CJC-1295: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes

CJC-1295 is a man-made peptide (a small chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins) that copies the action of a natural hormone signal in the body. It is not FDA-approved and is sold only as a research-use-only laboratory chemical.

CJC-1295

What it is

CJC-1295 is a man-made peptide (a small chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins) designed to copy the action of a natural body signal called growth-hormone-releasing hormone, or GHRH. It is built using the first 29 amino acid building blocks of natural GHRH. However, four of those building blocks have been swapped out. Those four changes make it much harder for enzymes (proteins in the bloodstream that break down other molecules) to destroy it quickly.

It exists in two main forms:

• With Drug Affinity Complex (DAC): This form attaches to a common blood protein called albumin. Think of albumin like a slow-release carrier that gives the compound a ride, keeping it active much longer.
• Without DAC (Modified GRF 1-29): This form does not attach to albumin. It works for a shorter period of time.

Key point: CJC-1295 is not approved for any use. It is restricted to laboratory research only, where it is used to study how growth hormone is triggered.

Research context and categorization

CJC-1295 is generally grouped as a growth-hormone secretagogue (a substance that signals the body to release growth hormone), and more specifically as a GHRH analog or growth-hormone-releasing factor.

In research settings, CJC-1295 is studied for its role in prompting the pituitary gland (a small gland at the base of the brain that controls many hormones) to release growth hormone (GH). That release can in turn raise levels of another signaling molecule called insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1. Researchers also look at whether it keeps the natural on-and-off rhythm of GH release, rather than simply replacing the hormone directly.

Because of how it works, researchers study CJC-1295 in connection with how GH and IGF-1 are released and regulated. It is also discussed in areas like body composition, tissue repair, and metabolism (how the body processes and uses energy). All of these uses are investigational, meaning they are still being studied and nothing has been confirmed.

CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any purpose. The effects often talked about in public are not confirmed or approved benefits. Early clinical studies (tests conducted in people) looked at how long it could keep GH and IGF-1 levels elevated. A later study raised safety concerns, and the compound never moved forward toward approval.

Status

• Regulatory status: Research-only, not FDA-approved. CJC-1295 has no approved human therapeutic product in the United States and is sold only as a research-use-only laboratory chemical. It was reviewed by the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee and was not recommended for the 503A bulks list (a list of compounds that licensed pharmacies may compound for patients). It is also unauthorized as a medicine across the EU and other major countries.
• Sport status: Prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List (the global list of banned substances in sport). It falls under class S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics), specifically among growth-hormone-releasing factors and GHRH analogs. It is banned at all times, both in and out of competition. Both the DAC and no-DAC forms are covered.

Reconstitution notes (general)

CJC-1295 comes as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Before laboratory use, it must be mixed with bacteriostatic water (water with a small preservative added to keep it suitable for lab use). To find the working concentration, just divide the milligrams of powder in the vial by the milliliters of water you add.

For example, a 5 mg vial mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. To figure out what volume to draw for a specific amount once you know the concentration, use the calculator at peptide calculator.

Dilution and handling notes (compound-specific)

CJC-1295 is a true lyophilized peptide, so it does need to be reconstituted before lab use. Vials commonly come in 2 mg or 5 mg sizes. Typical water volumes fall in the range of roughly 1 mL to 3 mL per vial.

The amount of water you choose is a trade-off between concentration and how easy it is to measure small volumes precisely. It is not a dosing instruction:

• Less water gives a more concentrated solution. Each small volume you draw holds more compound.
• More water makes small measurements easier to read, but the solution is more dilute.

Dissolving and Handling Best Practices

CJC-1295 generally dissolves easily and stays clear. It does not typically gel or clump the way some other peptides can. The main handling steps are:

1. Point the stream of water at the inner glass wall of the vial. Let the water run down the side onto the powder. Do not squirt directly onto the pellet. Then swirl the vial gently.
2. Do not shake the vial. Shaking can cause the solution to foam, and that stresses the peptide.
3. Let it sit for a minute or two to fully dissolve.

