CJC-1295

Overview

CJC-1295 is a synthetic tetrasubstituted analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) originally developed by ConjuChem. The name historically refers to the DAC-modified (Drug Affinity Complex) form that covalently binds serum albumin, producing a 6–8 day half-life; a separate no-DAC form (also called Modified GRF 1-29) shares the same tetrasubstituted backbone but lacks the albumin-linking maleimidopropionyl-lysine and has a half-life of roughly 30 minutes. Not FDA-approved in any form; ConjuChem halted Phase 2 development around 2007 after a patient death in an HIV-lipodystrophy trial (ultimately judged by investigators to be unrelated to the drug, but development was terminated regardless).

Mechanism of Action

CJC-1295 is an agonist at the pituitary GHRH receptor, stimulating pulsatile synthesis and release of growth hormone from somatotroph cells. Four amino acid substitutions at positions 2, 8, 15, and 27 confer resistance to DPP-IV and other proteolytic degradation. In the DAC form, a maleimidopropionyl-lysine at position 30 reacts with Cys34 of circulating albumin to form a covalent bioconjugate, extending plasma half-life to roughly 6–8 days. The no-DAC form lacks this linker and has a short (~30 min) half-life similar to sermorelin.

Research Summary

In healthy adults, single SubQ doses of CJC-1295 (with DAC) elevated plasma GH 2- to 10-fold for ≥6 days and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9–11 days (Teichman et al., JCEM 2006), and pulsatile GH secretion was preserved rather than suppressed during continuous stimulation (Ionescu & Frohman, JCEM 2006). Despite these Phase 1/2 findings, ConjuChem halted Phase 2 lipodystrophy development in 2006–2007 after a trial participant died of a myocardial infarction; the event was deemed most likely due to pre-existing coronary disease, but the program was not resumed. No CJC-1295 form is FDA-approved for any indication. Grey-market use almost always refers to the no-DAC / Modified GRF 1-29 form, often stacked with ipamorelin; neither variant is clinically validated for anti-aging, body composition, or performance indications.

Dosing Information

Reported Side Effects

• Transient facial flushing after injection
• Headache
• Dizziness or numbness/tingling
• Injection site reactions
• Water retention and mild peripheral edema
• Fatigue
• Theoretical concern for insulin resistance and malignancy risk from sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation

Research References

• Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog (Jetté L et al., Endocrinology) (2005)
• 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 (Teichman SL et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab) (2006)
• Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog (Ionescu M, Frohman LA, J Clin Endocrinol Metab) (2006)
• Lipodystrophy study halted after patient death (aidsmap news report on ConjuChem halting Phase 2 CJC-1295 trial) (2006)