Summary
CJC-1295 is a GHRH(1-29) analog, a lab-made version of the hormone that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone (GH), engineered to bind albumin (the main protein in blood) so that one injection stimulates GH for about a week. Two small randomized, placebo controlled trials (people assigned by chance to the drug or a dummy injection) in healthy adults showed dose dependent GH increases of 2 to 10 fold for 6 or more days and IGF-1 (a growth factor that GH raises) increases of 1.5 to 3 fold for 9 to 11 days after a single injection under the skin, with a half life (time for half the drug to clear) of 5.8 to 8.1 days. It was never approved anywhere, development stopped in the late 2000s, FDA placed it on the 503A Category 2 list (compounding ingredients flagged for significant safety risks) in September 2023, and it is now a withdrawn nomination with no lawful basis for compounding (custom-making by a pharmacy).
What is CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic 29 amino acid GHRH(1-29) analog with four stabilizing amino acid substitutions and a drug affinity complex (maleimidoproprionic acid) that binds covalently to circulating albumin. It is also known as CJC-1295 with DAC, CJC-1295 DAC, DAC:GRF, Modified GRF (1-29) (marketed as CJC-1295 without DAC), Tetrasubstituted GHRH(1-29), CJC-1295/ipamorelin blend, CJC-1295 without DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, CJC peptide.
How does it work?
CJC-1295 activates the pituitary GHRH receptor like native GHRH, increasing GH synthesis and release and downstream hepatic IGF-1. Four substitutions (D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27) protect it from dipeptidyl peptidase IV and other proteases, and the reactive DAC group forms a covalent bond with serum albumin within minutes of injection, extending the half life from minutes to about a week. In healthy men, GH pulsatility was preserved but trough GH levels rose 7.5 fold, which drove the increase in IGF-1. The version sold as CJC-1295 without DAC lacks the albumin linker and has a half life of about 30 minutes; it has no published human trials under that name.
| Cluster | Metabolic and growth hormone axis |
|---|---|
| Routes | Subcutaneous injection (human trials and as sold) |
| Conditions studied | Growth hormone deficiency and GH secretagogue use |
| Record | v3, draft, verified Sep 23, 2026 |
CJC-1295 with and without DAC: what the evidence shows
Evidence is limited to small phase 1 and 2 pharmacology trials in healthy adults with hormonal endpoints. Teichman 2006 ran two randomized, placebo controlled, double blind ascending dose studies (28 and 49 days) in healthy adults aged 21 to 61: a single injection 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 IGF-1 staying above baseline for up to 28 days after repeated doses and no serious adverse reactions. Ionescu 2006 gave 60 or 90 ug/kg to healthy men aged 20 to 40 and found trough GH up 7.5 fold, mean GH up 46%, and IGF-1 up 45% one week later with preserved pulsatility. No trial has measured body composition, strength, fat loss, sleep, or any clinical outcome, and there is no long term safety data. Development for HIV lipodystrophy and GH deficiency was discontinued.
| Evidence type | Indexed studies | Participants (human) |
|---|---|---|
| Human randomized trials | 1 | n/a |
| Human observational studies | 2 | n/a |
| Animal studies | 2 | n/a |
| All indexed studies | 5 | n/a |
Human evidence
Teichman 2006: two randomized, placebo controlled, double blind ascending dose trials in healthy adults 21 to 61; single subcutaneous doses produced dose dependent GH increases of 2 to 10 fold lasting 6 or more days and IGF-1 increases of 1.5 to 3 fold lasting 9 to 11 days; half life 5.8 to 8.1 days; cumulative effect with weekly or biweekly dosing; best tolerated at 30 or 60 ug/kg. Ionescu 2006: healthy men 20 to 40, single dose of 60 or 90 ug/kg, overnight 20 minute sampling before and 1 week after; trough GH up 7.5 fold (p < 0.0001), mean GH up 46%, IGF-1 up 45%, pulse frequency and amplitude unchanged, no difference between doses. Sackmann-Sala 2009: serum proteomic changes consistent with GH and IGF-1 axis activation in normal adults. No trial with clinical endpoints has been published.