If the solution stays cloudy and will not clear, discard it and do not use it.

Handling and storage

Follow these storage steps to keep the compound stable:

• Store reconstituted CJC-1295 in a refrigerator at 2 to 8 C, away from direct light.
• Wipe the vial stopper with an alcohol swab before each use. Write the mix date on the label so you can track how long the vial has been open.
• Reconstituted peptide is generally treated as usable for about a four-week refrigerated window. Some references suggest an even shorter window for best stability.
• Discard the solution if it turns cloudy or discolored, or if you see any floating particles.

Related reading

• Cortagen
• Crystagen
• Dermorphin
• How Reconstitution Works
• How Long Does a Reconstituted Vial Last?

Tools and supplies

• peptide calculator
• Bacteriostatic Water 30 ml
• Gansulin Metal Reusable Pen
• 3 ml Glass Cartridges (10-pack)
• Complete Starter Kit

Reminder: research and educational reference only. Preppin Peppers sells hardware and materials, not peptides. Not medical, dosing, or health advice, not evaluated by the FDA, and not intended for human or animal use.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC?

The DAC form binds albumin in the bloodstream, extending its active duration significantly. The no-DAC form (Modified GRF 1-29) lacks that carrier attachment and has a shorter activity window. Both are research-use-only.

Why does CJC-1295 resist enzymatic breakdown better than natural GHRH?

Four amino acid substitutions in its 29-residue sequence reduce recognition by proteolytic enzymes that rapidly degrade native GHRH, making the synthetic analog more stable in laboratory and in-vitro study conditions.

Is CJC-1295 legal for human use or approved by the FDA?

No. CJC-1295 has no approved human therapeutic use in the US or EU, was not recommended for the 503A compounding bulks list, and is banned at all times under the WADA Prohibited List (class S2).

What the research community gets wrong about CJC-1295

• Treating "CJC-1295" and "CJC-1295 with DAC" as the same thing. They are two different molecules. The no-DAC form (Modified GRF 1-29) does not carry the albumin-binding attachment, so it behaves differently in solution and in study conditions. Writing only "CJC-1295" on a vial label leaves out the one detail that matters most for keeping records straight.
• Thinking it is just natural GHRH in a vial. It is a modified copy of the first 29 building blocks of GHRH, with four of those building blocks swapped. Those swaps are the whole point (they slow enzyme breakdown), so it is not interchangeable with native GHRH in a study.
• Shaking the vial to speed up mixing. Shaking foams the solution and stresses the peptide. Directing the water down the inner glass wall and letting the vial sit for a minute or two dissolves it without the foam.
• Assuming a blended vial (for example CJC-1295 plus another peptide) holds the labeled milligrams of CJC-1295. On a blend, the number on the label is usually the combined total, so the CJC-1295 portion is less than the full figure. That changes the concentration math when you reconstitute.
• Expecting the freeze-dried shelf life to carry over once it is mixed. The dry powder is stable far longer than the reconstituted solution. Once water is added, the clock starts, so date the label and watch for cloudiness or particles.

From our bench: If you reconstitute a CJC-1295 vial, tell us what you measured. Note the vial size in milligrams, the volume of bacteriostatic water you added, roughly how long the powder took to go fully clear after a gentle swirl, and whether the solution stayed clear over its refrigerated storage window. Please share only your own observed numbers, not figures copied from a label or another source.

Sources

1. Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP , FDA/DailyMed label (0.9% benzyl alcohol)
2. Duerkop et al., Biotechnol J 2018 , Impact of Cavitation, High Shear Stress and Air/Liquid Interfaces on Protein Aggregation
3. Sigma-Aldrich (Merck) , Handling and Storage Guidelines for Peptides and Proteins
4. Teichman SL et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 , Prolonged Stimulation of GH and IGF-I Secretion by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting GHRH Analog, in Healthy Adults (PubMed)
5. PubChem , CJC-1295 (CID 91971820), compound record and molecular formula