CJC-1295
CJC-1295 — evidence, development history & status

Class: peptide
Synonyms: CJC-1295
DAC:GRF
Function tags: GH secretagogue / GHRH analog
body composition (research context)
Overall evidence grade: B
WADA prohibited: yes
WADA note: Sport: WADA-prohibited at all times — GHRH analogs / GH secretagogues fall under Section S2.2.
Last updated: 2026-07-04

In brief: CJC-1295 is a long-acting synthetic GHRH analog that reliably raises GH and IGF-1 in humans (shown in a Phase 1 trial). But it has no approved indication — its Phase 2 lipodystrophy programme was halted after a participant death (causation disputed) — and its popular anti-aging / body-composition use has never been tested in humans. Banned in sport.

## Identity a synthetic analog of **growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)**, built on the biologically active **GHRH(1-29)** fragment (the same fragment as sermorelin) with **four amino-acid substitutions** that resist DPP-4/peptidase cleavage. The **DAC** version adds a maleimidopropionyl group (via a lysine at position 30) that binds serum albumin, extending half-life from minutes to ~6–8 days. < 40 aa → peptide. ## Development & history - Technology licensed from University of Saskatchewan researchers (early 2000s); developed by **ConjuChem Biotechnologies** (Canada) on its DAC bioconjugation platform (mid-2000s), targeting **GH deficiency, lipodystrophy, and muscle-wasting**.
- **Phase 1** (Teichman et al. 2006, *JCEM*): 21 healthy adults, single subcutaneous doses; sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation for up to ~14 days.
- **Phase 2** in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (NCT00267527, 192 patients, 2006).
- **Discontinued:** the Phase 2 programme was **halted after one participant's cardiovascular death.** The attending physician judged it most likely due to **pre-existing asymptomatic coronary disease** and **unrelated** to CJC-1295, but development was terminated as a precaution. (Some sources also cite commercial/manufacturing reasons.)
- Never FDA-approved; classified as an Investigational New Drug; has lived in research/gray-market use since. No modern Phase 2/3 registered as of 2026. ## Mechanism (as proposed) a **GHRH-receptor agonist** on pituitary somatotrophs → stimulates GH release → downstream IGF-1. The DAC version's albumin binding produces **sustained** receptor stimulation and elevated baseline GH/IGF-1 (vs the pulsatile signal of sermorelin or the no-DAC form).

Evidence grades by outcome:
outcome: Raises GH / IGF-1 in humans
grade: B
base: Phase 1 (Teichman 2006) + animal studies
effect: Sustained elevation
caveat: Pharmacology is real; but raising GH/IGF-1 ≠ a proven clinical benefit
outcome: Clinical efficacy (lipodystrophy)
grade: D
base: Phase 2 (NCT00267527) — halted
effect: Inconclusive
caveat: Trial terminated after a participant death; no efficacy conclusion reached
outcome: Anti-aging / body composition / muscle
grade: F
base: None in humans
effect: Not demonstrated
caveat: Extrapolated from GH/IGF-1 changes; never tested for these goals
outcome: Safety & long-term
base: Limited; a trial-death shadow
effect: Unknown
caveat: Causation disputed; GH/IGF-1 elevation carries theoretical risks (IGF-1/oncologic, insulin resistance, edema); WADA-banned

Legal status:
region: EU
status: Not approved
note: Not approved; not eligible for magistral/officinal compounding (no Ph. Eur. monograph).
region: US
status: Not FDA-approved (503A Cat. 2)
note: Placed in 503A Category 2 (2023); its status is in flux amid the 2026 HHS/FDA peptide reclassification, but it is not among the seven peptides in the specific July 23–24 2026 PCAC review; not FDA-approved (IND).
region: INT
status: Not approved
note: Not approved.

Cosmetic claims:

Note: Research / reference — not for sale. No dosing, reconstitution, or administration is published (intentional). Neutral scientific reference only. A GH secretagogue with a real (and cautionary) clinical-development history.

Sources:
Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of GH and IGF-1 secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006.
Jette L, et al. (CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog in rats.) 2005; Alba M, et al. (GHRH-KO mice) 2006; Sackmann-Sala L, et al. (serum protein profile) 2009.
ConjuChem Phase 2 (NCT00267527).