Reviewed & approved by Dr. Nova Reyes · Last checked 2026-10-15. ← Back to Evidence Library

CJC-1295: what the evidence says

At a glance

What it is: a lab-made copy of the first 29 amino acids of GHRH, the brain's growth-hormone "on" signal, with 4 amino acids swapped to make it last longer. Two different products are sold under this name: ^{R1, R10} - CJC-1295 with DAC: the original drug made by ConjuChem. An added chemical "hook" (DAC) attaches it to albumin, a protein in the blood, so it lasts about a week. This is the version tested in people. - CJC-1295 without DAC (also called mod GRF 1-29): the same peptide without the hook, so it lasts a much shorter time. We found no published study of it in people.

It is often sold together with ipamorelin. See our ipamorelin page and the Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 overview.

What the evidence says: the DAC version raised growth hormone and IGF-1 (a growth factor) for about a week after one injection in small studies of healthy adults. A higher hormone level isn't the same as a health benefit. Its only patient trial, for belly fat in people with HIV, was stopped in 2006 after a participant died. The company later said the death was a heart attack it did not link to the drug. No results were published. ^{R2, R3, R4, R5}

Biggest risks: not knowing which version, or what, is in the vial. FDA says it "has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295 including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reaction" (a whole-body blood-vessel reaction). Long-term effects of raised growth hormone and IGF-1 are unknown. ^{R7, R10}

Claim	Rating
Human Raises growth hormone and IGF-1 (with DAC)	Limited: two small placebo-controlled dose studies plus one small single-dose study in healthy adults; hormone levels only ^{R2, R3}
Unknown Reduces belly fat in HIV (with DAC)	No human data (nothing at all: the only trial was stopped early and never reported results) ^{R4, R5}
Unknown Muscle, fat loss, recovery, sleep, anti-aging	No human data (nothing at all in people; animal growth studies only) ^R6
Unknown Anything, for the version without DAC (mod GRF 1-29)	No human data (nothing at all that we could find, in people or animals)
Regulatory	Not FDA-approved · FDA lists it as formerly Category 2, nomination withdrawn; FDA advisers voted against compounding it (Dec 2024) · WADA 2026: banned at all times (S2.2.4) ^{R7, R8}
Established human dose	Unknown None. No regulator has reviewed a dose

Evidence verdict: Limited (raises growth hormone and IGF-1, DAC version) / No human data (HIV belly fat; muscle, fat loss, recovery, sleep, anti-aging; any use of the no-DAC version) Card verdict: Limited (raises growth hormone & IGF-1, DAC version) · Muscle, fat loss, recovery, anti-aging, or no-DAC version: No human data Card note: Varies by use, see page

This page reports what studies used. It is not dosing advice.

Legend: HUMAN data · ANIMAL / LAB data · UNKNOWN · UNVERIFIED: not yet confirmed against a primary source

What is it?

CJC-1295 was developed by ConjuChem in Montreal. Its developers described it as "a tetrasubstituted form of hGRF(1-29)" (a version with 4 amino acids swapped) with an added reactive group on a lysine at the end. That group binds to albumin in the blood. This keeps the drug around far longer than natural GHRH, which lasts only minutes. ^R1

With DAC vs without DAC. "DAC" (Drug Affinity Complex) was ConjuChem's name for the albumin-binding hook. The peptide without it is sold as "CJC-1295 without DAC," "mod GRF 1-29" or "modified GRF 1-29." It is a different compound that behaves differently in the body. Every human result on this page is for the DAC version. Results for one should not be assumed for the other. UNVERIFIED Vendor claims about how long the no-DAC version lasts. We found no published human data.

It is a different kind of drug from ipamorelin. CJC-1295 copies GHRH. Ipamorelin mimics ghrelin. See the ipamorelin page.

About the evidence

Who did the studies: almost all of it is developer-linked. The first paper came from ConjuChem's own lab. ^R1 The human studies were co-authored by L.A. Frohman with ConjuChem-associated co-authors. The Teichman paper's first author was at a consulting firm (WinPharm Associates). UNVERIFIED Which Teichman co-authors were ConjuChem employees and who funded the studies; abstracts don't say. ^{R2, R3}
What kind: small hormone studies in healthy adults, including pharmacokinetic studies (how the body absorbs and clears the drug). One phase 2 patient trial (mid-size studies testing doses and early effects) was stopped. No phase 3 trial (large studies confirming benefit and safety before approval).
Access limits: we read PubMed abstracts, registry records and news reports, not full papers.

Does it raise growth hormone?

