CJC-1295 without DAC

CJC-1295 without DAC is a growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) analog related to CJC-1295 but without the long-acting drug affinity complex (DAC) modification. It is commonly referenced as a shorter-acting GH-axis peptide in experimental and wellness contexts.

As with other GH-axis peptides, regulatory status and product quality controls vary, and many described uses lie outside established clinical guidelines.

CJC-1295 without DAC acts as a GHRH analog at the pituitary, stimulating growth hormone secretion in a more physiologic, pulsatile pattern than direct GH administration. Without the DAC modification, its duration of action is shorter than that of CJC-1295 with DAC.

The overall impact on GH/IGF-1 and downstream physiology depends on factors such as dose, timing, baseline GH-axis function, and co-administered agents.

CJC-1295 without DAC is not generally positioned as a first-line, labeled therapy for GH deficiency in contemporary guidelines. It appears mainly in experimental, wellness, or performance-related discussions.

For individuals evaluated for GH deficiency or related conditions, clinicians typically rely on established diagnostic protocols and therapies. Any use of CJC-1295 without DAC should be considered in light of local regulations and the availability of better-characterized options.

CJC-1295 is classified as a prohibited substance by WADA under category S2.

Notable athlete sanctions involving CJC-1295 include:

• Ondrej Slezak (cycling/mountain bike): Sanctioned by Sport Integrity Australia for multiple violations including use and possession of CJC-1295 (alongside ipamorelin, thymosin beta-4, and other prohibited substances), with his ineligibility later extended to December 2025 for competing during his ban.

Described effects include injection-site reactions, flushing, headache, and changes in sleep or energy patterns. Because the peptide influences GH/IGF-1, there are theoretical concerns about glucose metabolism and tissue growth over time.

As with any GH-axis intervention, clinician oversight and careful monitoring are important, especially in individuals with preexisting risk factors.

CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) has a short half-life (approx. 30 mins) intended to mimic natural physiological GHRH pulsatility. It is almost always paired with a GHRP (like Ipamorelin).

This information summarizes commonly discussed research practices and does not constitute medical advice.

CJC-1295 without DAC typically appears as a lyophilized powder for reconstitution, and is frequently sold under a second name — "modified GRF 1-29" — for the same molecule. Naming is the practical hazard here. FDA evaluated five distinct CJC-1295-related bulk substances and found them "not well characterized," citing inconsistent naming conventions and a Global Substance Registration System entry that files the DAC structure under the free base's name (FDA briefing document, PCAC December 2024). A vial labelled "CJC-1295" may therefore contain a peptide that acts for minutes or one that acts for a week.

It is usually paired with a ghrelin-receptor agonist such as ipamorelin or GHRP-2. The underlying pharmacology is sound — a GHRH analog and a growth hormone releasing peptide act at different receptors and stimulate GH release synergistically, with 24-hour co-infusion of GHRP-2 and GHRH exceeding either agonist alone in healthy older adults (Bowers et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004) — but that finding belongs to GHRH and GHRP-2, not to this pairing, which has never been tested in a controlled trial.

Evidence for CJC-1295 without DAC includes limited studies on GH and IGF-1 responses, tolerability, and potential metabolic or body composition effects. The data set is smaller and more heterogeneous than that for established GH therapies.

As a result, claims about benefits should be balanced against uncertainties, and decisions should rely on comprehensive evaluation of risks, alternatives, and regulatory guidance.

For deeper dives on this peptide, see:

• CJC-1295 without DAC benefits and areas of interest
• CJC-1295 without DAC side effects and safety context
• CJC-1295 without DAC dosing concepts (educational)
• CJC-1295 without DAC research and evidence overview

Is CJC-1295 without DAC the same as modified GRF 1-29? Yes — the names describe the same molecule. FDA calls it "CJC-1295 (free base)": a 29-amino-acid GHRH analog with substitutions at positions 2, 8, 15 and 27, molecular formula C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂ and molecular weight 3,367.95 g/mol (FDA briefing document, PCAC December 2024). Those substitutions exist for chemical reasons: D-alanine at position 2 resists dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, glutamine at 8 avoids asparagine rearrangement, and leucine at 27 avoids methionine oxidation (Jetté et al., Endocrinology 2005).

Has it ever been studied in humans? No published study has administered it to a person. FDA stated in 2024 that it could not identify studies establishing whether CJC-1295 free base is even pharmacologically active, and that the DAC version's pharmacology "cannot be extrapolated to CJC-1295 without the DAC modification." Its first appearance in the scientific literature was a 2009 seizure by Norwegian police and customs, identified by mass spectrometry at the national doping control laboratory (Henninge et al., Drug Test Anal 2010).

Why would anyone prefer it to the DAC version? Because endogenous growth hormone is released in bursts, and the DAC version instead raises GH continuously for six days or more after one injection (Teichman et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006). The argument that pulse amplitude matters more than average concentration is biologically coherent; it has never been tested for either compound.

How long does it last? Nobody has published a measured half-life. Its unmodified parent, sermorelin (GHRH 1-29), has a plasma half-life of about 10 to 20 minutes in humans (Esposito et al., Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2003), and the four substitutions were intended to extend that. By how much, in a person, is unknown.

Can a compounding pharmacy supply it? FDA's advisory committee voted 13–0 against placing CJC-1295 free base on the 503A bulks list in December 2024; the minutes record that the committee "unanimously agreed" it should not be included (PCAC final summary minutes, 4 December 2024). It is also prohibited in sport at all times under WADA section S2.