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Growth Hormone

CJC-1295 DAC

Modified GHRH(1–29) analogue linked to a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC)

Long-acting GHRH analog research designed to extend growth-hormone signaling over multiple days.

Limited Human Evidence

Route

Subcutaneous.

Common format

5 mg vial

Research focus

GH secretion

Evidence level

Limited Human Evidence

Typical cycle

8–12 weeks

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CJC-1295 DAC in 30 seconds

Atlas Fast Read

What it is

Modified GHRH(1–29) analogue linked to a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC)

Why people care

Long-acting GHRH analog research designed to extend growth-hormone signaling over multiple days.

Human evidence

Limited Human Evidence — Human interventional or clinical data exist, but studies are small, early-phase, mixed, indirect, route-specific, or not confirmatory.

Biggest misconception

Key gaps include larger independent trials, clearer dose-response data, long-term safety, clinically meaningful endpoints, and evidence that findings generalize beyond the narrow populations or routes already studied.

Bottom line

CJC-1295 DAC has a real human signal or documented human pharmacology, but evidence is too small, mixed, route-specific, or indication-specific to justify broad claims.

Overview

What is CJC-1295 DAC?

CJC-1295 DAC is modified GHRH(1–29) analogue linked to a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC). Long-acting GHRH analog research designed to extend growth-hormone signaling over multiple days.

CJC-1295 was developed in the 2000s as a long-acting GHRH analogue. The DAC modification binds circulating albumin and was designed to extend exposure from minutes to days.

Mechanism

How it works

Activates pituitary GHRH receptors, increasing endogenous pulsatile GH secretion and downstream IGF-1. The DAC moiety covalently associates with albumin, greatly extending systemic exposure.

Research areas

GH secretionIGF-1body compositionsleep/recovery research

Evidence

What does the evidence actually say?

Limited Human Evidence

Human interventional or clinical data exist, but studies are small, early-phase, mixed, indirect, route-specific, or not confirmatory.

01

Preclinical Evidence

02

Limited Human Evidence

03

Strong Human Evidence

Human evidence

Small human pharmacology studies show that CJC-1295 DAC can raise growth hormone and IGF-1 for several days. Human data demonstrate endocrine activity, but there is no strong trial evidence for anti-aging, muscle gain, fat loss, or recovery outcomes.

Preclinical evidence

Preclinical development demonstrated prolonged albumin association and GHRH-receptor signaling. Human endocrine pharmacology now confirms the basic GH/IGF-1 effect.

Knowledge gaps

Key gaps include larger independent trials, clearer dose-response data, long-term safety, clinically meaningful endpoints, and evidence that findings generalize beyond the narrow populations or routes already studied.

Protocol

Research protocol

DoseFrequencyTimingCycle

Dose

Community reference: 300–1,000 mcg per injection, twice weekly, titrated over 8–12 weeks.

Frequency

Twice weekly because the DAC modification markedly prolongs exposure.

Timing

Keep injections spaced consistently (for example 3–4 days apart); no proven performance advantage to a specific clock time.

Route

Subcutaneous.

Cycle length

8–12 weeks

Reconstitution

Community reference: 0.5 mL bacteriostatic water per 5 mg vial = 10 mg/mL.

Storage

Community reference: lyophilized frozen; reconstituted 2–8 °C; avoid repeated freeze-thaw.

Monitoring

IGF-1, fasting glucose/HbA1c, edema, blood pressure and symptoms of carpal tunnel/arthralgia; consider thyroid and pituitary context when clinically relevant.

Protocols vary widely between sources. Investigational compounds are not approved therapies, and approved products should follow their official labeling. Nothing here is medical advice.

Safety

Safety, side effects, and precautions

Side effects

Potential GH/IGF-axis effects include edema, joint pain, tingling/carpal-tunnel-like symptoms, headache, flushing, increased appetite in some secretagogues, and worsening glucose tolerance. Injection-site reactions can occur.

Contraindications

Avoid in active malignancy and use extreme caution with uncontrolled diabetes, proliferative retinopathy, untreated pituitary disease, pregnancy/breastfeeding or significant edema. Exact contraindications are not established for research formulations.

Interactions

GH/IGF signaling can alter glucose control, so insulin and other glucose-lowering therapy may require closer monitoring. Glucocorticoids can blunt GH effects; thyroid status can influence response. Formal interaction data are limited for research secretagogues.

Stacks

Common stacks

CJC-1295 DAC + a GHRP/GHS

Sometimes discussed to combine GHRH and ghrelin-receptor signaling, though the long DAC exposure changes physiology versus no-DAC protocols.

Mechanistic/endocrine rationale only; combination outcome evidence is limited.

Questions

FAQ

References

Sources

Atlas

The Atlas verdict

CJC-1295 DAC has a real human signal or documented human pharmacology, but evidence is too small, mixed, route-specific, or indication-specific to justify broad claims. The most defensible use of the literature is to separate what has actually been measured in people from what is still extrapolated from mechanism or animal work.

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