CJC-1295 with DAC is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) studied as a long-acting GH secretagogue.1 It is built on the first 29 residues of GHRH (the same core as sermorelin) with four amino-acid substitutions to resist enzymatic degradation, plus a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) — a maleimidopropionyl group on a C-terminal lysine — that covalently binds circulating serum albumin and extends its persistence to a reported terminal half-life of roughly 5.8-8.1 days.12 This is a research-use-only compound. It is not an approved drug anywhere: it was developed by ConjuChem and reached early-phase human trials, but the clinical program was discontinued and no efficacy or outcome trials were completed.3 The published human evidence is limited to early pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic work; the information below describes what studies have reported and is not guidance for use in humans or animals.
Sequence & identity
Modified GHRH(1-29) analog with C-terminal maleimidopropionyl-lysine (DAC) · C₁₆₅H₂₆₉N₄₇O₄₆ · 3647.2 g/mol
Structure and identity per PubChem CID 91971820 (InChIKey ZUQGTWKGESAQCD-ZGFIGYLBSA-N), corresponding to the maleimido-derivatized peptide prior to albumin conjugation.4
Mechanisms studied
Researchers describe CJC-1295 as an agonist analog of GHRH that binds pituitary GHRH receptors to stimulate pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH), with a downstream rise in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I).1 The four substitutions relative to native GHRH(1-29) — reported as D-Ala at position 2, Gln at 8, Ala at 15, and Leu at 27 — are intended to reduce cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and other proteases.3 The defining feature is the DAC: a maleimidopropionyl moiety on the C-terminal lysine that reacts with the free cysteine-34 thiol of serum albumin to form a covalent bioconjugate. Investigators reported that this albumin tethering shields the peptide from rapid clearance and degradation, which they proposed accounts for the multi-day elevation of GH and IGF-I observed after a single injection.12
Dosing in the research literature
The figures below summarise regimens as reported in published research — they are not recommendations or directions for use.
| Source / model | Regimen reported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Teichman et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 (PMID 16352683) | Healthy adults received single ascending subcutaneous doses, with additional cohorts given two to three weekly or biweekly doses across two trials (28- and 49-day durations).1 | Doses spanned a low-to-high single-dose range; the report described tolerability as better at the lower dose levels (around 30-60 µg/kg).1 Figures reflect study-reported amounts only and are not directions for use. |
Effects observed in research
In the single published healthy-adult study, investigators reported that one subcutaneous injection of CJC-1295 produced dose-dependent increases in mean plasma GH of roughly 2- to 10-fold lasting 6 days or more, and increases in mean plasma IGF-I of about 1.5- to 3-fold lasting 9-11 days.1 With repeated weekly or biweekly dosing, the authors observed that mean IGF-I remained above baseline for up to 28 days.1 The estimated terminal half-life of the compound was reported as 5.8-8.1 days.1 The investigators stated that no serious adverse reactions were reported in that study; injection-site reactions and transient flushing were the more commonly noted events, and tolerability was described as better at lower doses.1 These are biochemical and tolerability observations in a small early-phase cohort, not demonstrated clinical benefits.
Strength of evidence
Grade B — limited human data, program discontinued. The human evidence rests primarily on one early-phase pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic publication in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006), which measured GH and IGF-I responses and basic safety over short durations.1 There are no completed efficacy or clinical-outcome trials. The developer (ConjuChem) advanced CJC-1295 into early human studies for indications including HIV-associated lipodystrophy, but the clinical program was discontinued; reporting notes a participant death in a lipodystrophy study that the attending physician concluded was not attributable to CJC-1295, and the compound was never approved by any regulator.3 Long-term safety, effects of chronic non-pulsatile GH-axis stimulation, and any therapeutic value remain not established. CJC-1295 with DAC is sold and handled strictly for laboratory research use; it is not a medicine.
Reconstitution & storage
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water for laboratory handling. Store lyophilised material frozen and reconstituted material refrigerated. Use Peptigo’s reconstitution calculator and storage cheat sheet for working figures.
References
- Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA. 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(3):799-805. doi:10.1210/jc.2005-1536. PMID: 16352683.
- 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(12):4792-4797. doi:10.1210/jc.2006-1702. PMID: 17018654.
- CJC-1295. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CJC-1295 (background on structure, four substitutions, DAC/albumin mechanism, ConjuChem development and discontinuation; secondary source).
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 91971820, CJC-1295. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/91971820 (CAS 446262-90-4; C165H269N47O46; MW 3647.2; InChIKey ZUQGTWKGESAQCD-ZGFIGYLBSA-N).