Comparison. Research use only.

CJC-1295 (DAC) vs Ipamorelin / CJC-1295

This is the single most common point of confusion in GH secretagogue research. CJC-1295 with DAC and CJC-1295 without DAC are different molecules with very different pharmacokinetics. The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version binds covalently to serum albumin, the most abundant protein in blood, which keeps it in plasma for days. The no-DAC form, typically blended with Ipamorelin, clears in hours and produces a pulsatile rather than sustained profile.

What is the difference between CJC-1295 (DAC) and Ipamorelin / CJC-1295?

CJC-1295 (DAC) is a single GHRH(1-29) analog carrying a maleimide group that binds serum albumin covalently, giving an estimated half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days (Teichman 2006). Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 is a two-peptide blend of Ipamorelin, a ghrelin-receptor agonist, with CJC-1295 without DAC, which has a half-life of about 30 minutes. Both have only early-phase human data; neither is approved.

Key differences between CJC-1295 (DAC) and Ipamorelin / CJC-1295
Attribute	CJC-1295 (DAC)	Ipamorelin / CJC-1295
Composition	One peptide: CJC-1295 with DAC	Two peptides: Ipamorelin plus CJC-1295 without DAC (mod-GRF 1-29)
Molecular weight	3647.25 g/mol	711.85 Da (Ipamorelin) / 3367.97 Da (CJC-1295 no-DAC)
Albumin binding	Covalent: maleimide group reacts with Cys34 on serum albumin (Jetté et al., 2005)	None: the no-DAC CJC-1295 lacks the maleimide group
Half-life	Estimated 5.8 to 8.1 days in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006)	About 30 minutes for the CJC-1295 component
Receptor targets	GHRH receptor	GHRH receptor (CJC-1295) plus ghrelin receptor GHS-R1a (Ipamorelin)
Human evidence	Phase 1 pharmacology in healthy adults (Teichman 2006; Ionescu and Frohman 2006); development discontinued	Ipamorelin Phase 2 RCT (Beck 2014, n=114) did not meet its endpoint; no trial of the blend itself
Regulatory / WADA	Not approved anywhere; WADA S2	Neither component approved; WADA S2

What is CJC-1295 (DAC)?

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, built on the biologically active N-terminal 1-29 fragment of human GHRH. It acts as an agonist at the GHRH receptor, a class B G-protein-coupled receptor found on anterior pituitary somatotrophs, the pituitary cells that make growth hormone.

Read the full CJC-1295 (DAC) research summary →

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What is Ipamorelin / CJC-1295?

This combination targets two distinct but synergistic nodes in the growth hormone (GH) axis. CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH(1–29)) carrying four amino acid substitutions that make it resistant to the enzyme DPP-4, which extends its half-life.

Read the full Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 research summary →

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CJC-1295 (DAC) and Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 specifications

Spec

CJC-1295 (DAC)

Ipamorelin / CJC-1295

Molecular weight

3647.25 g/mol

711.85 Da (ipamorelin) / 3367.97 Da (CJC-1295 no-DAC)

Sequence

Modified human GHRH(1-29) scaffold with D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15 and Leu27 substitutions, plus a C-terminal N-epsilon-3-maleimidopropionamide lysine (the DAC moiety)

Aib-His-D-2Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (ipamorelin); Modified GHRH(1-29) (CJC-1295)

CAS number

—

170851-70-4 (ipamorelin)

Purity

99%+ HPLC

>=99%

Form

Lyophilized powder

Frequently asked questions

What does DAC mean in CJC-1295 (DAC)?

DAC stands for Drug Affinity Complex. In CJC-1295 (DAC), a maleimidopropionyl group on a C-terminal lysine reacts with the free thiol of Cys34 on serum albumin, forming a covalent conjugate in circulation (Jetté et al., 2005). That albumin tether is what extended the estimated half-life to 5.8 to 8.1 days (Teichman et al., 2006). The CJC-1295 in Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 lacks this group.

Is CJC-1295 without DAC a different molecule from CJC-1295 (DAC)?

Yes. CJC-1295 without DAC, also called modified GRF(1-29), shares the substituted GHRH(1-29) scaffold but lacks the maleimide group, so it does not conjugate to albumin. Our research summary lists its half-life at about 30 minutes, versus days for CJC-1295 (DAC). That pharmacokinetic gap is why CJC-1295 (DAC) and the CJC-1295 in Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 should not be treated as interchangeable.

Has CJC-1295 (DAC) or Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 been studied in humans?

CJC-1295 (DAC) was studied in early-phase pharmacology trials in healthy adults: Teichman et al. (JCEM 2006) reported prolonged GH and IGF-1 elevation, and Ionescu and Frohman (JCEM 2006) reported preserved GH pulsatility. Clinical development was then discontinued. For Ipamorelin / CJC-1295, the Ipamorelin component was tested in a Phase 2 trial (Beck et al., 2014) that did not meet its efficacy endpoint.

Does CJC-1295 (DAC) abolish natural GH pulses?

Not in the published human data. Ionescu and Frohman (JCEM 2006) reported that during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, GH pulse frequency and magnitude were unaltered while basal (trough) GH rose 7.5-fold. The Ipamorelin / CJC-1295 blend uses the short-acting no-DAC form instead, which the research literature describes as producing a pulsatile rather than sustained profile.