CJC-1295

Also called CJC-1295 with DAC, DAC:GRF, CJC-1295 without DAC, "no DAC", mod GRF(1-29), tetrasubstituted GRF(1-29)^{1, 7}

CJC-1295 is a lab-made version of the hormone signal that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone. The name covers two different molecules. The original, "with DAC," has an extra link that grips a blood protein, so it lasts about a week.^{1, 5} The "no DAC" version, also sold as mod GRF(1-29), lacks it.¹ In healthy adults, the DAC version raised growth hormone and IGF-1 for days, but no study has tested muscle, fat loss, sleep or aging.^{5, 6} Its developer stopped work in 2006 after a trial participant died.^{1, 7} There is no legal US source.^{2, 10}

See every peptide's status in the regulatory tracker

At a glance

Where to get it

MoveWell sells no peptides and links only to legal options. All options

Molecular structure

A chain of 29 amino acids, too long to draw atom by atom here, so each circle is one amino acid. Four positions differ from sermorelin. The DAC version adds a 30th amino acid carrying a linker that binds albumin in the blood.

Changed from sermorelin (positions 2, 8, 15, 27) · DAC version only

Download imageDownload with MoveWell branding

YTyraD-AlaDAspAAlaIIleFPheTThrQGln

Sequence

Y-(D-Ala)-DAIFTQSYRKVLAQLSARKLLQDILSR-NH2

No DAC

C152H252N44O42, 3368.0 g/mol

With DAC

C165H269N47O46, 3647.2 g/mol

DAC group

Lys30 with a maleimidopropionyl (MPA) linker

CAS

446036-97-1 (no DAC); 446262-90-4 (DAC)

FDA UNII

62RC32V9N7 (DAC)

Drawn from the sequence in FDA's 2024 review. FDA's table gives 3647.95 g/mol for the DAC form; our calculation from the formula gives 3647.2.¹

What it is

The hypothalamus releases growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which tells the pituitary to make growth hormone. Sermorelin is GHRH's first 29 amino acids, and was once an FDA-approved drug.¹⁹ CJC-1295 changes four of sermorelin's amino acids at positions 2, 8, 15 and 27, which FDA describes as a "synthetic peptide derivative" of GHRH(1-29).¹

The Canadian company ConjuChem made the original CJC-1295 with a "drug affinity complex" (DAC). That is an extra lysine at position 30 carrying a linker that binds albumin, the main blood protein, so the peptide lasts days instead of minutes.^{1, 5} ConjuChem's trials called it DAC:GRF.⁸

Online, "CJC-1295" often means the version without DAC. Sellers also call it "mod GRF(1-29)" or "tetra-substituted GRF 1-29."¹ FDA reviewed five forms under the CJC-1295 name: the no-DAC version as free base or acetate, and the DAC version as free base, acetate or trifluoroacetate.¹ All the human studies we found used the DAC version.¹

An older MoveWell entry was titled "CJC-1293." That is a different, earlier GHRH analog, which WADA lists separately next to CJC-1295.⁹

How it works

• GHRH signal. It acts on the same pituitary receptor as natural GHRH, prompting growth hormone release.¹
• Days, not minutes. In healthy adults, the DAC version had a half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days.⁵
• Pulses kept. A study in healthy men found growth hormone still came in pulses during continuous exposure, with a higher baseline in between.⁶
• IGF-1 follows. Growth hormone drives the liver to make IGF-1, which rose for 9 to 11 days after one injection.⁵

We found no human study of how the no-DAC version is absorbed or cleared.

Evidence map

Each claimed use is graded separately, because the evidence differs by use.

Scale: 5 FDA-approved, 4 strong human, 3 limited human, 2 animal or lab only, 1 anecdotal

Key studies

FDA found three published studies, all giving the DAC version to healthy people, and one terminated trial (NCT00267527).¹ FDA counted no approved CJC-1295 product in any of the countries it checked.¹

By goal and version

Pick your goal to see what the evidence supports.

Sources: FDA review,¹ FDA advisory minutes,^{2, 15} FDA safety list,⁴ WADA.⁹

How it's used

We don't give a dose. No approved product or trial to US standards has set one.

It is sold as a powder for injection under the skin.¹ The nominators asked FDA to allow it as an injection for growth hormone deficiency.¹ In the healthy-volunteer trials, the DAC version was injected once, or weekly or every other week.⁵ We report this as information, not instruction.

