A modified GHRH analogue engineered for sustained growth hormone release — widely used in performance, recovery, and longevity protocols alongside ipamorelin.
What is CJC-1295 and how does it support growth hormone optimisation for longevity and performance? CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) that has been modified to extend its half-life significantly beyond the natural peptide. It stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and release growth hormone in a sustained, physiological pattern, making it one of the most widely used peptides in anti-ageing and performance medicine.
| TL;DR
CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH analogue that stimulates sustained growth hormone (GH) release from the pituitary gland. Unlike natural GHRH which is rapidly degraded, CJC-1295 DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) binds to albumin in the bloodstream, extending its half-life to approximately 8 days. It is used in longevity and performance protocols to restore age-related GH decline, support body composition, and improve recovery. It is most commonly combined with ipamorelin for a synergistic GH-releasing effect. |
| Parameter | Detail |
| Full name | CJC-1295 (Modified GHRH analogue) |
| Variants | CJC-1295 (without DAC); CJC-1295 DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) |
| Mechanism | Binds GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs; stimulates GH release |
| Half-life (without DAC) | Approximately 30 minutes |
| Half-life (with DAC) | Approximately 6–8 days |
| Research status | Preclinical and early clinical; Phase I/II human data available |
| Purity standard | Greater than 98% for research grade |
| Common combination | CJC-1295 + ipamorelin (synergistic GHRH + GHRP stack) |
| Longevity relevance | Addresses age-related GH decline; supports body composition and recovery |
CJC-1295 is a synthetic 30-amino acid peptide analogue of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) — the naturally occurring hypothalamic peptide that signals the pituitary gland to produce and release growth hormone. The natural GHRH peptide is rapidly degraded by dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DPP-IV) enzymes in the bloodstream, giving it a very short half-life of only a few minutes.
CJC-1295 was engineered with specific amino acid substitutions to resist DPP-IV degradation and, in its DAC form, to bind to albumin — the most abundant protein in blood plasma — creating a depot that releases the active peptide slowly over days.
| Version | Key Characteristics |
| CJC-1295 (without DAC) | Also sometimes referred to as Modified GRF 1-29. Half-life approximately 30 minutes. Produces a sharp GH pulse. More closely mimics the natural pulsatile GH release pattern. |
| CJC-1295 DAC | Contains a Drug Affinity Complex that binds albumin in the bloodstream. Half-life approximately 6–8 days. Produces sustained GH elevation. Used when consistent GH support over days is desired. |
| Research Area | Key Finding |
| GH elevation | A 2006 study by Jetté et al. published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism demonstrated that CJC-1295 DAC produced dose-dependent increases in GH levels lasting up to 6 days in healthy adult subjects. |
| IGF-1 elevation | The same 2006 study reported sustained increases in IGF-1 levels of 1.5 to 3-fold above baseline, persisting for up to 28 days after a single injection. |
| Safety profile | Phase I/II human studies reported a generally favourable tolerability profile at research doses, with injection site reactions as the most commonly reported adverse effect. |
| Body composition | Animal model studies have reported improvements in lean mass and reductions in fat mass in GH-deficient models treated with GHRH analogues. |
CJC-1295 is most commonly used in combination with ipamorelin — a selective growth hormone secretagogue that works through a complementary but distinct mechanism. Understanding why they are combined requires understanding the two pathways that regulate GH release.
| Why the Combination Works
Growth hormone release is regulated by two complementary signals: GHRH (which CJC-1295 mimics) and ghrelin/GHRP signals (which ipamorelin mimics). These two pathways act synergistically — activating both simultaneously produces a significantly greater GH response than either alone. This is why CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are routinely combined in clinical and biohacking protocols. |
Growth hormone levels decline significantly with age — a process called somatopause. By the age of 60, GH secretion is typically 25% of peak youthful levels. This decline contributes to increased body fat, reduced lean muscle mass, impaired recovery, reduced bone density, and decreased energy levels.
| Quality Parameter | Specification |
| Minimum purity | Greater than 98% by reversed-phase HPLC |
| Molecular weight | CJC-1295: approx. 3367 Da; CJC-1295 DAC: approx. 3647 Da |
| Verification method | Reversed-phase HPLC (C18 column, 214nm); confirmed by mass spectrometry |
| Oxidation risk | Methionine and tryptophan residues present — oxidation testing recommended |
| CoA requirement | HPLC chromatogram, MS data, batch number, quantity verification |
| Standalone Factual Statements |
CJC-1295 without DAC (also called Modified GRF 1-29) has a half-life of approximately 30 minutes and produces a sharp, short-duration GH pulse. CJC-1295 DAC contains a Drug Affinity Complex that binds albumin, extending the half-life to 6–8 days and producing sustained GH elevation. The choice between them depends on the protocol objective.
CJC-1295 acts via the GHRH receptor pathway while ipamorelin acts via the ghrelin/GHRP receptor pathway. These two GH-releasing pathways are synergistic — simultaneous activation produces a significantly larger GH response than either peptide alone. The combination also allows lower individual doses while achieving the desired GH output.
CJC-1295 addresses somatopause — the age-related decline in growth hormone secretion. By stimulating the pituitary’s own GH production, it supports the restoration of more youthful GH and IGF-1 levels, with downstream benefits for lean mass preservation, metabolic health, recovery capacity, and connective tissue repair.
| Term | Definition |
| CJC-1295 | A synthetic GHRH analogue engineered for extended half-life and sustained growth hormone release. Available with or without DAC (Drug Affinity Complex). |
| GHRH | Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone. The naturally occurring hypothalamic peptide that signals the pituitary to produce and release growth hormone. CJC-1295 mimics its action. |
| DAC | Drug Affinity Complex. A maleimide modification on CJC-1295 that binds covalently to albumin in the bloodstream, extending the peptide’s half-life to approximately 6–8 days. |
| Somatopause | The age-related decline in growth hormone secretion. GH output typically falls to 25% of peak levels by age 60, contributing to changes in body composition and recovery capacity. |
| IGF-1 | Insulin-like Growth Factor 1. Produced primarily in the liver in response to GH stimulation. Mediates many of GH’s downstream effects including muscle protein synthesis and tissue repair. |
| Somatotroph | A specialised cell in the anterior pituitary gland that produces and secretes growth hormone. CJC-1295 binds GHRH receptors on somatotroph cells. |
| DPP-IV | Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV. The enzyme that rapidly degrades natural GHRH. CJC-1295 is engineered to resist DPP-IV degradation. |
| Related Entity Pages
-> Ipamorelin — Growth Hormone and Recovery hplcpeptides.com/wiki/ipamorelin -> Dr William Seeds — Peptide Therapy Protocols hplcpeptides.com/wiki/dr-william-seeds -> Peptides — The Master Reference Guide hplcpeptides.com/wiki/peptides -> Epithalon — Anti-Ageing and Telomere Research hplcpeptides.com/wiki/epithalon -> BPC-157 — Tissue Repair and Gut Health hplcpeptides.com/wiki/bpc-157 -> Peptide Testing — Purity, Quantity and Integrity hplcpeptides.com/wiki/peptide-testing -> MOTS-c — Mitochondrial Health and Longevity hplcpeptides.com/wiki/mots-c |
| About This Page
This entity page is maintained by the HPLC Peptides editorial team. All research references are preclinical or early clinical stage. This page does not constitute medical advice. |
hplcpeptides.com/wiki/cjc-1295 | Entity Page v1.0 | April 2026
