CJC-1295 W/ DAC 2mg

CJC-1295 W/ DAC 2mg — Research Overview

CJC-1295 with Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) is a modified GHRH analogue. It combines the four-amino acid substitutions found in Mod GRF 1-29 with a specific drug affinity complex—a maleimidoproprionic acid (MPA) group at the C-terminus. This addition allows the peptide to bind covalently to the lysine residues of circulating serum albumin. By using this albumin-binding technology, the peptide’s plasma half-life is stretched significantly. While CJC-1295 W/O DAC lasts about 30 minutes, this version stays active for roughly 6–8 days in certain preclinical models. Because of this, the analogue produces steady, prolonged elevations in GH and IGF-1 instead of the usual short-lived, pulsatile GH spikes.

Mechanism of Action

After injection, the reactive maleimide group on CJC-1295 DAC spontaneously forms a stable thioether bond with free cysteine residues on circulating albumin. This happens naturally under physiological conditions. Because it’s bound to albumin, the peptide circulates with that protein’s specific half-life, slowly releasing an active GHRH analogue that keeps stimulating GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs. While the downstream mechanism—Gs/adenylyl cyclase/cAMP/PKA—is exactly the same as other GHRH analogues, the stimulus stays present for much longer. This means GH secretion is sustained at higher levels instead of being limited to short, discrete pulses.

This pharmacokinetic difference really matters for experimental design. If you’re studying the biological effects of chronically high IGF-1—perhaps in models of anabolism, metabolic regulation, or IGF-1-dependent tissue effects—CJC-1295 DAC allows for sustained elevation. It is a level of consistency that’s simply impractical to reach using short-acting GHRH analogues or direct GH administration.

Research Context

Several controlled pharmacokinetic studies have looked at how CJC-1295 DAC affects GH and IGF-1 in human subjects. A 2006 paper by Teichman et al. reported dose-dependent increases in IGF-1 levels that stuck around for up to 14 days after a single injection in healthy adults, showing a mean half-life consistent with albumin binding. This long duration of action makes CJC-1295 DAC useful in long-duration experiments where dosing frequency is a practical constraint.

When looking at body composition and metabolic research, keeping IGF-1 levels elevated has been linked to lean mass gains and lower body fat in rodent models. This fits with how IGF-1 works, driving protein synthesis and boosting lipolysis because of its cross-reactivity with the insulin receptor. When researchers compare CJC-1295 DAC to Tesamorelin 10mg or Sermorelin 2mg in these models, the investigator can see exactly how pulsatile versus sustained GH/IGF-1 spikes change metabolic results in different ways.

Researchers are still exploring whether pulsatile or continuous GH secretion affects target tissues differently. It is a big question. CJC-1295 DAC creates a sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation, while CJC-1295 W/O DAC preserves natural pulsatile dynamics. Both are effective tools for investigating these specific dimensions of GH biology.

Laboratory Handling

CJC-1295 with DAC is supplied as a lyophilised powder, which researchers typically reconstitute using sterile bacteriostatic water. While the reactive maleimide group remains fairly stable in its lyophilised state, it can be sensitive to hydrolysis if the pH or temperature climbs once in solution. Because of this, research teams should prepare reconstituted solutions fresh, keep them at 4°C, and use them promptly. For long-term storage, the peptide is best kept lyophilised at −20°C. HPLC purity confirmation is recommended before the investigator begins any experimental work.

This is for research purposes only. It’s not for clinical use or human administration.

References

• Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799–805.
• Jetté L, et al. hGRF1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: comparison with hGRF1-44 NH2. 2005;146(7):3052–3058.
• Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. The safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues. Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(1):45–53.
• Giustina A, Veldhuis JD. Pathophysiology of the neuroregulation of growth hormone secretion in experimental animals and the human. Endocr Rev. 1998;19(6):717–797.

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