Human Yes, for about a week per injection (DAC version). - Teichman 2006: two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind dose studies in healthy adults aged 21–61, lasting 28 and 49 days. In the Teichman studies, one injection raised average growth hormone 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more, and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days. The half-life (the time it takes for half of the drug to be cleared from the body) was 5.8–8.1 days. With repeated doses, IGF-1 stayed above baseline for up to 28 days. ^R2 - Ionescu & Frohman 2006: in healthy men aged 20–40, a week after one injection, the body's normal bursts (pulses) of growth hormone were kept, but the low points between pulses were 7.5 times higher. Average growth hormone rose 46% and IGF-1 rose 45%. ^R3

A hormone change isn't a health benefit. No published study tested muscle, fat, healing, sleep or aging outcomes in people.

The stopped HIV trial

ConjuChem ran a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of the DAC version for 12 weeks in people with HIV-related belly fat (NCT00267527). ^R4
In July 2006, ConjuChem put the program on clinical hold and stopped dosing "due to a death of a patient involved in the trial," at a site in Argentina. [R5a]
In August 2006, the company said its investigation found the cause was a heart attack. It reported no evidence of heart toxicity in earlier studies, and the treating doctor attributed it to probable undiagnosed coronary artery disease. [R5b] This is the company's account; no independent report or published data are available.
How many people were in it: most likely 192. A news report written days after the trial stopped says it had "completed enrolling a total of 192 participants" across North and South America. [R5c] The registry still shows 120, but that record was last updated in Oct 2006, doesn't say whether 120 is the planned or actual number, and was never updated with results. So 120 most likely reflects the original plan. ^R4 UNVERIFIED No sponsor document or publication confirms either number.
The registry lists the trial as terminated, with no results posted. UNVERIFIED Whether the participant who died was on CJC-1295 or placebo; this was not reported in sources we could check.

Is it safe?

Human Healthy-adult studies: "No serious adverse reactions were reported" in studies of up to 49 days, and the authors called it "relatively well tolerated." The abstract gives no adverse event counts and no dropouts compared with placebo. ^R2
Human Death in the HIV trial: see above. The sponsor attributed it to heart disease, not the drug. ^R5
Caution FDA: "FDA has identified serious adverse events associated with CJC-1295 including increased heart rate and systemic vasodilatory reaction" (widening of blood vessels throughout the body). FDA also says compounded CJC-1295 may cause immune reactions and has impurity concerns, and that "available clinical data are limited." FDA does not say which version. ^R7
Unknown Dropouts: we found no published report of dropouts because of side effects compared with placebo.
Animal In mice bred without GHRH, repeated CJC-1295 (study arms in the animal table) increased pituitary growth-hormone cells. ^R6 What this means in people is unknown.
Caution Theoretical concern: growth hormone and IGF-1 help tissue grow, which could in theory help existing tumors grow, and they can raise blood sugar. The approved GHRH drug tesamorelin carries label warnings on these points. This is a concern for the whole drug class. It has not been studied for CJC-1295. Because the DAC version lasts about a week, an unwanted effect can't be stopped quickly. ^{R2, R9}

What we don't know

Unknown Any health benefit in people, from either version
Unknown Anything about the no-DAC version (mod GRF 1-29) in people
Unknown Long-term safety, including cancer, blood sugar and heart effects
Unknown What the stopped HIV trial found
Unknown How it interacts with ipamorelin when mixed. Nobody has tested the combination

Is it legal?

US: not FDA-approved. Sold online as "research use only" powder, which is not a legal medicine for people.
FDA advisers voted against compounding it (Dec 4, 2024): FDA proposed not adding any CJC-1295 form to the 503A bulks list. Its advisory committee voted 0–13 on CJC-1295 free base and all three DAC forms, and 1–12 on CJC-1295 acetate. ^R11 We found no final FDA decision. It is not on the 503A or 503B bulks lists.
Compounding: FDA lists CJC-1295 under "bulk drug substances nominated but withdrawn," meaning it was in 503A/503B Category 2 ("significant safety risks") until the nomination was withdrawn. It is not on the bulks lists. (FDA page current as of Apr 22, 2026.) ^R7
Elsewhere: we found no approval by any regulator. Caution We did not check non-US drug registries one by one.
Athletes: WADA's 2026 list names CJC-1295 under S2.2.4 (GHRH and its analogues), banned at all times. Athletes should check with their anti-doping agency. ^R8

As of Oct 15, 2026.

What's in the vial?

Unknown For "research use" or fake (counterfeit) products, the contents are unknown, and labels often don't make clear whether the product is the DAC or no-DAC version. These behave very differently. Danish forensic chemists found an altered "modified GRF 1-29" (with an extra amino acid) in seized doping products. ^R10 We test retail products blind under the Open Peptide Standard. See results at /tests/. A passing test covers one batch, tested on one date. It does not mean the compound itself is safe.

What do users report?

Self-report, not evidence.

Unknown TBD. We'll only list this once we can cite a public source.

Study details

^R2–R5 Human Human studies: full table (all DAC version)

Study arms are what researchers used, not recommendations.

