Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Head-to-head comparison of CJC-1295 and GHRP-2 — mechanism, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
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).
GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide ghrelin receptor agonist that stimulates pituitary growth hormone release. It is approved in Japan (Kaken Pharmaceutical, 2004) as a single-dose diagnostic agent for GH deficiency, but is NOT FDA-approved in the US and is research-only. Unlike ipamorelin, GHRP-2 is non-selective and modestly raises ACTH, cortisol, and prolactin.
CJC-1295
GHRP-2
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Half-life
Side Effects
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
CJC-1295
GHRP-2
COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
CJC-1295
115
COAs
98.8%
Avg purity
12
Labs
GHRP-2
13
COAs
99.3%
Avg purity
6
Labs
CJC-1295 and GHRP-2 are both among peptides under FDA review for the Category 1 (503A) list; if added, they would require a prescription to be compounded by registered 503A/503B pharmacies — they are not yet authorized. In April 2026 the FDA removed 12 peptides from Category 2, which does not place them on the Category 1 list or authorize compounding. The FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee is advisory and meets July 23–24, 2026 to review nominations and make recommendations to the FDA.
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.
Key references
GHRP-2 is approved in Japan (Kaken Pharmaceutical, 2004) as pralmorelin for single-dose diagnostic GH-stimulation testing; Chihara et al. (2007, PMID 17609397) validated a 100 mcg IV dose with a peak-GH <15 mcg/L cut-off against the insulin tolerance test. Arvat et al. (1997, PMID 9285939) showed GHRP-2 raises GH, prolactin, ACTH, and cortisol in healthy men, with hormonal effects similar to hexarelin. Laferrère et al. (2005, PMID 15699539) demonstrated that IV GHRP-2 significantly increases food intake in healthy men, consistent with its ghrelin-like activity. Pralmorelin review: Drugs R D 2004 (PMID 15230633). GHRP-2 is more potent than ipamorelin for raw GH output but is non-selective; grey-market anti-aging, muscle-gain, and performance use is not clinically validated in the US.
CJC-1295 and GHRP-2 are both in the Performance category and may have overlapping mechanisms. Researchers should review both profiles carefully, understand the mechanisms of action, and monitor the relevant biomarkers when combining compounds in the same class. As always, consult a licensed healthcare provider before making any decisions about combining research compounds.
This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.
Contraindications
Lab Testing
Key references
Disclosed Labs