Overview
In plain English
CJC-1295 with DAC is a modified version of the signal your brain uses to tell the pituitary to release growth hormone.
Its defining feature is duration. Once injected, it clips onto a protein in your blood and stays active for days rather than minutes. That is why it is a once-weekly injection while most peptides in this category are daily.
- What it isA long-acting analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone
- Mainly used forRaising the body's own growth hormone and IGF-1 output
- Typical protocol1mg once weekly, same day each week, 8–16 weeks then a 4-week break
How it works
What it actually does
Your pituitary already releases growth hormone in pulses. CJC-1295 pushes on that existing system rather than replacing it — so your body's own feedback controls still apply.
Natural GHRH is destroyed in the bloodstream within minutes. Four small changes to the molecule block the enzymes that break it down.
The DAC part is the clever bit: it forms a permanent bond with albumin, the most abundant protein in blood. That makes the whole package too big for the kidneys to filter out, stretching its life from minutes to days.
The science in detail
CJC-1295 with DAC is built on GRF(1-29), the N-terminal fragment of human growth hormone-releasing hormone that retains the full receptor activity of the 44-residue native peptide. Four positions are substituted — D-Ala at 2, Gln at 8, Ala at 15 and Leu at 27 — each closing a route of degradation. The D-Ala2 substitution matters most: native GHRH is cleaved between residues 2 and 3 by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV within minutes of entering plasma, and the D-amino acid renders that bond unrecognisable. The other substitutions reduce trypsin cleavage and asparagine deamidation.
The Drug Affinity Complex is the more distinctive modification. A lysine is appended at position 30 and its side chain carries a maleimidopropionyl group. Maleimide reacts selectively with free thiols, and the only abundant free thiol in plasma is Cys34 of serum albumin. The peptide therefore forms a covalent thioether bond with albumin in situ, producing a conjugate too large for glomerular filtration and largely shielded from peptidase access. Circulating half-life is measured in days rather than minutes.
Receptor engagement is conventional. The peptide binds GHRHR, a class B G protein-coupled receptor on anterior pituitary somatotrophs, coupling through Gs to adenylyl cyclase. The cAMP rise activates protein kinase A, which phosphorylates CREB and drives Pit-1-dependent GH gene transcription alongside calcium-mediated release of stored granules. Hepatic GH receptor signalling then raises IGF-1.
Two contrasts define its position. Against CJC-1295 without DAC, which shares the substitutions but lacks the linker, the difference is purely pharmacokinetic — a discrete pulse against a sustained elevation of baseline. Against ghrelin mimetics such as Ipamorelin, acting at GHS-R1a, the receptor and pathway differ entirely. Teichman et al. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006) reported sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation after single subcutaneous doses in healthy adults; Ionescu and Frohman (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006) found endogenous pulsatility persisted despite continuous receptor stimulation.
Evidence
What the research shows
One injection covers a week
Bonding to blood albumin extends its half-life to roughly 6–8 days.
Uses your own GH pulses
It amplifies the pituitary's natural pulsatile release rather than imposing a flat, constant level.
Sustained IGF-1 rise in humans
A published clinical study reported sustained growth hormone and IGF-1 elevation after single doses.
Pulsing is preserved
Human work found the natural pulse pattern persisted rather than flattening out under continuous stimulation.
Mixing & dosage
How to mix and dose it
These are the mixing and dosage instructions supplied by Purist Peptides and the manufacturer for this product.
A 3ml vial of bacteriostatic water is included free with every peptide vial you order, so you have what you need to mix this on arrival.
CJC-1295 w DAC 5mg
Step 1 — mix your vial
- Draw up 2ml of bacteriostatic water into a syringe
- Wipe the rubber top of your vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Insert the needle then slowly and carefully push the water down the inside wall of the vial — do not inject water straight onto the peptide powder
- Gently roll the vial between your palms until the powder dissolves completely
- Do not shake
- Allow to settle in the fridge for 5–10 minutes. The liquid should look clear
Step 2 — draw & inject your dose
Use a 1ml insulin syringe to draw and inject your dose. A 1ml syringe = 100 units.
With 2ml of water added, each 0.1ml (10 units) you draw = 250mcg of CJC-1295 w DAC.
| Stage | Dose | On the syringe |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | 500mcg once weekly | 20 units |
| Standard | 1mg once weekly | 40 units |
Vial duration at standard dose: 5 weeks
CJC-1295 w DAC has a half-life of 6 to 8 days. Inject once on the same day each week. Do not inject daily.
When to inject: Once weekly on the same day each week. Inject on an empty stomach where possible.
Cycle length: 8 to 16 weeks, then take a 4-week break.
How to inject
- Wipe your injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Pinch a small fold of skin on your abdomen
- Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle into the pinched skin
- Slowly push the plunger down until empty
- Pull the needle out and apply gentle pressure with the swab
- Dispose of the needle safely in a sharps container — never recap or reuse
Storage
Keep refrigerated at 2 to 6 degrees Celsius at all times after mixing. Do not freeze. Protect from light and label the vial with the date you reconstituted it. Discard any solution that is hazy, discoloured or contains particles.
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before starting any compound.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the DAC in CJC-1295 with DAC?
DAC stands for Drug Affinity Complex — a maleimidopropionyl group on a C-terminal lysine that reacts with the free thiol of Cys34 on serum albumin. The resulting covalent conjugate is too large for renal filtration, which is why the compound persists for days rather than minutes.
How does it differ from CJC-1295 without DAC?
Both share the same four amino acid substitutions on the GRF(1-29) backbone. Only the DAC version carries the albumin-binding linker. Without it, the peptide is cleared rapidly and produces a discrete pulse of GH release; with it, receptor stimulation is continuous and baseline GH and IGF-1 are elevated across days.
How does it differ from Ipamorelin?
Different receptor entirely. CJC-1295 acts at the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs. Ipamorelin is a ghrelin mimetic acting at GHS-R1a, which stimulates GH release through a separate pathway and reduces somatostatin tone. The two are studied together in research models precisely because the mechanisms are independent.
What has it been studied for?
Published human pharmacology is limited to the 2006 JCEM papers, which examined GH and IGF-1 secretion kinetics in healthy adults. Later research interest has centred on the somatotropic axis, body composition and sleep architecture in preclinical settings.
How is purity verified?
Every batch is assayed by Bioindustrial Services in Boksburg, an independent biotechnology laboratory, using HPLC. We do not self-certify. The signed certificate of analysis for each batch — lab number, method and assayed result — is published on our quality standards page.
How long does delivery take?
Orders are dispatched from within South Africa with tracking. Timelines by region and courier are set out on our delivery process page.
What is the returns policy?
Unopened vials in original condition may be returned within the stated window; full terms are in our refund policy.
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