All products are for research use only. Not for human consumption.
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that exists in two distinct research forms: with a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) modification and without it. Although the underlying GHRH backbone is identical, the pharmacokinetic profiles diverge dramatically — and this divergence drives the kinds of research questions each form is suited to address.
This article examines the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and published comparison data behind both forms. All material is intended for research use only.
The Drug Affinity Complex is a maleimidopropionic acid linker that allows CJC-1295 to covalently bind to circulating serum albumin. Albumin has a half-life of approximately 19 days in human plasma, and by tethering the peptide to this carrier protein, the DAC modification protects CJC-1295 from enzymatic degradation and renal clearance.
The result is a dramatic extension of the peptide's functional half-life from minutes (in the unmodified form) to roughly 6–8 days (with DAC).
Without the DAC linker, CJC-1295 (sometimes called Modified GRF 1-29 or simply Mod GRF) has a half-life of approximately 30 minutes. This short window means the compound produces a sharp, transient elevation in research models of GH release before being cleared.
The brief half-life makes Mod GRF useful for studying pulsatile GH research — that is, mimicking the natural pulse pattern of endogenous GHRH. Researchers studying the chronobiology of the somatotropic axis often prefer this form because it preserves the physiological pulse architecture of the system being investigated.
With the DAC linker, the compound's half-life extends to approximately 6–8 days. Plasma GH and IGF-1 levels in research models remain elevated continuously rather than rising and falling in pulses.
This sustained elevation profile is suited to research questions that examine downstream tissue responses to chronic GH/IGF-1 exposure rather than the dynamics of the GH pulse itself. Researchers studying hepatic IGF-1 production, peripheral tissue effects, or long-term cellular signaling cascades often choose the DAC form for its convenience and stable baseline.
The choice between forms is not simply convenience-driven. The somatotropic axis is naturally pulsatile, and there is published evidence that pulse architecture itself may be biologically meaningful — receptor desensitization, downstream signaling, and even gene expression patterns can differ between pulsed and sustained exposure paradigms.
Studies published in Endocrine Reviews and related journals have examined how GH receptor signaling differs under continuous versus pulsatile exposure. Researchers selecting between Mod GRF and CJC-1295 with DAC are implicitly choosing which signaling regime to study.
Both forms are commonly studied alongside ghrelin mimetics such as ipamorelin or GHRP-2. The rationale is that GHRH and ghrelin receptor pathways are synergistic in preclinical models — engaging both systems produces a larger GH response than engaging either alone.
When pairing with secretagogues, researchers studying pulse dynamics typically choose Mod GRF, while those interested in baseline elevation choose the DAC form.
Both forms should meet 98%+ HPLC purity standards with documented mass spectrometry confirmation. The DAC variant is structurally more complex, and Certificate of Analysis verification is particularly important to confirm correct molecular weight and the integrity of the linker.
Neither form of CJC-1295 is approved for human use. All preclinical data come from in vitro or animal studies, and these compounds are sold strictly for laboratory research purposes.
Drug Affinity Complex — a maleimidopropionic acid linker that allows the peptide to bind covalently to serum albumin, dramatically extending its functional half-life in research models.
The non-DAC form (Modified GRF 1-29). Its short half-life produces transient elevations that more closely mimic the natural pulsatile architecture of the somatotropic axis.
No. Both forms of CJC-1295 are intended strictly for laboratory research use only. No completed human clinical trials or regulatory approvals exist for these products.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. All products referenced are intended strictly for laboratory research use only and are not approved for human consumption.
52 compounds. 99%+ purity. Certificate of Analysis included with every order.