CJC-1295 with DAC Dosing Protocol

CJC-1295 with DAC dosing protocol centers on the longest-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog in the research peptide market. In simple terms, this peptide tells your pituitary gland to release more growth hormone — and thanks to a special modification called the Drug Affinity Complex (DAC), it keeps working for nearly a week from a single injection. It was developed by ConjuChem Biotechnologies in Canada and is also known as DAC:GRF.

What makes CJC-1295 DAC unique is how it stays active so long. The peptide shares the same core structure as CJC-1295 No DAC — a 29-amino acid GHRH analog with stabilizing substitutions at positions 2, 8, 15, and 27. The DAC version adds a reactive chemical group (maleimidopropionyl) at position 30 that latches onto albumin, a protein naturally circulating in your blood. Think of albumin as a transport vehicle: once CJC-1295 attaches to it, the peptide is shielded from being broken down or filtered out by the kidneys. This albumin bioconjugation extends the CJC-1295 DAC half-life from minutes to approximately 6-8 days — making it the only GHRH analog with true once-weekly dosing capability.

CJC-1295 with DAC was the version used in formal clinical studies. Phase 1 data published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2006) showed that a single injection increased growth hormone levels 2-10 fold for at least 6 days and IGF-1 levels 1.5-3 fold for 9-11 days. A Phase 2 HIV lipodystrophy study was halted in 2006 after a participant death. The attending physician attributed the death to pre-existing coronary disease rather than the study drug, but development was discontinued as a precaution. There is no active FDA approval pathway.

This compound is investigational and not FDA-approved. All information on this page is for educational and research reference purposes only.

The CJC-1295 with DAC dosing protocol below outlines a gradual increase from a conservative starting dose to the typical maintenance range. Because CJC-1295 DAC has a 6-8 day half-life, it takes 3-4 weeks to reach steady state in your system — starting low lets you assess how your body responds before increasing. Find your current phase in the left column and follow across for the weekly dose and practical notes.

The CJC-1295 DAC reconstitution table below shows how much bacteriostatic water to add to each vial size and what your injection volumes will be at common doses. Start by finding your vial size in the left column. Then pick a BAC water volume — this sets your concentration. Read across to find the injection volume and syringe units for your target weekly dose. "Units" refers to markings on a standard U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1.0 mL). Note that some combinations exceed a standard 1 mL syringe — these are flagged in the table.

Phase 1 data described CJC-1295 DAC as relatively well tolerated at lower dose ranges, with adverse events increasing at higher exposure.

Common side effects: Injection-site reactions (pain, redness, itching, hardening or lumps under the skin, and swelling), temporary flushing or warmth (from blood vessel dilation), headache, and digestive issues like nausea were reported.

Dose-dependent pattern: Higher dose cohorts had more frequent tolerability issues. Lower 30-60 mcg/kg ranges were reported as better tolerated in Phase 1.

DAC-specific considerations: Because CJC-1295 DAC stays active for 6-8 days, side effects can also persist for days rather than clearing within hours. This is the most important practical difference from shorter-acting GHRH analogs — if you experience an unwanted effect, it may take several days to resolve.

Cardiovascular signal: A 2006 Phase 2 HIV lipodystrophy trial was halted after one MI death deemed most likely related to pre-existing coronary disease by attending physician; development was discontinued as a precaution.

Discontinuation rates: Phase 1 studies reported no discontinuations from adverse events and no serious adverse events in those cohorts.

Contraindication context: Risk-screening commonly excludes active malignancy, major cardiovascular disease, diabetes/prediabetes, pregnancy, and peptide hypersensitivity.

CJC-1295 DAC clinical trials were conducted between 2005 and 2006, primarily by ConjuChem Biotechnologies. The table below summarizes all published studies — including Phase 1 human safety trials, a halted Phase 2 study, and supporting preclinical work. The key finding: a single injection produced sustained growth hormone elevation lasting at least 6 days, which no other GHRH analog had achieved at the time.

What the trial program showed overall: CJC-1295 DAC successfully demonstrated that albumin-binding technology could extend GHRH activity from minutes to days. Phase 1 trials in healthy adults confirmed sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation with acceptable short-term tolerability. The compound then entered a Phase 2 study for HIV-associated visceral fat accumulation (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00267527). That study was halted in 2006 after a participant experienced a fatal cardiovascular event. The attending physician attributed the death to pre-existing coronary artery disease rather than the study drug, but ConjuChem discontinued development as a precaution. No active CJC-1295 DAC clinical trials are registered as of April 2026, and there is no FDA approval pathway.

How does CJC-1295 with DAC compare to other growth-hormone-boosting peptides? The table below compares CJC-1295 DAC against three alternatives: CJC-1295 No DAC (same core peptide, much shorter-acting), tesamorelin (the only FDA-approved GHRH analog), and ipamorelin (a different type of GH stimulator that works through ghrelin receptors instead of GHRH receptors). The biggest differences are in the "Half-Life" and "Dosing Frequency" rows — these determine how often you inject and how long each dose stays active.

CJC-1295 DAC offers the longest half-life and easiest dosing cadence, but sustained exposure can make adverse effects harder to reverse and may increase desensitization concerns over long cycles.

Tesamorelin remains the only FDA-approved comparator in this class for a specific indication, while CJC variants remain research-only compounds.

Reconstitution concentration and syringe math differ across these compounds; use calculator support before protocol execution.

See the CJC-1295 No DAC, Tesamorelin and Ipamorelin for compound-specific guides.