CJC-1295 (with and without DAC): research, side effects and dosage in studies
In short
CJC-1295 is a long-acting analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone. It has only been studied in small studies in healthy adults [3]A, and it has no marketing authorisation as a medicine [12]regulator.
- In healthy adults a single injection raised growth hormone levels 2- to 10-fold for at least six days [3]A. The studies measured hormones, not muscle, fat or performance [6].
- The CJC-1295 used in studies was the albumin-binding DAC form. The "CJC-1295 without DAC" common online has not been studied in humans [5]C [6].
- The FDA has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295, such as increased heart rate, and there are no long-term safety data [2]regulator [6].
- CJC-1295 is listed in Annex 1 A of Fimea's medicines list [10]regulator. Annex 1 A substances are controlled as medicines in Finland and are always treated like prescription-only medicines. In sport it is prohibited at all times (WADA S2.2.4) [11]regulator.
What is CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), known as GRF 1-29. It has four substituted amino acids and, at its end, a chemical linker that attaches the substance to albumin in the blood. This makes the substance stay in the blood longer [5]C.
The albumin-binding part is called DAC (drug affinity complex) [6]. In the original studies the name CJC-1295 meant exactly this albumin-binding substance [3]A [5]C.
CJC-1295 is not growth hormone. It increases the body's own growth hormone release [3]A. Fimea gives CJC-1295 as an example name under which injectable peptides are sold online, and according to Fimea the label "for research use only" means the product is not intended for humans [1]regulator. Basics: What are peptides?. All substances: Peptides A-Z.
Evidence at a glance
Each cell gives the kind of study and its source. The letter is the evidence level, not the result.
| Claimed effect | Humans | Animals | Cells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth hormone rise | In healthy adults a 2- to 10-fold rise for at least 6 days from one injection [3]A | In rats growth hormone release over 2 hours was 4-fold that of GRF 1-29 [5]C | Activated cultured rat pituitary cells [5]D |
| IGF-1 rise | In healthy adults 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days; raised for up to 28 days with repeated doses [3]A | - | - |
| Long duration of action | Half-life in healthy adults 5.8 to 8.1 days [3]A | In rats in the blood beyond 72 hours [5]C | - |
| Muscle, fat and performance | No controlled study [6] | - | - |
| "Without DAC" form | No peer-reviewed human study [6] | - | - |
| Safety | No serious adverse reactions in short, small studies [3]A; the FDA has identified serious adverse events such as increased heart rate [2]regulator | - | - |
"-" = no such study is known.
What is CJC-1295 studied for?
None of the CJC-1295 uses below is approved. CJC-1295 has no marketing authorisation in the EU [12, 14]regulator.
- Raising growth hormone and IGF-1: small studies in healthy adults measured hormone levels [3]A [4, 13]B.
- Abdominal fat in people with HIV: the developer started a phase 2 trial in 2005, but the trial was terminated, and the registry records neither a reason nor results [8]E, not peer-reviewed.
Claims online. Claims about muscle growth, fat burning and recovery do not rest on research: there are no controlled efficacy data [6].
How does CJC-1295 work?
CJC-1295 makes the pituitary gland release more growth hormone, and growth hormone raises IGF-1 levels [3]A. In an experiment with rat pituitary cells, albumin-linked GRF 1-29 analogues increased growth hormone release [5]D.
Binding to albumin protects the substance from breakdown. In a laboratory experiment the albumin-linked analogues were more stable against the enzyme DPP-4 than GRF 1-29 [5]D. In healthy adults the effect lasted for days [3]A.
In healthy men, growth hormone was still released in pulses after the injection, but the baseline level rose 7.5-fold [4]B.
Has CJC-1295 been studied in humans?
A little. The human data come from small studies in healthy adults from 2006 to 2009, and they measured hormone levels [3]A [4, 13]B. There are no controlled data on benefits [6].
Human studies
- Two randomised trials (2006). Healthy people aged 21 to 61 received CJC-1295 or placebo under the skin. A single injection raised growth hormone levels 2- to 10-fold, depending on dose, for at least six days, and IGF-1 levels 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days. With repeated doses, IGF-1 stayed above baseline for up to 28 days [3]A.
- Overnight measurements (2006). Growth hormone was measured overnight in healthy men aged 20 to 40 before and one week after an injection. Mean growth hormone rose by 46% and IGF-1 by 45% [4]B.
- Blood proteins (2009). In 11 healthy young men, changes were seen in blood proteins one week after the injection. The authors considered them possible markers of growth hormone action [13]B.
- People with HIV (2005-2006). The developer's phase 2 trial was terminated, and the registry holds no results [8]E, not peer-reviewed.
