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Peptide Evidence Guide

CJC-1295 With DAC vs No DAC: They Are Not Pharmacokinetically Equivalent

The DAC attachment changes albumin binding and turns a short-acting GHRH analogue into a multi-day compound. The naming is confusing; the evidence distinction is more important.

By Halflife Labs Editorial TeamPublished June 7, 202611 min readEvidence reviewed
Direct answer: CJC-1295 with DAC is a long-acting, albumin-binding GHRH analogue with a human-study half-life estimate of 5.8–8.1 days. “CJC-1295 no DAC” is commonly used as a market name for modified GRF 1-29, a short-acting analogue without the albumin-binding attachment. The two names should not be treated as interchangeable.
Regulatory context: Neither form is FDA-approved for routine therapeutic use. This guide explains naming and published pharmacokinetics; it does not provide a protocol.

The comparison that matters

FeatureCJC-1295 with DAC“CJC-1295 no DAC” / modified GRF 1-29
Albumin-binding DACPresentAbsent
Human PK evidenceRandomized healthy-adult studiesNo equivalent published human PK dataset identified
Measured / commonly cited half-life5.8–8.1 days in human studyShort-acting; exact human estimate is uncertain
Exposure patternSustained multi-day exposureBrief exposure associated with modified GRF naming

What the DAC attachment does

The Drug Affinity Complex is a reactive chemical group designed to bind to albumin after administration. Albumin circulates for much longer than an unprotected peptide, so attaching the analogue to albumin slows clearance. The original CJC-1295 human study reported sustained increases in growth hormone for six days or more and IGF-1 for nine to eleven days after a single injection.

Why the “no DAC” name creates confusion

Published CJC-1295 clinical data primarily concern the DAC-containing molecule. In commercial and community usage, “CJC-1295 without DAC” is often applied to modified GRF 1-29. Removing the defining albumin-binding component changes the pharmacokinetic identity, so evidence from the DAC form cannot simply be transferred to the no-DAC label.

Use the separate database entries for CJC-1295 with DAC and CJC-1295 no DAC to keep the evidence sets distinct.

What is actually known from human research?

In two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies of healthy adults, CJC-1295 with DAC had an estimated half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days. Multiple doses produced cumulative effects, and mean IGF-1 remained above baseline for up to 28 days. A separate study found that pulsatile GH secretion persisted during continuous stimulation by the long-acting analogue.

Those findings should not be rewritten as proof for modified GRF 1-29. The chemically and pharmacokinetically distinct form needs its own evidence.

How to read any CJC-1295 claim

Frequently asked questions

What does DAC mean in CJC-1295?

DAC means Drug Affinity Complex. It allows CJC-1295 to bind covalently to circulating albumin, substantially extending its plasma half-life.

What is the half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC?

A randomized human study estimated the half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC at approximately 5.8 to 8.1 days.

Is CJC-1295 no DAC the same compound?

The name CJC-1295 no DAC is commonly used for modified GRF 1-29, but it lacks the albumin-binding DAC attachment and should not be treated as pharmacokinetically equivalent to studied CJC-1295 with DAC.

Primary sources and further reading

  1. Teichman et al., CJC-1295 in healthy adults, PubMed
  2. Ionescu and Frohman, GH pulsatility with CJC-1295, PubMed
  3. FDA PCAC briefing document on CJC-1295

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