Study	People	Design	Study arm	Reported	Limitations	Funding / ties	Citation
Teichman 2006	Healthy adults, 21–61 yr (Caution n not in abstract)	Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ascending-dose trials, 28 and 49 d	Subcutaneous; 4 ascending single doses, or 2–3 weekly/biweekly doses; "particularly 30 or 60 µg/kg" well tolerated	GH ↑2–10× for ≥6 d; IGF-1 ↑1.5–3× for 9–11 d; half-life 5.8–8.1 d; no serious adverse reactions	Hormones only; no AE counts or dropouts in abstract	First author WinPharm Associates; Caution sponsor not in abstract	PMID 16352683 ^R2
Ionescu & Frohman 2006	Healthy men, 20–40 yr (Caution n not in abstract; a 2006 news report of the conference version says 12 men)	Before/after single injection; no placebo	Subcutaneous, 60 or 90 µg/kg once	Pulses preserved; trough GH ↑7.5×; mean GH ↑46%; IGF-1 ↑45%; no difference between doses	Very short; no placebo	Caution Funding not in abstract	PMID 17018654 ^R3
NCT00267527	People with HIV-associated visceral obesity; most likely 192 enrolled (aidsmap, July 2006); registry shows 120, unlabeled planned/actual, not updated since 2006	Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12 wk	Low or high dose vs placebo (per registry)	Terminated 2006 after a participant death; no results posted	Never reported	Sponsor ConjuChem	ClinicalTrials.gov ^R4; [R5a–c]

^{R1, R6} Animal Animal and lab studies

Study	Animals / cells	Study arm	Reported	Funding / ties	Citation
Jetté 2005	Rat pituitary cells; male rats	Subcutaneous	CJC-1295 gave a 4-fold larger GH response over 2 h than hGRF(1-29); present in plasma beyond 72 h	ConjuChem (developer)	PMID 15817669 ^R1
Alba 2006	GHRH-knockout mice, 5 wk	2 µg every 24, 48 or 72 h	Daily dosing normalized body weight and length; pituitary GH-cell growth	Co-authors include Lawrence, Castaigne (also Teichman co-authors) Caution affiliations not in abstract	PMID 16822960 ^R6

^{R5, R7–R11} News, safety, regulatory and product quality (as of Oct 15, 2026)

[R5a] ConjuChem press release via BioSpace, July 14, 2006: clinical hold and dosing stopped after a patient death. https://www.biospace.com/conjuchem-halts-phase-2-hiv-drug-test-after-patient-death-stock-drops-50-percent
[R5b] BioWorld, "Clinic Roundup," Aug 9, 2006 (re-opened and checked Oct 15, 2026): company says investigation concluded heart attack; attending physician attributed it to likely coronary artery disease. https://www.bioworld.com/articles/458183
[R5c] aidsmap, July 31, 2006 (re-checked Oct 15, 2026): "had only completed enrolling a total of 192 participants"; site in Argentina; three arms (low dose, high dose, placebo). https://www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-2006/lipodystrophy-study-halted-after-patient-death
^R7 FDA, Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 04/22/2026; CJC-1295 under "nominated but withdrawn"). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
^R8 WADA 2026 Prohibited List, S2.2.4 "Growth hormone releasing factors, including, but not limited to": "growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its analogues (e.g. CJC-1293, CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin)"; prohibited at all times. Checked in the official PDF text (mirror copy). https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-code-and-international-standards/prohibited-list
^R9 Class concern by analogy to the tesamorelin label (EGRIFTA SV). DailyMed. Not shown for CJC-1295.
^R11 FDA, Final Summary Minutes, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, Dec 4, 2024 (https://www.fda.gov/media/185642/download): CJC-1295 (free base) 0 yes/13 no; CJC-1295 acetate 1/12; CJC-1295 DAC (free base), DAC acetate, DAC trifluoroacetate 0/13 each.
^R10 Gajda 2019, Drug Test Anal: glycine-modified "modified GRF 1-29" identified in seized products. PMID 30136411.

Full reference list (verified on PubMed E-utilities and ClinicalTrials.gov, Oct 15, 2026)

Jetté L, et al. Endocrinology. 2005;146(7):3052-8. doi:10.1210/en.2004-1286. PMID 15817669
Teichman SL, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805. doi:10.1210/jc.2005-1536. PMID 16352683
Ionescu M, Frohman LA. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(12):4792-7. doi:10.1210/jc.2006-1702. PMID 17018654
Alba M, et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2006;291(6):E1290-4. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00201.2006. PMID 16822960
ConjuChem. NCT00267527 (ClinicalTrials.gov; terminated; no results posted)
Gajda PM, et al. Drug Test Anal. 2019;11(2):350-354. doi:10.1002/dta.2489. PMID 30136411

Disclaimer

This page is for education and harm reduction. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use CJC-1295 in either version. Its safety in humans is not established. Please talk to a clinician you trust, especially if you have or have had cancer, have heart disease, diabetes or prediabetes, are pregnant, or are a tested athlete. Seek care right away for a serious reaction, and report it to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).