These studies do not show whether CJC-1295 adds muscle, reduces fat or improves performance, because no such controlled study exists [6].
Who studies CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 was developed by the Canadian company ConjuChem, whose researchers described it in rats in 2005 [5]C. The company also sponsored the terminated phase 2 trial [8]E, not peer-reviewed. According to a 2026 review, commercial development of the substance stopped [7]. We found no newer human studies; the latest publications are reviews [6, 7] and doping-control laboratory analyses [9]D.
Author of this page: editorial team
This page was written by the Molecular Recovery editorial team. The draft was made with the help of AI, and the claims were checked against the sources (AI policy). The page has not been medically reviewed. How we work: About us.
How long does CJC-1295 stay in the body?
CJC-1295 stays in the body for days. In healthy adults the half-life of CJC-1295 was estimated at 5.8 to 8.1 days [3]A. In rats the substance was present in the blood beyond 72 hours, and the albumin-bound form appeared in the blood 15 minutes after the injection and remained for more than a day [5]C.
How long the form sold without DAC stays in the body has not been studied in humans [6].
What are the side effects of CJC-1295?
No serious adverse reactions were reported in the short studies in healthy adults [3]A, but the FDA has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295 [2]regulator. The studies were small and lasted at most 49 days, so they say nothing about rare or long-term harms [3]A [6].
What users report. In the Reddit accounts we compiled (not research), 52 of 75 people (69%) reported some harm, most often: flushing or head rush after the shot (19, 25%), sleep problems (10, 13%), allergic reaction, hives or rash (9, 12%) and heart or blood pressure (9, 12%). People tend to post when something goes wrong, so this share does not tell how common harms are. CJC-1295 was almost always used with ipamorelin: 58 of 75 people (77%). Users of both the DAC version and the version without DAC are included, and the figures cannot separate them. The harms in detail: CJC-1295 user experiences.
What the FDA found
The FDA has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295, including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction. According to the FDA, clinical data are limited, and products may carry a risk of immune reactions by certain routes and peptide-related impurities [2]regulator.
Harms of peptides acting on the growth hormone axis
According to a review, peptides acting on the growth hormone axis have been linked to rises in prolactin and cortisol, appetite changes, blood sugar disturbances, fluid retention, muscle and joint pain and injection site reactions. A sustained rise in growth hormone and IGF-1 also carries a theoretical cancer concern that has not been demonstrated [6].
Risks in products bought online
According to Fimea, there is no reliable information on the content, quality and safety of products sold as peptides. For injectable products, impurities such as endotoxins raise the risk of serious health hazards [1]regulator. More: Side effects and safety.
Interactions and who has no data
Interactions with other medicines have not been studied. The human studies were done in healthy adults [3]A [4]B, so there are no data on pregnancy or breastfeeding, children or people with long-term illness. According to a review, blood sugar disturbances have been reported in people using peptides that act on the growth hormone axis [6]. Use with diabetes medicines has not been studied.
What speaks against it and what is unknown
The rise in hormone levels has been shown, but no benefit has been shown. The only trial started in patients was terminated, and no results are posted in the registry [8]E, not peer-reviewed.
Counter-evidence
- There is no controlled study of efficacy and no data on long-term safety [6].
- The developer's phase 2 trial was terminated, and the registry record does not give a reason [8]E, not peer-reviewed. According to a 2026 review, commercial development stopped after a trial participant died, and the death was judged unrelated to the drug [7]. However, for this the review cites a 2006 study that does not deal with the death, and we found no authority source on it. We therefore treat the statement that the death was unrelated to the drug as unconfirmed.
- In the overnight study, 90 µg/kg gave no different response from 60 µg/kg [4]B.
What the evidence does not support
- "CJC-1295 without DAC is the same substance that was studied": it is not. The CJC-1295 used in studies bound to albumin in the blood and acted for days [3]A [5]C. There are no peer-reviewed human studies of the form sold without DAC [6].
- "CJC-1295 builds muscle and burns fat": this has not been shown. The human studies measured hormone levels in healthy adults [3]A [4]B, and there are no controlled efficacy data [6].
- "Because CJC-1295 raises the body's own growth hormone, it is safe": this is not known. The FDA has identified serious adverse events and considers clinical data limited [2]regulator, and there are no long-term safety data [6].
It is also not known what the form sold without DAC does in humans [6], or whether the death in the phase 2 trial was related to the drug [7, 8].