Animal evidence
Jette 2005 identified CJC-1295 among GHRH(1-29) albumin bioconjugates that activate the GRF receptor in rat pituitary and produce sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation in rats. Alba 2006 showed once daily CJC-1295 normalized growth, IGF-1, and pituitary GH content in GHRH knockout mice. These support the mechanism and duration of action but add nothing about efficacy for adult body composition.
Key studies
| Study | Design and population | Outcome | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 adults2006 PMID 16352683 | Two randomized, placebo controlled, double blind ascending dose trials, 28 and 49 days, single and repeated subcutaneous dosesHealthy adults aged 21 to 61 | Mean GH up 2 to 10 fold for 6 or more days and IGF-1 up 1.5 to 3 fold for 9 to 11 days after one dose; half life 5.8 to 8.1 days; IGF-1 above baseline up to 28 days with repeated dosing; no serious adverse reactions | Evidence: Human RCT evidence |
| Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog2006 PMID 17018654 | Single dose pharmacodynamic study with overnight 20 minute sampling before and 1 week after injectionHealthy men aged 20 to 40 | Trough GH up 7.5 fold (p < 0.0001), mean GH up 46%, IGF-1 up 45%; pulse frequency and amplitude unchanged; no difference between 60 and 90 ug/kg | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| Activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, results in serum protein profile changes in normal adult subjects2009 PMID 19386527 | Proteomic analysis of serum from a CJC-1295 dosing studyNormal adult subjects | Serum protein changes consistent with GH and IGF-1 axis activation after CJC-1295 | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| 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 analog2005 PMID 15817669 | In vitro receptor assays and in vivo rat pharmacologyRat pituitary cells and rats | CJC-1295 bound albumin, activated the GRF receptor, and produced sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation in rats | Evidence: Animal-only evidence |
| Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse2006 PMID 16822960 | Controlled animal studyGHRH knockout mice | Daily CJC-1295 normalized body growth, IGF-1, and pituitary GH content | Evidence: Animal-only evidence |
Conditions studied
| Condition | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Growth hormone deficiency and GH secretagogue use | Evidence: Human RCT evidence | Small randomized, placebo-controlled studies in healthy adults raised GH and IGF-1 (surrogate endpoints only); no trial in growth hormone deficiency; development halted; removed from FDA Category 2 list in April 2026. |
Is CJC-1295 legal in the United States?
FDA and compounding status
Not FDA approved for any use and never approved anywhere; the developer's programs in HIV lipodystrophy and GH deficiency were discontinued in the late 2000s. FDA placed CJC-1295 on the 503A Category 2 list on September 29, 2023, citing limited clinical data, peptide related impurities, and serious adverse events including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction. The nomination was later withdrawn and FDA's April 2026 update lists CJC-1295 under nominated but withdrawn substances rather than Category 1 or the bulks list. It was not among the peptides the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee reviewed in July 2026. With no active nomination, no bulks list entry, and no approved product, licensed 503A pharmacies and 503B facilities have no lawful basis to compound it. Products sold as CJC-1295 without DAC are a different molecule (modified GRF 1-29) with the same non-status.
WADA status
WADA prohibited. Athletes subject to anti-doping testing should treat this as prohibited at all times unless the current prohibited list says otherwise.
Regulatory timeline
- WADA
WADA publishes the 2027 Prohibited List
WADA published the 2027 Prohibited List on September 21, 2026, and it takes effect January 1, 2027. The S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes are unchanged. BPC-157 is still named under S0, and MOTS-c is still named under S4.4 as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase. WADA added a note that many peptides without approval for human use fall under S0 or another section, and that a peptide not named on the list may still be prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are still not on the list.
- FDA
FDA lists BPC-157 and 16 other peptides as withdrawn from 503A Category 2
FDA's Category 2 page, revised in April 2026 and current as of April 22, 2026, moved BPC-157, AOD-9604, CJC-1295, dihexa, DSIP, epitalon, injectable GHK-Cu, ipamorelin, KPV, LL-37, melanotan II, MOTS-c, PEG-MGF, selank, semax, thymosin alpha-1, and thymosin beta-4 fragment (TB-500) to a list of bulk drug substances nominated but withdrawn by their nominators. A withdrawn substance is no longer in 503A Category 2, but withdrawal is not an approval and does not place a substance on the 503A bulks list; a 503A pharmacy still needs a listing before it may compound it. Ipamorelin acetate remains in 503B Category 2. Seven of the withdrawn peptides (BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, semax, epitalon, and DSIP) were taken to the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee in July 2026.
