At a glance: Long-acting analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone. Evidence: Early human studies; development stopped. Status: Not approved.
How it works
CJC-1295 is a modified version of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), changed so it survives longer in the body than the natural hormone. It prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone in pulses.
Two versions are sold, and they behave very differently. With DAC (drug affinity complex) it binds to albumin in the blood and lasts for days. Without DAC, often sold as *Mod GRF 1–29*, it lasts only minutes.
How it’s taken
In the published studies it was given as an injection under the skin. The DAC version was designed for weekly or twice-weekly dosing; the non-DAC version is extremely short-acting.
What the research shows
- Early human studies showed it raised growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, and confirmed the long duration the molecule was designed for.
- Those studies were small and short, intended to establish how the drug behaved in the body rather than whether it helped anything.
- Development was stopped. It was never taken through the large trials that would show a health benefit, and no regulator has approved it.
- There are no published trials showing it improves body composition, recovery, sleep or ageing in humans.
Side effects
Reported in the early studies: injection site reactions, flushing and headache. Raising growth hormone and IGF-1 over long periods carries theoretical concerns about fluid retention, joint pain, insulin resistance and tissue growth, but long-term data does not exist.
What’s sold online
No approved dose exists. Because no regulator has approved this peptide, there is no official dosing schedule, no quality standard for what is sold, and no doctor overseeing use. Vials sold online are made by unregulated labs; independent testing of online peptides has repeatedly found contents that do not match the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is CJC-1295?
A modified version of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), designed to last much longer in the body than the natural hormone.
How is CJC-1295 taken?
Subcutaneous injection (early studies).
Is CJC-1295 FDA approved?
Not approved.
That means no regulator has reviewed its safety, effectiveness or manufacturing quality for this use.
What has research shown about CJC-1295?
- Raising growth hormone and IGF-1 levels in early human studies.
- How long a single dose stays active, which was the main point of the design.
What side effects have been reported?
- Injection site reactions
- Flushing
- Headache
Serious or less common risks are listed in the Side Effects section above.
What is still unknown about its safety?
Most of it. CJC-1295 has not been through the trials that establish long-term safety in people, and products sold online are made by unregulated labs. Independent testing of online peptides has repeatedly found contents that do not match the label.