CJC-1295 dosage in studies
There is no approved dosage, because CJC-1295 has no marketing authorisation [12]regulator. Below are the doses used in studies in healthy adults. They are not instructions or recommendations.
| Study | Who | Dose and route | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teichman 2006 (two trials) | healthy adults aged 21-61 | four ascending dose levels under the skin; the abstract names the doses 30 and 60 µg/kg. First a single dose, then two or three doses one or two weeks apart | 28 and 49 days [3]A |
| Ionescu 2006 | healthy men aged 20-40 | 60 or 90 µg/kg under the skin, once | measurements before and one week after the injection [4]B |
| Sackmann-Sala 2009 | 11 healthy young men from the same data | one injection under the skin | one week [13]B |
What the numbers do not tell you. The doses are per kilogram of body weight, the studies lasted at most 49 days, and they measured hormones, not benefits [3]A [6]. The authors describe the substance as relatively well tolerated, particularly at 30 or 60 µg/kg [3]A, but that does not make a dose safe. Doses of the form sold without DAC have not been studied in humans [6].
Study doses with sources: CJC-1295 doses in studies. Unit conversions: CJC-1295 calculator. Doses of other substances: Dosing.
CJC-1295 DAC vs without DAC: what is the difference?
They are different substances. The DAC form binds to albumin in the blood and acts for days, and it is the form studied in humans [3]A [5]C. The substance sold without DAC lacks the albumin-binding part [6].
- Name: the substance sold without DAC is also called Mod GRF 1-29. The name "CJC-1295 without DAC" is a commercial one, because in the studies the name CJC-1295 meant the albumin-binding form [5]C [6].
- Human studies: there are small studies of the DAC form in healthy adults [3]A [4]B. There are no peer-reviewed human studies of the form sold without DAC [6].
- Duration: the half-life of the DAC form in healthy adults was 5.8 to 8.1 days [3]A. The duration of the form sold without DAC has not been measured in humans [6].
- Law and sport: the Finnish medicines list names "CJC-1295 and CJC-1295 DAC" [10]regulator, and on the WADA list CJC-1295 is in class S2.2.4 [11]regulator.
Combinations and blends
Combinations have not been studied in humans. According to a review, the form sold without DAC is often used together with ipamorelin on bodybuilding forums [6]. No human study of this combination has been published, only reviews [6]. According to the review, the claimed benefits of the form sold without DAC are inferred from other substances rather than from direct research [6].
On blends in general: Peptide blends: what is in the vial and why the seller's label is not enough.
IGF-1 LR3, which has no human studies, acts on the same axis. Whether hexarelin with CJC-1295 has been studied is covered on the hexarelin page: studied combination or not.
The situation in the United States
In the United States, the FDA page lists CJC-1295 among substances that had been placed in compounding category 2 because of safety risks and whose nomination was later withdrawn by the nominator. The FDA risk description remains on the page (updated 22 Apr 2026) [2]regulator.
Is CJC-1295 legal in Finland?
CJC-1295 is listed in Annex 1 A of Fimea's medicines list [10]regulator. Annex 1 A substances are controlled as medicines in Finland and are always treated like prescription-only medicines. CJC-1295 has no marketing authorisation [12]regulator.
- Medicines list. Annex 1 A of the Finnish medicines list (Fimea decision 230/2025) names "CJC-1295 and CJC-1295 DAC". Under the decision, annex 1 A substances are always treated, because of their effect, like medicines available only on prescription [10]regulator.
- Marketing authorisation. On 12 Oct 2026 the EMA data on centrally authorised medicines contained no medicine with CJC-1295 [12]regulator, and the EMA Article 57 database had no CJC-1295 product in any EU or EEA country (data as of 21 Sep 2026) [14]regulator.
- Fimea warning, 29 June 2026. Fimea warned about injectable peptides bought online and gave CJC-1295 as an example name. Fimea advises not ordering injectable peptides from online shops or through social media, and buying medicines only from legal pharmacies [1]regulator.
- Import. Ordering medicines from outside the EU is covered on Peptides and the law in Finland. Bringing them back from travel: Travelling with peptides.
This is not legal advice. Disclaimer.
Is CJC-1295 doping?
Yes. On the WADA 2026 Prohibited List, CJC-1295 is named among growth hormone releasing factors (S2.2.4). Substances in this class are prohibited at all times, including out of competition [11]regulator.
A Norwegian doping laboratory identified CJC-1295 in an unknown preparation by mass spectrometry [9]D.
How is a CJC-1295 product assessed?
You cannot be certain what a product contains. According to Fimea, an unauthorised product may contain a different substance than the packaging states [1]regulator. At the request of police and customs, a Norwegian doping laboratory analysed an unknown preparation and identified a 29-amino-acid peptide whose structure matched CJC-1295. The authors noted that the substance was readily available [9]D.