- WADA
WADA 2026 Prohibited List takes effect
The 2026 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2026 and continues to prohibit the S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes (GHRH analogs, growth hormone secretagogues, GH fragments, IGF-1 and analogs, MGF, thymosin beta-4 and derivatives, hCG and GnRH-class releasing factors in males), myostatin inhibitors, insulin and the AMPK activator MOTS-c under S4, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 under S0. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are not on the list.
- WADA
WADA 2025 Prohibited List keeps peptide hormones and growth factors banned at all times
The 2025 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2025. Section S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics) covers GHRH analogs such as CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin, growth hormone secretagogues such as ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, and ibutamoren (MK-677), growth hormone fragments such as AOD-9604, growth factors including IGF-1 and its analogs, MGF, and thymosin beta-4 (TB-500), and chorionic gonadotropin and releasing factors such as gonadorelin and kisspeptin (prohibited in males). Myostatin inhibitors such as ACE-031 fall under S4, insulin under S4 metabolic modulators, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 remains an S0 non-approved substance.
- FDA
FDA places a batch of nominated peptides in 503A Category 2
In September 2023 FDA updated its 503A bulk drug substances category lists to place a group of nominated peptides in Category 2, which means FDA identified significant safety risks and the substances may not be used in 503A compounding while the evaluation continues. Kisspeptin-10 and ibutamoren (MK-677) were added on September 29, 2023 and remain in Category 2 on the FDA page current as of April 22, 2026. BPC-157, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, AOD-9604, dihexa, DSIP, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, selank, semax, melanotan II, LL-37, thymosin alpha-1, and thymosin beta-4 fragment (TB-500) were also placed in Category 2 under the 503A interim policy; that same page now lists them as nominated but withdrawn (see the April 2026 event). Hexarelin, PNC-27, and 5-amino-1MQ have never appeared on the FDA category lists.
What published studies of CJC-1295 used
Ranges below are reported from published studies and labeling only. PeptideAgent does not recommend doses or protocols.
Human pharmacology trials only: single subcutaneous doses in ascending cohorts, with 30 or 60 ug/kg described as best tolerated, and repeated weekly or biweekly dosing over 28 to 49 days (Teichman 2006); single doses of 60 or 90 ug/kg (Ionescu 2006). No maintenance dose, no trial longer than 49 days, and no dose for any clinical indication has been established. Doses advertised in milligrams per week for the version without DAC come from no human study.
Routes reported
| # | Route |
|---|---|
| 1 | Subcutaneous injection (human trials and as sold) |
What are the side effects and interactions of CJC-1295?
Side effects
| # | Reported side effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Injection site reactions (most common in trials) |
| 2 | Flushing, headache, and transient warmth or vasodilation shortly after injection |
| 3 | Increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction were among the serious adverse events FDA cited in its Category 2 evaluation |
| 4 | Water retention, tingling, and joint aches consistent with raised GH and IGF-1 reported in trials and anecdotally |
| 5 | No serious adverse reactions in the two small 2006 trials; no long term safety data |
| 6 | Theoretical risks of sustained IGF-1 elevation, including insulin resistance and growth of existing tumors, have not been studied |
Interactions
| # | Interaction |
|---|---|
| 1 | No formal human interaction studies exist |
| 2 | Glucocorticoids and somatostatin analogs blunt GH release from GHRH analogs |
| 3 | Diabetes medications: sustained GH raises glucose, so insulin or oral agent requirements could change |
| 4 | Levothyroxine: untreated hypothyroidism reduces GH response |
| 5 | Often sold blended with ipamorelin; the combination has never been tested in humans |
Contraindications
| # | Contraindication |
|---|---|
| 1 | Active malignancy (sustained IGF-1 elevation; no human safety data) |
| 2 | Pregnancy and breastfeeding (no data) |
| 3 | Untreated hypothyroidism (blunts response) |
| 4 | Competitive athletes subject to WADA testing (named in section S2) |
How do people access CJC-1295 legally?
