EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH REFERENCE ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE — NOT FDA APPROVED
hormonal20 studies

CJC-1295 Dosing Protocol: Growth Hormone Research

Also known as: DAC:GRF

What is a Peptide?

A short chain of amino acids (2-50) linked by peptide bonds. Smaller than proteins. Your body produces thousands of peptides naturally as signaling molecules that regulate everything from appetite to healing. Therapeutic peptides mimic or enhance these natural signals.

Bottom Line Up Front

CJC-1295 is a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that stimulates pulsatile GH release. It has a longer half-life than natural GHRH due to DAC (drug affinity complex). Human studies show sustained increases in GH and IGF-1.

Best evidence for

Growth hormone deficiency, muscle preservation

Weakest evidence for

Fat loss in healthy adults, anti-aging

Pharma equivalent

None

Studies on file

20 (11 human)

Research reference only. CJC-1295 is not FDA approved for human use (unless specified above). This information does not constitute medical advice.

Overview

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version extends its half-life. Research has examined its effects on growth hormone secretion.

Mechanisms of Action

  • Stimulates GH release from pituitary
  • Extended half-life with DAC
  • Increases IGF-1 levels
  • Pulsatile GH secretion pattern

Research Protocols

Summaries of published research. For educational purposes only.

Protocol NameSourceDoseFrequencyDurationRouteEvidenceLinkSave
GH Secretion Study
clinical trial
30 μg/kgWeekly4 weeksSubcutaneoushumanSign in to Save

Related Studies

11 Human9 Animal

Although preclinical studies are promising, there is a current lack of clinical trials. This review integrates current mechanistic insights with orthopaedic relevance, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and future directions for responsible integration into musculoskeletal care.

Limitations: No placebo control reported. Review article — no new primary data.

2026|Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews
PubMed

BPC-157 demonstrated potential benefits in tendon and muscle repair, but these findings are largely unvalidated in human trials. A single human case series reported improvements in pain after intra-articular knee injections of BPC-157, although significant methodological flaws and a lack of controls limit its applicability and reliability.

Limitations: No placebo control reported. Review article — no new primary data.

2026|The American journal of sports medicine
PubMed

Co-extraction and analysis of several different peptides such as insulins (human, lispro, aspart, glulisine, tresiba, detemir, glargine, bovine insulin and porcine insulin), growth hormone releasing hormones (sermorelin, CJC-1295 and tesamorelin), insulin-like growth factors (long-R3-IGF-I, R3-IGF-I and Des1-3-IGF-I) and mechano growth factors (human MGF and MGF-Goldspink) with criteria that fulfil the requirements of the WADA documents (TD2022 MRPL) for doping controls. The proof of principle was shown by the analysis of post administration samples after treatment with synthetic insulin analogues.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2024|Analytical science advances
PubMed

The present method developed by our doping control laboratory was validated according to WADA technical documents for selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), carryover, reliability of detection, stability and recovery. The results show that the method has adequate recoveries and sensitivity, hence, it can be employed for routine screening in anti-doping laboratories.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2023|Analytical biochemistry
PubMed

For the MAX assessment, the average MoD across subjects was 1.9 ± 3.0% BW, and 2S was 15.8 ± 9.3% BW. The results of this study show that this sensor technology can be used to obtain accurate measurements of peak walking forces with a basic calibration and consequently open new opportunities to monitor GRF outside of the laboratory.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2023|Wearable technologies
PubMed

These were used as reference materials to spike into urine together with commercially available parent peptides and a metabolite of sermorelin (sermorelin(3-29)-NH2 ) to develop a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for their detection to help prove GHRH administration. Limits of detection of the target peptides were generally 1 ng/ml (WADA required performance limit) or less.

Limitations: No placebo control reported.

2022|Drug testing and analysis
PubMed

Stability experiments showed the importance of the proper handling of urine samples to avoid degradation of these peptide hormones, especially for sermorelin and its metabolite which were found to rapidly degrade at temperatures >&#xa0;4&#xa0;&#xb0;C and pH values <&#xa0;7 in accordance with earlier studies. Without the need for specific antibodies, this method may be expanded to cover emerging peptide drugs (&#x2265; ~3&#xa0;kDa), as well as their metabolites in the future to facilitate coverage for this class of prohibited substances.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2022|Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
PubMed

Here we demonstrate the confirmation of CJC-1295 in equine plasma by LC-MS/MS after immuno-affinity capture and tryptic digestion. Using this method, CJC-1295 was identified down to concentrations as low as 180&#xa0;pg/mL in 1&#xa0;mL of equine plasma.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2020|Drug testing and analysis
PubMed

