Peptide reference
CJC-1295
Last reviewed · Written by the PepCycle team
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It is sold in two forms that are frequently confused: with DAC (a drug affinity complex that greatly extends its half-life) and without DAC, often labelled Modified GRF (1-29). They behave differently and must be logged as separate compounds.
What CJC-1295 is
Growth-hormone-releasing hormone is the natural signal from the hypothalamus that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone. CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of the active fragment of that hormone, modified so that it survives longer in circulation than the natural molecule, which is broken down within minutes.
This puts it in a different mechanistic category from ghrelin-receptor secretagogues like Ipamorelin, which is precisely why the two are so often discussed together — they act on the same output through different inputs.
With DAC versus without DAC — the distinction that matters
DAC stands for Drug Affinity Complex: a chemical group added to the peptide that binds it to albumin in the blood, dramatically extending how long it circulates. The presence or absence of this group produces two products with very different pharmacokinetics.
| CJC-1295 with DAC | CJC-1295 without DAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Also sold as | CJC-1295 DAC | Modified GRF (1-29), Mod GRF |
| Albumin binding | Yes, via the DAC group | No |
| Circulating half-life | Days | Minutes |
| Practical consequence | Infrequent entries | Frequent entries |
How it is supplied and stored
Both forms arrive lyophilised in 2 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg vials, reconstituted with bacteriostatic water and refrigerated afterward. The labelling is where errors creep in: some suppliers print "CJC-1295" with no DAC designation at all, leaving the buyer to infer which product they received.
- Photograph the vial label and keep it with the vial record — this is the single most valuable habit with ambiguously labelled products.
- Record the supplier and lot every time; two vials with the same printed name from different suppliers are not verified to be the same thing.
- If the form is genuinely unclear from the label, record that uncertainty in the log rather than guessing.
Research context and status
CJC-1295 with DAC was developed by a biotechnology company and studied in early-phase human trials, where it was shown to raise growth hormone and IGF-1 levels for extended periods. Development did not proceed to approval, and there is no approved CJC-1295 medicine in the US, EU or UK.
As with other GHRH analogues and secretagogues, it is prohibited in tested sport and, in the US, has been placed by the FDA outside the categories eligible for pharmacy compounding.
What to record
- Form (DAC or no DAC) in the compound name itself — not in a note that can be missed.
- Vial mg, water volume, reconstitution date, supplier and lot.
- Amount in mcg per entry and the time of day.
- Stack components as separate entries — see Ipamorelin for why merged entries fail.
In PepCycle you can keep "CJC-1295 (DAC)" and "CJC-1295 (no DAC)" as two compounds with independent vials and schedules, so switching between them leaves a clean, comparable history rather than a single ambiguous line.
Frequently asked questions
What does DAC mean in CJC-1295 with DAC?
DAC stands for Drug Affinity Complex — a chemical group attached to the peptide that binds it to albumin in the bloodstream, extending its circulating half-life from minutes to days. Its presence or absence defines two distinct products.
Is Modified GRF (1-29) the same as CJC-1295 without DAC?
The names are used interchangeably in the market for the same product: the GHRH analogue fragment without the albumin-binding group. Record whichever name your label uses, plus the supplier, so your history matches the physical vials.
Can I keep both forms under one compound in my log?
You should not. The two forms have very different pharmacokinetics, so identical numbers in the same compound record would mean different things at different times. Create two compounds with the form in the name.
How is CJC-1295 different from Ipamorelin?
They act through different receptors toward the same output. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analogue acting on the GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor secretagogue. That mechanistic difference is why they are commonly discussed as a pair.
Related pages
Track CJC-1295 without re-doing the maths
Enter the vial once — mass, diluent volume, lot, date — and every entry after that converts automatically between mcg, mL and syringe units, with the vial counting down as you log.
Free to download · No account required · Price shown before you enter anything personal