Growth Hormone Secretagogues

CJC-1295

A modified GHRH analog that provides sustained growth hormone release, often combined with Ipamorelin.

C152H252N44O42SHalf-life: 8 days (DAC form); 30 minutes (no DAC / Mod GRF 1-29)Molar mass: 3368.90 g/mol

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Compound Profile

CJC-1295

Key Data

FormulaC152H252N44O42S
Molar mass3368.9 g/mol
Half-life8 days (DAC form); 30 minutes (no DAC / Mod GRF 1-29)
CategoryGrowth Hormone Secretagogues

Research reference only

Research Focus

Sustained, elevated GH levels over extended periods
Enhanced muscle growth and protein synthesis
Significant fat loss, particularly visceral fat

Preclinical data

⚠ Research & Educational Use Only. CJC-1295 is a research chemical documented here for scientific education. All information references peer-reviewed literature and preclinical/clinical study data. Not for human consumption. Not medical advice. Consult a licensed researcher or healthcare professional before any laboratory use.

Chemistry review: Ashish KumarWritten by the KnowYourPeptide Research TeamLast updated August 2026
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Key Takeaways
  • Sustained, elevated GH levels over extended periods
  • Enhanced muscle growth and protein synthesis
  • Significant fat loss, particularly visceral fat
  • CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for human use. It is a research chemical for scientific study only.

Research At a Glance

  • Sustained, elevated GH levels over extended periods
  • Enhanced muscle growth and protein synthesis
  • Significant fat loss, particularly visceral fat
  • Improved recovery from exercise and injury
Calculate CJC-1295 dose
Who researches this:Adults over 35 noticing slower recovery and body composition changesPeople researching age-related growth hormone decline (somatopause)Researchers studying the GH axis in sleep quality and muscle repairThose already familiar with peptides looking at a GH-secretagogue protocol
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In Plain English

Simple summary

Your brain naturally pulses growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) into your bloodstream to tell your pituitary gland to release GH -- mostly at night, mostly in short bursts. CJC-1295 is a stabilized version of that signal. It does the same job but lasts far longer than the natural hormone does. The Mod GRF 1-29 form gives you a short-acting pulse with a half-life around 30 minutes; the DAC version binds to albumin in your blood and keeps signaling for 6–8 days from a single injection. Neither form is typically used alone -- the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin pairing is what most protocols actually use, because hitting two different receptor types multiplies GH output 5–10x.

  • Sustained, elevated GH levels over extended periods
  • Enhanced muscle growth and protein synthesis
  • Significant fat loss, particularly visceral fat

The full scientific detail, mechanisms, citations, and dosing data, follows below.

What is CJC-1295?

Tap any underlined term for an instant definition.

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone () with a significantly extended compared to natural . It works by binding to the receptor in the anterior pituitary gland, stimulating the synthesis and secretion of growth hormone. The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version of CJC-1295 further extends its to approximately 8 days by covalently binding to albumin in the bloodstream, allowing for once or twice-weekly injections. Without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29), it requires more frequent dosing but produces a more natural pulsatile GH release pattern. CJC-1295 is most commonly combined with Ipamorelin for a synergistic effect on GH release.

By the Numbers

2–10x
Increase in mean GH levels in a Phase 2 trial of 65 healthy adults at 30–120 mcg/kg doses
1.5–3x
Sustained IGF-1 elevation for 6 days with a single CJC-1295 DAC injection
5–10x
Greater GH release when CJC-1295 is combined with ipamorelin vs either compound alone

Key Research Benefits

Documented effects observed in preclinical and clinical studies on CJC-1295. See all Growth Hormone Secretagogues peptides for comparison.

Sustained, elevated GH levels over extended periods
Enhanced muscle growth and protein synthesis
Significant fat loss, particularly visceral fat
Improved recovery from exercise and injury
Enhanced skin elasticity and collagen production
Better sleep quality and deeper sleep cycles
Increased IGF-1 levels
Anti-aging effects on multiple body systems

Common Stacks

CJC-1295 is frequently combined with the following peptides for synergistic effects. Click any peptide to compare profiles before deciding.

The classic GH stack: CJC-1295 raises baseline GH levels while Ipamorelin delivers clean, timed pulses without cortisol or appetite spikes.

Ipamorelin profile

CJC-1295 provides sustained GH elevation while Tesamorelin's full-length GHRH agonism adds proven visceral fat reduction data.

Tesamorelin profile

CJC-1295 drives GH release which stimulates IGF-1 production; stacking with exogenous IGF-1 LR3 amplifies downstream anabolic signalling.

IGF-1 LR3 profile

Side Effects & Risks

Adverse effects reported in the research literature. All data sourced from preclinical and clinical study reports. View all peptides' side effects →

Dosing Data from the Literature

Doses referenced below are sourced from published preclinical and clinical studies. Use the peptide dose calculator to convert these values to injection volume.

Research Dosing Protocol

CJC-1295 DAC: 1–2 mg once or twice weekly. Mod GRF 1-29 (no DAC): 100 mcg per injection, 1–3 times daily. Always combined with Ipamorelin (100–300 mcg) for optimal results. Common stacking protocol: inject both simultaneously, 30 min before bed or morning on empty stomach.

Enter your vial size and target dose to get the exact injection volume.

Administration in Research Settings

Standard reconstitution and administration methodology for laboratory research use.

with . For DAC version: once weekly injection is sufficient. For Mod GRF 1-29: inject simultaneously with Ipamorelin for synergistic GH pulse. Allow 2 hours of fasting before injection for maximum GH release (insulin inhibits GH). Rotate injection sites.

What the research doesn't show

Growth hormone has pro-growth signaling properties that are relevant to cancer biology at high doses. The long-term safety of sustained IGF-1 elevation from CJC-1295 DAC (which keeps signaling for days) hasn't been studied in humans. Many researchers prefer the shorter-acting Mod GRF 1-29 form specifically because it allows more control.

Research Video

Medical Expert Videos

Physicians, researchers, and pharmacologists explain CJC-1295, covering mechanisms of action, clinical context, and study findings.

YouTube, CJC-1295 · doctors & researchersOpen in YouTube

Videos sourced from YouTube search. KnowYourPeptide does not endorse any individual creator. For research education only.

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The Bottom Line

CJC-1295 has a growing body of preclinical evidence and a well-characterised safety profile in research settings. The most-studied application is: sustained, elevated gh levels over extended periods.

The most commonly reported side effect in research subjects is water retention and bloating. It is a research chemical, not approved for human use.

Research chemicalNot for human useEducational purposes only

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Further

Quick Reference

Half-Life
8 days (DAC form); 30 minutes (no DAC / Mod GRF 1-29)
Molar Mass
3368.90 g/mol
Formula
C152H252N44O42S
Legal Status
Research chemical — not FDA approved. Legal to purchase for laboratory research in most countries.
Storage
Lyophilized: -20°C for long-term, 2–8°C for up to 6 months. Reconstituted: 2–8°C for up to 28 days.

How It Compares

Sermorelin is the older, shorter-acting GHRH analogue -- mostly used in clinical settings. Ipamorelin works at a different receptor (the ghrelin receptor) and produces a cleaner GH pulse without cortisol or prolactin spikes. The CJC-1295 + ipamorelin stack is dominant in research protocols because they're synergistic, not redundant -- they hit separate pathways simultaneously.

Compare CJC-1295 side-by-side

Research Use Only

This information is for educational research purposes only. This is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.

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