Detection of endogenous equine GHRH necessitated a screening threshold for CJC-1295 in equine plasma of 50&#xa0;pg/mL. The effectiveness of the assay for controlling the illicit use of CJC-1295 was confirmed in equine blood samples after administration in thoroughbred race horses.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2019|Drug testing and analysis
PubMed

Comparison with reference standards unequivocally identified the content of the powders as analogs of the growth hormone secretagogues GHRP-2 (Pralmorelin), GHRP-6, Ipamorelin, and modified growth hormone releasing factor (modified GRF 1-29), which can be used as performance-enhancing substances in sports. In all cases, the detected modification involved the addition of an extra glycine amino acid at the N-terminus, and analytical methods targeting growth hormone secretagogues should hence be updated accordingly.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2019|Drug testing and analysis
PubMed

Forum users appeared well versed and experienced in the poly use of performance and image drug supplementation. Choice to use CJC-1295 centered on weight loss, muscle enhancement, youthful skin, improved sleep, and injury healing.

Limitations: No placebo control reported. Review article — no new primary data.

2016|Substance use &amp; misuse
PubMed

The method was validated considering the parameters specificity, recovery (11-69%), linearity, imprecision (<25%), limit of detection (5-100 pg in urine, 0.1-2 ng in plasma), and ion suppression. The analysis of administration study samples for insulin degludec, detemir, aspart, and synacthen provided the essential data for the proof-of-principle of the method.

Limitations: No placebo control reported.

2016|Drug testing and analysis
PubMed

The obtained results demonstrate that GHRHs are successfully detected in plasma using an immunoaffinity-mass spectrometry-based method, which can be applied to sports drug testing samples. Further studies are however required and warranted to account for potential species-related differences in metabolism and elimination of the target analytes.

Limitations: No placebo control reported.

2016|Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
PubMed

For each class of peptides an appropriate antibody and a respective internal standard was implemented ensuring robust analysis conditions. Due to the fast and simple sample preparation procedure (&#x223c;25 samples per day) and the fact that all materials are commercial available, the implementation of the methodology to laboratories from other analytical fields (forensics, pharmacokinetic sciences, etc.) is enabled.

Limitations: No placebo control reported. Review article — no new primary data.

2012|Methods (San Diego, Calif.)
PubMed

CJC-1295 is a releasing factor for growth hormone and is therefore considered a Prohibited Substance under Section S2 of the WADA Prohibited List. This substance has potential performance-enhancing effects, it is readily available, and there is reason to believe that it is being used within the bodybuilding community.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2011|Drug testing and analysis
PubMed

Two protein spots that displayed decreased intensities after treatment were identified as an apolipoprotein A1 isoform and a transthyretin isoform. Three protein spots upregulated by CJC-1295 treatment included beta-hemoglobin, a C-terminal fragment of albumin, and a mix of an immunoglobulin fragment and another C-terminal albumin fragment.

Limitations: No placebo control reported.

2010|Growth hormone &amp; IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society
PubMed

GH secretion was increased after CJC-1295 administration with preserved pulsatility. The frequency and magnitude of GH secretory pulses were unaltered.

Limitations: No placebo control reported.

2007|The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
PubMed

After a single injection of CJC-1295, there were dose-dependent increases in mean plasma GH concentrations by 2- to 10-fold for 6 d or more and in mean plasma IGF-I concentrations by 1.5- to 3-fold for 9-11 d. The estimated half-life of CJC-1295 was 5.8-8.1 d.

Limitations: Standard limitations apply. Check original paper for full discussion.

2006|The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
PubMed

These findings demonstrate that treatment with once-daily administration of CJC-1295 is able to maintain normal body composition and growth in GHRHKO mice. The same dose is less effective when administered every 48 or 72 h.

Limitations: Animal study only — human translation uncertain.

2006|American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism
PubMed

A Western blot analysis of the plasma of a rat injected with CJC-1295 showed the presence of a CJC-1295 immunoreactive species on the band corresponding to serum albumin, appearing after 15 min and remaining in circulation beyond 24 h. These results led to the identification of CJC-1295 as a stable and active hGRF(1-29) analog with an extended plasma half-life.

Limitations: No placebo control reported.

2005|Endocrinology
PubMed

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Important Warnings

  • Affects hormone levels
  • Requires medical supervision
  • Not approved for human use

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