CJC-1295 DAC

discontinued

Also known as: CJC-1295 with Drug Affinity Complex

CJC-1295 with Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) engineered to extend its half-life via covalent attachment to a drug affinity complex (DAC), which binds to serum albumin. This modification allows for sustained, multi-day release of the peptide, resulting in prolonged stimulation of pituitary somatotrophs and subsequent elevation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. The mechanism bypasses natural GHRH pulsatility, leading to a continuous, non-physiological GH secretion profile. Key research findings from 31 PubMed-indexed studies demonstrate that a single subcutaneous dose of CJC-1295 DAC can elevate GH and IGF-1 for up to 6–11 days in healthy adults, with dose-dependent effects. Preclinical and clinical data indicate increased lean body mass and reduced adipose tissue in animal models, though human trials were limited. Notably, the compound was associated with sustained IGF-1 levels above the normal range, raising concerns about long-term safety, including potential acromegaly-like effects and pituitary desensitization. Clinical relevance is constrained by the discontinuation of CJC-1295 DAC development, likely due to safety and tolerability issues from prolonged GH/IGF-1 elevation. No approved therapeutic indications exist, and its use remains confined to experimental research. The sustained pharmacokinetic profile, while novel, introduced risks of hormonal dysregulation that outweighed potential benefits in clinical settings. For research purposes only — not medical advice.

Key data

Category
Growth Hormone Peptides
Half-life
6-8 days
Administration
subcutaneous
Research status
discontinued
References
35
Tags
ghrh-analog, long-acting

Research & studies

A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review
The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness · 2026 · PubMed

Peptides like growth hormone secretagogues and analogues are marketed for muscle growth and recovery but lack clinical evidence for supraphysiological use.; Potential risks include cardiovascular strain, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and psychiatric instability.; Unregulated supply chains lead to mislabeled or contaminated products, exacerbating health dangers.; Prevalence data on recreational use, especially among younger individuals, is critically lacking.

Analysis of growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogs in urine using nano liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/orbitrap mass spectrometry
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2026 · PubMed

A refined sample preparation combining ultrafiltration and solid-phase extraction was developed for GHRH and analogs in urine.; The method was fully validated according to WADA guidelines, including selectivity, robustness, and matrix effects.; Achieved LODs of 0.5 ng/mL and LOIs of 0.5-0.75 ng/mL for target peptides in urine.; The method is suitable for both screening and confirmation analyses in anti-doping testing.

Probing for peptidic drugs (2-10 kDa) in doping control blood samples
Analytical science advances · 2022 · PubMed

Liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (>100,000 FWHM) enables initial testing of prohibited peptides in blood with simplified sample preparation.; Mixed-mode solid-phase extraction allows generic extraction of multiple peptide classes, including insulins, GHRHs, IGFs, and MGFs, from blood.; Blood analysis detects intact peptide hormones at higher concentrations than urine, facilitating detection.; The method fulfills WADA TD2022 MRPL requirements and demonstrated proof of principle with post-administration samples.

An antibody-free, ultrafiltration-based assay for the detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations using nanoLC-HRMS/MS
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022 · PubMed

Limits of detection were 5-25 pg/mL and limits of identification were 25-50 pg/mL.; Recoveries ranged from 59-115%, with similar sensitivity to immuno-affinity purification but lower costs.; Sermorelin and its metabolite degraded rapidly at temperatures >4°C and pH <7.; The method can be expanded to cover emerging peptide drugs and metabolites without specific antibodies.

Early detection of cannabinoids in biological samples based on their affinity interaction with the growth hormone secretagogue receptor
Talanta · 2022 · PubMed

CBD and carboxy-THC act as extracellular ligands for GHS-R1a, strongly promoting ghrelin binding.; Cannabinoids promoted GHR/GHS-R1a interaction, while synthetic GHR mimetics acted as competitive inhibitors.; The assay displayed good linearity and sensitivity for CBD and carboxy-THC in 1:4 diluted urine at 5-30 ng/mL.; GHR mimetics showed no interference at concentrations up to 100 ng/mL, and results were validated by GC-MS/MS.

Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs
Drug testing and analysis · 2021 · PubMed

Nineteen major in vitro metabolites of four GHRH analogs were identified and synthesized as reference materials.; A sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed for detecting parent peptides and metabolites in urine.; Detection limits for target peptides were generally 1 ng/ml or less, meeting WADA performance limits.

A method for confirming CJC-1295 abuse in equine plasma samples by LC-MS/MS
Drug testing and analysis · 2019 · PubMed

CJC-1295 is a peptide drug that stimulates growth hormone production and forms long-lasting conjugates with plasma proteins.; Conjugated CJC-1295 is difficult to detect by mass spectrometry due to low abundance and high molecular weight.; The new LC-MS/MS method successfully confirmed CJC-1295 after immuno-affinity capture and tryptic digestion.; The method detected CJC-1295 at concentrations as low as 180 pg/mL in equine plasma.

An immuno polymerase chain reaction screen for the detection of CJC-1295 and other growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogs in equine plasma
Drug testing and analysis · 2019 · PubMed

CJC-1295 covalently links to plasma proteins via a maleimidopropionic acid group, evading standard mass spectrometry detection.; The I-PCR assay detects the CJC-1295-protein conjugate at concentrations as low as 0.8 pg/mL.; A screening threshold of 50 pg/mL was established to differentiate CJC-1295 from endogenous equine GHRH.; The assay effectively identified CJC-1295 in equine plasma samples after administration to thoroughbred race horses.

Frequently asked questions

What is CJC-1295 DAC?

CJC-1295 with Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) engineered to extend its half-life via covalent attachment to a drug affinity complex (DAC), which binds to serum albumin. This modification allows for sustained, multi-day release of the peptide, resulting in pro

How does CJC-1295 DAC work?

Albumin-binding (DAC) GHRH analog producing sustained, multi-day elevation of GH and IGF-1.

What is the research status of CJC-1295 DAC?

CJC-1295 DAC is currently classified as discontinued, with 35 research references on record. This is for research purposes only and is not medical advice.

What is the half-life of CJC-1295 DAC?

The reported half-life of CJC-1295 DAC is 6-8 days.

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