CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and a growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) that was developed in the mid-2000s by ConjuChem Technologies [1]. Originally designed to treat obesity issues in HIV/AIDS patients, the peptide has since been shown to effectively treat growth hormone deficiency, improve sleep quality, and promote longevity, and is classified as a prohibited substance under Section S2 of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List [2, 3].

While standard CJC-1295 peptide is made up of 29 amino acids [4], it is most commonly available as CJC-1295 DAC, which stands for “Drug Affinity Complex.” DAC is a bioconjugation platform that improves the ability of the CJC-1295 peptide to bond with blood protein, giving it a much longer half-life than regular CJC-1295 [5].

Confusion has arisen because the original CJC-1295 from ConjuChem Technologies contained DAC, yet other manufacturers subsequently began producing CJC-1295 without DAC. To clear up this confusion, CJC-1295 that does not contain DAC is typically labeled as “CJC-1295 Without DAC” or “CJC-1295 No DAC” [6].

All references to CJC-1295 herein are references to CJC-1295 with the added DAC technology developed by ConjuChem.

At the time of writing, there are no FDA-approved products containing CJC-1295, and the peptide is classed as an Investigational New Drug in the United States, available exclusively to researchers as a reference material.