Side effects and who should avoid it

• A trial death. In July 2006 ConjuChem stopped its phase 2 HIV trial after a participant in Argentina died.⁷ The company reported chest discomfort, an ECG showing a heart attack, and death about an hour later.⁸ FDA notes the developer withdrew the drug from trials after the death.¹
• Heart rate. FDA says it "has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295 including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reaction" (widening of blood vessels throughout the body).⁴
• Immune reactions and impurities. FDA "cannot rule out the potential for immunogenicity," and found little impurity, aggregate or endotoxin data for any form.¹
• Animal findings. In studies of the DAC version, rats ate less, dogs vomited and had injection-site irritation, and both had lower red blood cell counts. FDA also reports DNA damage in some lab tests.¹
• Growth hormone effects. The approved GHRH analog tesamorelin carries label warnings for raised blood sugar, fluid retention (with joint pain), raised IGF-1 and cancer risk, and is not for people with active cancer.¹⁷ CJC-1295 has no label, so its risks are less known.
• Who should avoid it. Anyone tested for sport. People with cancer, diabetes or heart disease should talk to a doctor about any growth hormone-raising product.^{9, 17}

Compared with

Sources: FDA,^{1, 2, 15} Federal Register,¹⁹ Egrifta WR label,¹⁷ WADA.⁹ See our sermorelin, tesamorelin and ipamorelin guides.

CJC/ipamorelin blends

CJC-1295 is often sold premixed with ipamorelin, usually the no-DAC version. The idea comes from 1990 research: in 18 healthy men, a GHRH-type hormone and a ghrelin-type peptide given together released more growth hormone than either alone.¹⁴ That study used neither CJC-1295 nor ipamorelin, and we found no study of the blend.

FDA's advisers voted against ipamorelin 0–12 in October 2024 and against CJC-1295 in December 2024.^{2, 15} So a blend has no legal US source either. Some clinics pair sermorelin with ipamorelin instead. Sermorelin has its own pathway, but ipamorelin still does not.¹⁵

Myths vs evidence

All options

MoveWell sells no peptides. Checked November 1, 2026

Licensed compounding, with a prescription

None. FDA's advisers voted against all five forms, FDA proposed not listing any of them, and the HHS policy doesn't include it.^{2, 3, 10} No outsourcing facility has reported making it since 2020.¹ Telehealth pages offering "CJC-1295 prescriptions" have no lawful product to fill them with, so we don't link them.

Legal alternatives for low growth hormone

Adults with diagnosed growth hormone deficiency are treated with approved growth hormone, prescribed by an endocrinologist. Sermorelin, the parent peptide, is sold by licensed compounding pharmacies; see our sermorelin guide for what that means.

Research use only products

We don't list sellers. In August 2026 FDA warned five peptide sellers that a "research use only" label doesn't excuse products clearly meant for people.¹⁶

Legal status history

Newest first.

1. Current statusNov 1, 2026Not approved anywhere. Not on the 503A bulks list and not in the HHS policy, so US pharmacies can't compound it. Banned in sport.^{1, 9, 10}
2. Next · no dateNo FDA review or rule is scheduled that we could find.
3. Oct 28, 2026HHS enforcement policy covers six peptides: BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, MOTS-c, semax and epitalon. CJC-1295 is not included.^{10, 11}
4. Apr 16, 2026FDA's July 2026 advisory meeting notice lists seven peptides. CJC-1295 is not among them.¹²
5. Jan 7, 2025FDA's revised interim policy: only Category 1 substances keep enforcement discretion while FDA builds the list.¹³
6. Dec 4, 2024FDA's compounding advisory committee votes against every form: free base 0–13, acetate 1–12, and each DAC form 0–13.²
7. Nov 15, 2024FDA staff review says the criteria "weigh against" listing any form.^{1, 3}
8. Sep 27, 2024Removed from Category 2 after the nominators withdrew. FDA moves it to its "nominated but withdrawn" list and sends it to its advisers anyway.^{1, 4, 20}
9. Sep 2023FDA places CJC-1295 in Category 2 of its 503A interim policy, for substances that may pose significant safety risks.²⁰
10. Jul 2006ConjuChem stops its phase 2 trial after a participant dies, and development ends.^{1, 7}
11. 2006First human results published, in healthy adults.⁵

See every peptide's status in the regulatory tracker.

FAQ

Related guides

References