Encyclopedia entry · GH Secretagogues
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 (with and without DAC modification)
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-26
Editorial with affiliate links. We earn from purchases via outbound retailer / clinic links. How we are funded.
AI-friendly summary · CJC-1295
CJC-1295 is a 30-amino-acid synthetic analogue of GHRH (Growth-Hormone-Releasing Hormone) developed by ConjuChem in the 2000s. It is sold in two variants: with DAC (a maleimidopropionic acid linker that extends half-life from minutes to roughly 6 to 8 days by binding to serum albumin) and without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29, short-acting). Early human pharmacokinetic data exists; no phase III approved indication.
Top UK CJC-1295 retailers
Mechanism of action
How CJC-1295 works
CJC-1295 binds the pituitary GHRH receptor (GHRHR) on somatotrophs, stimulating endogenous growth hormone release. The DAC modification adds a maleimidopropionic acid linker that forms a covalent bond with cysteine-34 on serum albumin in vivo, extending the functional half-life from minutes to approximately 6 to 8 days. Without DAC the peptide retains GHRH agonism but degrades within minutes, preserving the physiological pulsatile pattern of GH release. The closely related approved GHRH analogue tesamorelin operates through the same receptor.
Source: Teichman SL et al. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006
What the literature shows
ConjuChem published preclinical and early human safety work in the 2000s. The Teichman 2006 paper in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reported sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation in healthy adults receiving the DAC variant, with single subcutaneous doses producing measurable plasma levels for roughly a week. Pulsatile GH release is preserved with the non-DAC variant. No phase III programme has been completed for CJC-1295 in any indication.
- · Preclinical and early human safety work published by ConjuChem Inc. in the 2000s.
- · Animal-model evidence for sustained increases in GH and IGF-1 with the DAC variant.
- · Pulsatile GH-release pattern preserved with the non-DAC variant; sustained elevation observed with DAC.
- · Teichman SL et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 early human pharmacokinetic study.
- · No phase III approved indication. Research-tier in all Western jurisdictions.
What the molecule is
- · 30-residue GHRH analogue developed for sustained GH release.
- · DAC variant adds a maleimidopropionic acid linker that covalently binds the peptide to serum albumin in vivo.
- · Acts on the pituitary GHRH receptor to stimulate endogenous GH release.
- · Frequently paired with ghrelin mimetics (Ipamorelin, GHRP-2) in research stacking because the two receptors act on different pathways.
- · Closely related to tesamorelin, the only MHRA / EMA approved GHRH analogue, licensed for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
UK regulatory status
- · Not a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- · Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- · No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- · Sold legally as a research chemical under research-use-only framing.
- · On the WADA prohibited list (S2 peptide hormones class). Tested athletes should be aware.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about CJC-1295
Known concerns
- No published phase III human RCT establishing efficacy in any indication.
- On the WADA prohibited list. Tested athletes face a sanction risk.
- Sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 raises theoretical concerns about effects on insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance and any occult neoplastic tissue under chronic administration.
- Purity of UK research-peptide supply varies. DAC variants are particularly sensitive to manufacturing tolerances on the linker chemistry.
Open questions in the literature
- Long-term safety of chronic GHRH-analogue administration in healthy adults is not established.
- Optimal dosing intervals to balance pulsatile vs sustained GH release are unstudied at trial scale.
- Effects on glucose metabolism and IGF-1 axis under repeat administration in non-HIV-lipodystrophy populations are uncharacterised.
- Whether early-phase findings translate from healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetic studies to repeated-dose use is unestablished.
Regulatory note
Not a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. No UK marketing authorisation. WADA prohibited list S2 peptide hormones class. Becomes an unlicensed medicinal product the moment a retailer or commentator makes therapeutic claims about it.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Editorial
Baseline panels to track
If you are working with a UK private doctor or NHS prescriber on a peptide protocol, these are the blood panels typically ordered at baseline for CJC-1295. Not a recommendation for self-administered testing.
- IGF-1. Downstream marker of growth hormone activity. Prescribers track baseline and post-administration response.
- Fasting glucose. GH secretagogues can affect glucose metabolism. Baseline establishes whether changes are pharmacologic.
- HbA1c. 90-day glucose average. Used to monitor metabolic impact over a longer time window.
- Lipid panel. GH activity influences lipid metabolism. Baseline lipid panel allows tracking of cardiovascular markers.
Order a UK lab panel
Affiliate links to UK lab providers. PeptideClear earns commission on bookings. Editorial selection independent. See how we are funded.
Where to learn more
- · PubMed search: CJC-1295 returns roughly 30 papers.
- · Tesamorelin PubMed search: the approved GHRH analogue, useful for class-level mechanism context.
- · Teichman SL et al. early human pharmacokinetic work.
- · Function hub: GH Secretagogues.
- · UK retailer comparison: research peptides UK retailers.
Frequently asked questions
Is CJC-1295 legal in the UK?
What does the human evidence show for CJC-1295?
What is the regulatory status of CJC-1295?
What forms is CJC-1295 available in?
Where can I learn more about CJC-1295?
Where to buy CJC-1295 in the UK
Side-by-side price comparison across UK research peptide retailers. DAC and no-DAC variants. Trust Index ranking. Research use only.
Compare UK retailersClinical evidence record
Read the clinical evidence record for CJC-1295
Top peer-reviewed citations, mechanism of action, structured UK regulatory status. Machine-readable companion to this encyclopedia entry.
Popular on PeptideClear
Ready to buy
Buy CJC-1295 in the UK
UK retailers compared by price, Trust Index, and CoA practice. Editorial commentary only. Research use only.