance from the pharmacology literature: even with continuous GHRH-receptor stimulation, growth hormone secretion remained pulsatile rather than flat. This is a mechanistic observation from a small study — it does not establish that long-term use would be safe or effective.
03 / Published evidence
Peer-reviewed findings
In a 2006 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 21 healthy adults, a single subcutaneous injection of CJC-1295 produced dose-dependent increases in growth hormone (2- to 10-fold) lasting at least 6 days, and increases in IGF-I (1.5- to 3-fold) lasting 9 to 11 days. The study measured hormone levels, not body composition or clinical outcomes.[1]
A companion 2006 study reported that pulsatile growth hormone secretion was preserved during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, with increases in GH pulse amplitude and trough levels rather than a flattened profile.[2]
A 2009 repeated-dose study in healthy adults found that weekly subcutaneous injections over 28 days maintained elevated IGF-I levels and reported the compound as generally well tolerated in that small sample. The study was short and not designed to detect rare or long-term harms.[3]
No published randomised trial has tested CJC-1295 for fat loss, muscle gain, recovery, or any clinical endpoint. All human evidence comes from small early-phase pharmacology studies measuring hormone levels.
04 / Evidence landscape
How the evidence is structured
CJC-1295 does not have a registered Phase 2–3 clinical programme. The table below maps the main categories of published evidence instead.
| Category | Example | Scale | What it can show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-dose RCT | Teichman et al., 2006 | 21 healthy adults | Dose-dependent GH and IGF-I responses; no clinical outcomes |
| Pulsatility study | Ionescu & Frohman, 2006 | Small clinical pharmacology study | GH pulse pattern under continuous stimulation |
| Repeated-dose study | Sackmann-Sala et al., 2009 | 28 days, healthy adults | Short-term tolerability and sustained IGF-I; not long-term safety |
This mapping reflects the published records reviewed for this August 2026 update. Absence of a larger trial programme is itself a finding: claims beyond the evidence should be treated with caution.[1], [2], [3]
Afiya Labs lists a CJC-1295 (no DAC) + Ipamorelin reference material for laboratory research. The catalogue entry is not a medicine listing and is not presented as suitable for human use.
05 / Safety evidence
What safety evidence exists?
The published human studies were small (tens of participants) and short (single doses to 28 days). Reported effects in those studies included injection-site reactions and transient flushing or headache; the studies were not powered to detect uncommon or long-term adverse effects.[1], [3]
The U.S. FDA has identified potential significant safety risks for CJC-1295 and placed it in Category 2 of its interim compounding policy — the category for bulk substances that may present significant safety risks. Category placement is a regulatory risk signal, not a full safety assessment.[5]
There are no large, long-term human safety trials of CJC-1295 in any form. Anyone reading claims about its use should weigh them against that absence of controlled human data.
06 / Regulators
Status in the US, Europe, and UAE
United States
CJC-1295 is not an FDA-approved drug. Under the FDA's interim compounding policy, CJC-1295 is listed in Category 2 — bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding. This category concerns pharmacy compounding and is not a marketing authorisation.[5]
European Union
CJC-1295 is not authorised as a medicine in the EU and has no completed pharmaceutical development programme in any jurisdiction.
United Arab Emirates
The Emirates Drug Establishment maintains the UAE's public registered medical product directory. We did not rely on a directory search to infer approval, non-approval, legality, availability, or permission for use of any specific product; those questions require confirmation from the EDE. Approved medicines in the UAE are dispensed through licensed channels.[6]
07 / Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is CJC-1295 an approved medicine?
No. CJC-1295 is not approved as a drug in the US, authorised as a medicine in the EU, or approved anywhere else. Its development stopped at the early clinical pharmacology stage.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC?
The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) modification binds blood albumin and extends the peptide's activity for days. The no-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) is short-acting. The published human studies used the DAC version; the two are not interchangeable.
What does the research actually show?
Small human studies show CJC-1295 raises growth hormone and IGF-I levels for days after injection. No published trial has tested it for fat loss, muscle gain, or any clinical outcome.
Why is CJC-1295 on the FDA's Category 2 list?
The FDA identified potential significant safety risks for CJC-1295 as a bulk compounding substance and placed it in Category 2 of its interim compounding policy. This is a compounding-policy decision, not a full drug review.
Is CJC-1295 the same as GHRH?
No. It is a synthetic analogue of GHRH — a modified version designed to resist breakdown and (in the DAC form) last far longer in circulation than the natural hormone.
What does the UAE directory show?
It is a public register of medical products. This guide does not turn a directory search result — or the absence of one — into a claim about approval, legality, or permitted use. The EDE is the appropriate authority for a current determination.
08 / Sources
References and original records
- 1Prolonged 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. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Teichman et al.). 2006 · DOI 10.1210/jc.2005-2054 · Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial · 21 healthy adults.
- 2Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Ionescu & Frohman). 2006 · DOI 10.1210/jc.2006-2002 · Clinical pharmacology study.
- 3Safety and pharmacokinetics of CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, in healthy adults after repeated subcutaneous doses. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Sackmann-Sala et al.). 2009 · DOI 10.1210/jc.2008-2196 · Repeated-dose study over 28 days.
- 4Study record: CJC-1295 in healthy adults (NCT00267527). ClinicalTrials.gov. Official trial registry record · sponsor ConjuChem.
- 5Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (Category 2). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Official regulatory list · includes CJC-1295.
- 6Registered medical product directory. UAE Emirates Drug Establishment. Official public directory · checked August 2026.