Typical cost: Not available through licensed channels. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity.
Verified access options
Step 1
Not legally available through a licensed pharmacy (withdrawn 503A nomination, not on the bulks list, not an approved drug).
Step 2
Clinics that still advertise compounded CJC-1295 are dispensing outside FDA's stated categories; ask what the legal basis is.
Step 3
Products labeled research use only are not lawful for human use.
Access paths are verified against public regulatory records and prescriber licensing. We never list unlicensed vendors.
Compare CJC-1295
What's actually offered, and what that means for you
Licensed compounding pharmacies, clinics, and telehealth prescribers openly offer many unapproved peptides, and prescribers write prescriptions for them. That does not make CJC-1295 lawful. CJC-1295 is not FDA approved and not on the 503A bulks list, so a pharmacy has no lawful basis to compound it. [7] [10]
Enforcement is uneven. FDA mostly acts through warning letters to compounders and online sellers, Category 2 safety listings, and import alerts that let it detain shipments, rather than stopping every pharmacy. State pharmacy boards oversee pharmacies day to day, and their rules differ. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
What changes for you
- No FDA review of the product: FDA does not check a compounded drug's safety, effectiveness, or quality before it is sold. [14]
- Identity, purity, sterility, and dose accuracy can vary from batch to batch. [10]
- Insurance rarely covers it, so you usually pay cash.
- For tested athletes, CJC-1295 is prohibited at all times on the WADA list, whatever the source. [9]
What to check
These checks lower some risks, but they do not make an unlawfully compounded product lawful or safe. Check for:
- A 503A pharmacy licensed in your state (your state board of pharmacy publishes license lookups). [14]
- A real evaluation by a licensed prescriber, not just an online form.
- A certificate of analysis for the specific batch.
Blends that contain CJC-1295
CJC-1295 is sold in a premixed blend under the name below. No blend has been tested as a combination, and a mix is only as lawful as its least lawful ingredient.
- CJC-1295 and ipamorelin: with Ipamorelin. No lawful path.
Frequently asked questions
What is CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic growth hormone releasing hormone analog, a lab-made version of the hormone that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone: the first 29 amino acids of GHRH with four amino acid substitutions, linked to a drug affinity complex (DAC) that binds albumin, the main protein in blood, so one injection lasts about a week. It was developed as a long acting growth hormone stimulant, tested only in small trials in healthy adults, and never approved. The name is also used loosely for modified GRF (1-29), the version without DAC. [1] [4]
Is CJC-1295 legal in the United States?
It is not an FDA approved drug and cannot lawfully be compounded. FDA put CJC-1295 on the 503A Category 2 list in September 2023 because of limited clinical data, impurity concerns, and reported serious adverse events. The nomination was later withdrawn, and in April 2026 FDA moved it to the withdrawn nominations list, which is not the 503A bulks list. Possession is not a crime, but research chemical versions are not lawful for human use. [7] [8]
CJC-1295 with DAC vs without DAC: what is the difference?
CJC-1295 with DAC is the molecule studied in humans: the drug affinity complex binds it to albumin so it lasts 5.8 to 8.1 days and one dose raises GH and IGF-1 for over a week. CJC-1295 without DAC is a marketing name for modified GRF (1-29), the same four substitution GHRH analog without the albumin linker; it lasts about 30 minutes and has no published human trials under that name. Both are GHRH analogs, both are WADA prohibited, and neither can be lawfully compounded. [1] [4]
Does CJC-1295 actually raise growth hormone?
Yes, that part is well documented in small trials. In two randomized, placebo controlled studies in healthy adults, one subcutaneous dose 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, and a separate study found trough GH up 7.5 fold and IGF-1 up 45% a week after a 60 or 90 ug/kg dose. What no trial shows is whether that translates into muscle gain, fat loss, better sleep, or any clinical benefit; those outcomes were never measured. [1] [2]
CJC-1295 results: how long do they take to show?
