CJC-1295

CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide which acts as a growth hormone secretagogue.  CJC-1295 is also referred to as DAC:GRF, this stands for drug affinity complex: growth hormone releasing factor.  CJC-1295 is a growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) releasing peptide with a long half-life.  Administration of CJC-1295 is an incredibly effective method to increase the natural release of GH and elevate IGF-1 levels.

What is CJC-1295?

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring peptide, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) also known as growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF). CJC was developed by CONJUCHEM Biotechnologies Inc.   GHRH is a 44 amino acid peptide which is required for the natural pulsatory secretion of GH; amino acids 1-29 are responsible for its biological activity.  Exogenous application of Growth Hormone is associated with several negative side effects and it is believed that these side effects can be circumvented by using growth hormone secretagogues such as GRF.  This is because of the growth hormone secretagogue’s more natural pulsatory release of GH.  However, GRF has far too short of a half life to see clinically relevant elevations in GH and IGF.  CJC-1295 was derived from the modification of GRF1-29 and selected for further research due to its long half-life.  CJC provides the natural pulsatory release of GH and IGF-1 like GRF, but for longer periods of time which makes it a great candidate for therapeutic use.

CJC-1295 is GRF1-29 with a modification to four amino acids. This prevents biological degradation of the peptide.  This is done by resisting proteolytic cleavage by proteolytic enzymes like dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (PPD-4), which is known to cleave growth factors.  The modification to the four amino acids is know as Drug Affinity Complex TM (DAC).  DAC is a peptide drug technology developed by CONJUCHEM Biotechnologies Inc.  DAC modifies 4 amino acid positions that will still allow for biological activity of the original peptide, while preventing cleavage.  Maleimidopropionoic acid is bound to the peptide via lysine which binds the free thiol of cycsteine-34 in albumin.  The binding of the peptide in albumin creates a much longer and sustained effect of the drug.  Due to this technology the half-life of CJC-1295 is 8-10 days in humans. (1,2,3)

CJC-1295 Benefits

CJC-1295 causes significant increases GH and IGF-1 so it will provide the same benefits found with the use of these growth factors.  Healthy adults deficient in Growth Hormone can benefit in the following ways:

·         increased   exercise capacity

·         increased muscle mass

·         increased bone density

·         decreased body fat

CJC-1295 Side Effects

CJC-1295 has been tested in humans with relative safety and effectiveness. S. Teichman et. Al conducted two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. 66 Healthy adults, 21-64 years of age were administered subcutaneous CJC-1295. The peptide was dosed at 30-125 ug/kg of bodyweight, 1-3 times weekly or bi-weekly, for 28 and 49 days.  The compound was most well tolerated at 30-60 μg/kg of bodyweight.  There were no serious adverse events reported, most common side effect was injection site irritation.  Other side effects included headache, diarrhea, and vasodilation.   The study found a dose dependent increase in GH and IGF-1 levels.  GH was increased 125% and IGF-1 was increased 80%  for up to 6 days by just one single injection!  M. Lonescu et. al assessed GH pulsatility of 20 healthy men ages 20-34 after a single injection of CJC-1295.  Researches found a 40% increase in GH as opposed to an expected 75% increase, with no significant difference being found between a 60 μg/kg and 90 μg/kg doses.  The natural GH pulsatility was maintained which dispels the “GH bleed” myth commonly mentioned in reference to this compound.  This study found “no serious adverse effects,” most common side effects were increase in heart rate and injection site irritation.  All side effects were short in duration. 

During ConjuChem’s Phase II clinical trial of 192 subjects, a patient receiving their second to last CJC injection of the trial complained of chest pains two hours after injection.  The patient underwent a ECG which identified a myocardial infarction, death occurred one hour later.  ConjuChem’s states as follows:

“There is no evidence of any cardiotoxic effects of DAC(TM):GRF in previous preclinical or clinical studies. The attending physician stated that his most likely explanation for the event was the patient had asymptomatic coronary artery disease with plaque rupture and occlusion.”

Their conclusion was the death of the participant was due to preexisting heart issues. (4,5,6)

CJC-1295 vs HGH

CJC-1295 has several advantages over exogenous HGH application.  The most profound benefit is that CJC only requires administration once per week, this makes ease of use much greater.  CJC stimulates natural release of GH and maintains the natural pulsatory nature of GH release in the body.  This may reduce or avoid the common side effects associated with HGH use.  Although this suggests CJC-1295 would be a better choice than HGH, I do believe that an athlete like a pro bodybuilder seeking a super human physique may be able to elevate GH and IGF-1 much higher with exogenous HGH.  However, these levels may be able to be duplicated with the stacking of CJC along with other peptides.

 

CJC-1295 Dosage

 

CJC-1295 is commonly used in bodybuilding, fat loss, and life extension circles.  Most conversation about and anecdotal accounts of CJC use take place on bodybuilding forums.  This compound has not been approved by the FDA , therefore it is important to note that safety and dose have not been established for human use.  CJC-1295 dose has been reported in a range of 0.1-10mg per week.  The average reported doses seem to start at around 2mg with users ramping up to 6-8mg. The clinical research I cited used 30-125 μg/kg, this translates to 6-25 mg per week in a 200 lb person.  These doses were well tolerated with little difference in results above 60 μg/kg.

CJC-1295 Doping and Detection

The detection of CJC-1295 administration has been shown in animal models via immunoassay methods.  I was unable to find any accounts of qualitative detection in human competitive athletes.  The reports of CJC-1295 use in sport have seemingly been accusations or evidential. However, there are reports of positive secretagogue PED tests for Ibutamoren, Ipamorelin, GHRP-6, and GHRP-2. (7,8)

 

Buy CJC-1295

CJC-1295 is readily available to purchase for research purposes only, as it is not approved for human use. Typing said compound right into your search bar will provide you with many vendors to purchase this compound from.

 

1.       Lucie Jetté, et al. July 2005. 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. Endocrinology. Volume 146 (Issue 7). https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1286

2.       Maria Alba, et al. December 2006. Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse. APS Endocrinology and Metabolism. Volume 291 (Issue 6). https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00201.2006

3.       http://www.conjuchem.com/technology/dac

4.       Sam L. Teichman, et al. March 2006. 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. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Volume 91 (Issue 3)

 https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2005-1536

5.       Madalina Lonescu, et al. December 2006. Pulsatile Secretion of Growth Hormone (GH) Persists during Continuous Stimulation by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting GH-Releasing Hormone Analog. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Volume 91 (Issue 12)

 https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-1702

6.       http://www.natap.org/2006/newsUpdates/081106_02.htm

7.       https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/laboratories/anti-doping-testing-figures-report

8.       https://www.usada.org/testing/results/athlete-test-history/