A certificate of analysis (COA) does not show that a product is safe. For a certificate even to describe the content, it would have to identify the substance by mass spectrometry (MS), state the amount and purity, and cover the same batch as the vial. The name alone does not tell whether the vial holds the DAC form or the substance sold without DAC [6]. The FDA also points to peptide-related impurities and difficulties in characterising the substance [2]regulator. More: How to read a COA and check a test result. Handling: Mixing and handling.
FAQ
What is CJC-1295?
An analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone designed to bind to albumin in the blood and act for a long time [5]C. It is not growth hormone; it increases the body's own growth hormone release [3]A.
CJC-1295 DAC vs without DAC: what is the difference?
DAC is a part that attaches the substance to albumin and prolongs its effect. The CJC-1295 used in studies was this form. The substance sold without DAC, also called Mod GRF 1-29, has not been studied in humans [5]C [6].
CJC-1295 side effects: what is known?
Little. No serious adverse reactions were reported in short studies [3]A, but the FDA has identified serious adverse events such as increased heart rate and a vasodilatory reaction [2]regulator. There are no data on long-term safety [6].
CJC-1295 dosage: what did studies use?
There is no approved dosage. The amounts used in healthy adults are listed under CJC-1295 dosage in studies, and they are not a recommendation [3]A [4]B. Doses of the form sold without DAC have not been studied in humans [6].
CJC-1295 and ipamorelin: has the combination been studied?
No. We found no human study of the combination. According to a review, the combination is common on bodybuilding forums, and the claimed benefits of the form sold without DAC are inferred from other substances rather than from direct research [6].
Does CJC-1295 build muscle?
Not known. The human studies measured hormone levels, and there is no controlled study of muscle, fat or performance [3]A [6].
CJC-1295 in Finland: is it legal?
It has no marketing authorisation, and it is in Annex 1 A of the medicines list, whose substances are always treated like prescription-only medicines [10]regulator. Fimea warns against injectable peptides bought online and names CJC-1295 [1]regulator. This is not legal advice.
CJC-1295 and doping: is it banned?
Yes. On the WADA list CJC-1295 is in the growth hormone releasing factors class S2.2.4 and is prohibited at all times [11]regulator.
What do users themselves report about CJC-1295?
In the Reddit accounts of 75 people we compiled (not research), 34 (45%) reported some benefit and 52 (69%) some harm. The accounts are self-selected and prove neither that it works nor that it is safe: CJC-1295 user experiences.
Read the research yourself: sources
Every source opens the original publication or the regulator's page. The level shows what the source itself reports.
- Fimea. Fimea varoittaa: älä käytä verkosta ostettuja pistettäviä peptidejä / Fimea warns: do not use injectable peptides purchased online. 29 Jun 2026. Fimea regulator
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks, section "Bulk drug substances nominated but withdrawn" (content current as of 22 Apr 2026). FDA regulator
- 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. 2006;91:799-805. PMID 16352683 A
- 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. 2006;91:4792-4797. PMID 17018654 B
- Jetté 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. 2005;146:3052-3058. PMID 15817669 C
- Dominikowski A, et al. The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026;17:1822475. PMID 42395176 (review)
- Mavrych V, Shypilova I, Bolgova O. Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging. Front Aging. 2026;7:1790247. PMID 42021992 (review)
- ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT00267527: A Study to Evaluate CJC 1295 in HIV Patients With Visceral Obesity (phase 2, sponsor ConjuChem, status terminated, no reason recorded). ClinicalTrials.gov E, not peer-reviewed
- Henninge J, et al. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Test Anal. 2010;2:647-650. PMID 21204297 D
- Finland. Lääkeluettelo (Fimea medicines list), 230/2025, section 2 and annex 1 A. Finlex regulator
- World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List, S2.2.4 Growth hormone releasing factors. WADA regulator
- European Medicines Agency. Medicine data (data set of 12 Oct 2026): no product with CJC-1295. EMA regulator
- 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. 2009;19:471-477. PMID 19386527 B
- European Medicines Agency. Article 57 product data (EMA/518502/2018 Rev.89, data as of 21 Sep 2026): no product with CJC-1295 in any EU/EEA country. EMA regulator
Research sources checked 12-13 Oct 2026. Regulator and registry sources checked 15 Sep to 12 Oct 2026. The trial halt after a participant's death was reported, for example, by aidsmap on 31 Jul 2006.
Evidence levels: A = randomised human trial or meta-analysis · B = observational human study or case series · C = animal study · D = cell or laboratory study · E = not peer-reviewed · regulator = a regulator's assessment or decision, not research evidence. The marker official means official product information (summary of product characteristics or label); it is not research evidence. For a review, the level shows what kind of research the statement rests on. No level: statements that something has not been studied, reviews' interpretations, named hypotheses and the general rules in our certificate-of-analysis guide.
Content is general information about research, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare professional.