CJC-1295 (no DAC)

CJC-1295 without DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a tetra-substituted growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog — specifically, modified GRF(1-29) with four amino acid substitutions that increase plasma stability from ~7 minutes (native GRF) to approximately 30 minutes. It binds and activates the GHRH receptor (GHRHR) on anterior pituitary somatotroph cells, triggering cAMP-PKA signaling cascades that stimulate pulsatile growth hormone (GH) synthesis and secretion.

Unlike the DAC-conjugated variant (which has a ~7-day half-life via albumin binding and produces continuous "GH bleed"), the non-DAC form preserves the physiological pulsatile pattern of GH release. This matters because GH receptor signaling is pulse-amplitude-dependent: intermittent high-amplitude pulses produce anabolic effects, while continuous low-level exposure can induce receptor desensitization and hepatic IGF-1 resistance.

CJC-1295 no DAC is nearly always researched in combination with a ghrelin-mimetic (GHRP) such as Ipamorelin, GHRP-2, or GHRP-6. GHRH analogs set the "GH pulse amplitude ceiling," while ghrelin-mimetics trigger the pulse release — the combination synergizes to produce 2–5× greater GH output than either peptide alone.

CJC-1295 was originally developed by ConjuChem Biotechnologies (Montreal) in the early 2000s as a long-acting GHRH analog for growth hormone deficiency and HIV-associated wasting. The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) technology conjugated the peptide to albumin via a maleimidopropionic acid linker, extending the half-life from minutes to days. However, Phase 2 clinical trials were discontinued after a 2006 safety signal (a participant death was later attributed to an unrelated cardiac conduction defect, but the development program was paused).

The non-DAC variant emerged from research groups seeking to preserve the physiological GH pulsatility that DAC conjugation eliminated. Modified GRF(1-29) with the same four stabilizing substitutions but without the albumin-binding moiety became the standard research form, widely adopted in peptide research communities for its safety profile and predictable pharmacokinetics.

Store lyophilized CJC-1295 no DAC at -20°C in a light-protected, desiccated environment. Stability exceeds 18 months under these conditions. The peptide is relatively robust; brief room-temperature handling during reconstitution does not cause significant degradation.

Reconstituted CJC-1295 should be stored at 2–8°C and used within 21 days. The peptide is susceptible to deamidation at asparagine residue 8 — this is a spontaneous degradation pathway accelerated at neutral-to-basic pH and higher temperatures. Using refrigerated storage and slightly acidic BAC water (pH 5.5–6.5) helps preserve structural integrity.