There is no trial-based answer for visible results. In the human studies, growth hormone and IGF-1 rose after a single injection, IGF-1 stayed elevated for 9 to 11 days, and repeated doses kept IGF-1 above baseline for up to 28 days. No trial measured muscle, fat, recovery, or sleep, alone or combined with ipamorelin, so timelines quoted online are not from studies. [1] [2]
What are the side effects of CJC-1295?
In the two small 2006 trials the main effects were injection site reactions, flushing, headache, and transient warmth, with no serious adverse reactions and best tolerability at 30 or 60 ug/kg. FDA's Category 2 evaluation cited serious adverse events including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction and noted the overall clinical data are thin. Because one dose raises IGF-1 for over a week, the concerns of sustained GH excess (water retention, joint pain, insulin resistance, tumor growth) apply, and there is no long term safety study. [1] [7]
How much does CJC-1295 cost?
There is no lawful licensed channel, so there is no legitimate price. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity. [7]
Is CJC-1295 banned by WADA?
Yes. CJC-1295 is named explicitly in section S2 of the WADA Prohibited List under growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogues, together with sermorelin and tesamorelin, and is prohibited at all times. Anti-doping laboratories have identified it in seized preparations and developed detection methods. [6] [9]
CJC-1295 vs sermorelin: which is better?
They hit the same receptor. Sermorelin is the unmodified GHRH(1-29) fragment with a half life of minutes and a former FDA approval, and it can still be compounded by 503A pharmacies. CJC-1295 lasts about a week per dose, produces larger and more sustained IGF-1 increases in trials, but was never approved, carries FDA cited serious adverse events, and cannot be lawfully compounded after the 2023 Category 2 listing. Neither has a trial showing muscle, fat, or performance benefits in adults. [1] [7]
Decisions about starting, stopping, or combining any treatment belong with a licensed clinician who knows your history.
From the blog
- CJC-1295 side effects: what the human studies reported
CJC-1295 side effects in small human studies included injection site reactions, headache, flushing, diarrhea, and a faster heart rate. It has no FDA approval and no lawful compounding path.
- Peptide stacks: what each common component has shown alone
No trial has tested a multi-peptide stack for muscle growth or fat loss. Nine common stack components ranked by their own human evidence, legal status, and WADA status. No protocols.
- Peptides for muscle growth, ranked by human evidence
MK-677, sermorelin, tesamorelin, CJC-1295, IGF-1 LR3, and more ranked by human evidence. None is approved for muscle growth, and all ten are banned in tested sport.
- Tesamorelin prescription: who qualifies and how to get one
How to get tesamorelin legally: who qualifies for Egrifta WR on label, how off-label prescribing works, why compounded tesamorelin is not lawful, what a visit should check, and cost.
- Does tesamorelin build muscle? What the trials show
Tesamorelin raised lean body mass about 1.2 kg in HIV trials and slightly increased trunk muscle area, but no trial tested strength or muscle growth, and it is prohibited in sport.
- What is peptide therapy? What clinics sell, what is legal, and what works
Peptide therapy means three different things: FDA-approved drugs, compounded prescriptions, and research-only products. Here is how to tell them apart, what the evidence shows, and what it costs.
Sources
Numbered citations above point to these primary sources. PubMed entries link to the indexed abstract.
- [1]Teichman SL 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 2006PubMed 16352683, 2006
- [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 2006PubMed 17018654, 2006
- [3]Sackmann-Sala L et al. Activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, results in serum protein profile changes in normal adult subjects. Growth Horm IGF Res 2009PubMed 19386527, 2009
- [4]Jette L 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 2005PubMed 15817669, 2005
- [5]Alba M et al. Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2006PubMed 16822960, 2006
- [6]Henninge J et al. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Test Anal 2010PubMed 21204297, 2010
- [7]FDA: Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A of the FD&C Act (503A bulks list, Category 1, 2, and 3 lists, and withdrawn nominations)FDA, 2026
- [8]FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meetings (July 2026 meeting on peptide nominations)FDA, 2026
- [9]WADA Prohibited List, section S2 (growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogues, including CJC-1295)WADA, 2026
- [10]FDA: Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding may present significant safety risks (Category 2)FDA
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<a href="https://peptideagent.ai/peptides/cjc-1295">CJC-1295: evidence, legality, and access</a>, PeptideAgent, updated September 23, 2026.