This page has not yet been reviewed by a credentialed medical professional. It is educational and is not medical advice.
Why this evidence grade
Human trials
Small controlled trials in healthy volunteers showed it raises GH and IGF-1. No trial has shown it improves muscle, fat loss, recovery or aging.
What it is
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). The version with a "drug affinity complex" binds blood proteins and lasts days. Versions sold as "CJC-1295 without DAC" or "Mod GRF 1-29" behave differently, and the 2006 trials apply only to the DAC version.
How it is thought to work
It stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone, which then raises IGF-1. A 2006 trial found pulsatile GH release persisted during continuous stimulation.
What the studies found4 studies explained
Two randomized, placebo-controlled trials in healthy adults (ages 21 to 61) found dose-dependent rises in GH (2- to 10-fold) and IGF-1 (1.5- to 3-fold) lasting days, with a half-life of about 6 to 8 days. These measured hormone levels only, not body composition or health outcomes.
A single injection raised mean GH 2- to 10-fold for 6+ days and IGF-1 1.5- to 3-fold for 9 to 11 days. Half-life 5.8 to 8.1 days. No serious adverse reactions reported.
Limitations
Surrogate hormone markers only, healthy volunteers, 28 and 49-day durations, and funded by the developer. No clinical outcomes.
Ionescu M, Frohman LA · J Clin Endocrinol Metab · 2006 · PMID 17018654
humanClinical study in healthy volunteers
Who / how many
Healthy men aged 20 to 40 given a single injection of 60 or 90 microg/kg CJC-1295
What they found
One week later, overnight GH secretion was higher with pulsatility preserved: trough GH rose about 7.5-fold, mean GH about 46% and IGF-I about 45%. The two doses did not differ significantly.
Limitations
Hormone levels only, in healthy men, after a single dose. Does not show any clinical benefit or long-term safety.
Van Hout MC, Hearne E · Subst Use Misuse · 2016 · PMID 26771670
humanNetnography (qualitative study of online forums)
Who / how many
23 discussion threads from 9 bodybuilding forum sites
What they found
Women using CJC-1295 mentioned goals such as weight loss, muscle, youthful skin, sleep and injury healing, and raised concerns about dosing and long-term effects. Users commonly combined it with other performance and image drugs.
Limitations
Anecdotal forum posts, not clinical data. Cannot show whether the drug works or is safe, only how it is being used.
No registered trials of CJC-1295 were found on ClinicalTrials.gov. A missing registration is itself informative: human studies of this peptide are rare.
Data pulled from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Check sponsors: several newer peptide registrations come from companies that also sell the product.
European research
32 records in Europe PMC mention CJC-1295 in the title or abstract. Of the 14 most-cited with European author affiliations that we sampled, the most common countries were Germany (6), Belgium (3), Romania (2), UK (1).
Short trials reported no serious adverse reactions, but they involved few people over weeks. Raising GH and IGF-1 long term raises theoretical concerns (fluid retention, joint pain, insulin resistance) known from GH therapy; these have not been characterised for CJC-1295 specifically.
Legal status
United States
Not FDA-approved. Verify its compounding status on the FDA 503A bulks list.
Canada
Not an authorized drug in Canada.
European Union
No EU marketing authorization from the EMA.
Sport (WADA)
Prohibited at all times in sport (growth hormone-releasing factors, S2).
Last verified . Rules for this substance are changing; check the sources below. WADA Prohibited List.
Common questions
Does CJC-1295 build muscle or burn fat?
It raises GH and IGF-1 in healthy volunteers, but no controlled trial has shown muscle or fat-loss benefits.
Is CJC-1295 with ipamorelin proven?
No controlled trial has tested that combination for any outcome.
