CJC-1295

What is CJC-1295?

CJC-1295 is a modified peptide based on the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone — the sequence that carries GHRH’s biological activity.

The modifications make it more stable than natural GHRH, which is broken down in the body within minutes. By mimicking GHRH, CJC-1295 prompts the pituitary to secrete growth hormone in a natural, pulsatile pattern rather than flooding the body with synthetic GH.

DAC vs non-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29)

The single most important distinction with CJC-1295 is whether it carries DAC:

• CJC-1295 with DAC. DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) binds to albumin in the bloodstream, which dramatically extends the peptide’s half-life. The result is a sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 over several days from a single dose, dosed roughly once or twice weekly.
• CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29). Without the DAC group, the peptide is short-acting — it clears within a few hours and produces a sharp, brief GH pulse. It is dosed more frequently, typically alongside a meal-timed protocol.

Which form a protocol uses changes the dosing schedule and how it’s stacked, so it’s worth confirming which one you’re discussing with a provider.

Benefits and uses

What CJC-1295 is used for, with the honest framing that human clinical data on the body-composition outcomes is limited:

• Body composition. By raising GH and IGF-1, CJC-1295 is used to support lean mass and fat metabolism over a cycle.
• Recovery. Elevated GH supports soft-tissue repair, which is why it’s used by people training hard.
• Sleep. Growth hormone is released in the deepest stages of sleep; users report improved sleep quality on GHRH-analog protocols.
• Anti-aging. GH and IGF-1 decline with age, and CJC-1295 is used to push them back toward youthful ranges.

Most clinical study of CJC-1295 has measured its effect on GH and IGF-1 levels rather than on long-term body-composition or anti-aging endpoints. The hormonal effect is well documented; the downstream outcomes rest more on user reports.

The ipamorelin pairing

CJC-1295 is almost always paired with ipamorelin. The two work through different mechanisms that combine for a stronger GH pulse.

CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog (it tells the pituitary to make GH), while ipamorelin is a growth-hormone secretagogue (it triggers the release of stored GH). Run together, they produce a synergistic pulse larger than either alone.

For a broader protocol, compare the stack with other muscle and performance peptides, and see sermorelin for the shorter-acting GHRH alternative.

How it works

CJC-1295 binds the GHRH receptor on the pituitary and stimulates the synthesis and release of growth hormone. The released GH acts on the liver and other tissues to produce IGF-1, the insulin-like growth factor that mediates most of GH’s anabolic and repair effects.

Because the signal goes through the body’s own pituitary, GH is released in pulses rather than as a constant synthetic level — the appeal over direct GH injection.

Biology and chemistry details

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It is based on the biologically active region of GHRH and modified to resist rapid breakdown, which is why it lasts longer than natural GHRH.

The DAC version uses a Drug Affinity Complex that binds albumin and extends half-life for a sustained GH and IGF-1 signal. The non-DAC version is commonly called Mod GRF 1-29; it produces a shorter GH pulse and is usually discussed separately from CJC-1295 with DAC.

Dosage and administration

CJC-1295 is given by subcutaneous injection. Dosing depends entirely on the form: the DAC version is dosed roughly once or twice weekly because of its extended half-life, while the non-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) is dosed more frequently, often before bed or post-workout, to align with natural GH pulses.

It is commonly combined with ipamorelin in a single injection. These are not official dosing guidelines — there is no FDA-approved CJC-1295 product — and dosing should be set by the prescribing provider.

Reconstitution and drawing the right volume on an insulin syringe is where most errors happen. Use the peptide dosage calculator to convert your target dose into syringe units for your vial size.

Side effects and safety

Reported side effects are generally mild — injection-site reactions, flushing, headache, and water retention from elevated GH.

Because it raises GH and IGF-1, the relevant monitoring is for the effects of higher GH: blood sugar can rise, and IGF-1 should be kept within a sensible range rather than pushed indefinitely.

Long-term human safety data for CJC-1295 specifically is limited. Anyone using it should monitor IGF-1 and metabolic markers and work with a provider.

Legal status and how to get CJC-1295

CJC-1295 was not among the 12 peptides removed from the FDA’s Section 503A Category 2 list in April 2026, and it is not on the agenda for the July 23–24, 2026 Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting. Its compounding status is therefore more constrained than the reclassified peptides.

If prescribed after evaluation by a licensed provider, CJC-1295 should come from an appropriate pharmacy. Products sold online “for research use only” are not approved, manufactured, or quality-controlled for human use, and buying them carries quality and legal risk.