CJC-1295 DAC
Long-Acting GHRH Analogue
CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a long-acting GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone) analogue engineered for extended half-life. The DAC modification enables covalent albumin binding, extending its half-life from minutes to approximately 8 days — changing the research paradigm from daily to weekly dosing.
At a Glance
Natural GHRH has a half-life of only 7 minutes before enzymatic degradation. CJC-1295 solves this by adding amino acid substitutions that resist DPP-IV cleavage, plus the DAC technology that binds plasma albumin after injection — extending activity to near a week.
The extended half-life creates a sustained GH elevation rather than the discrete pulses produced by CJC-1295 no-DAC paired with ipamorelin. This sustained 'GH bleed' is better suited to some research designs and less ideal for others, depending on whether pulsatile or steady-state GH is the research objective.
It is often compared directly with CJC-1295 no-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) — which has a much shorter half-life and produces discrete GH pulses when combined with a GHRP like ipamorelin.
This compound operates through several converging biological pathways, which helps explain the breadth of effects observed across different tissue and metabolic models.
GHRH Receptor Agonism
Binds pituitary GHRH receptors to stimulate GH synthesis and release — the upstream stimulus in the GH axis.
DAC Albumin Binding
The Drug Affinity Complex enables covalent binding to plasma albumin after injection, extending half-life from ~30 min to ~8 days.
Sustained GH Elevation
Produces a prolonged, sustained GH elevation rather than discrete pulses — creating a 'GH bleed' pattern studied in long-duration body composition research.
IGF-1 Upregulation
Sustained GH stimulation reliably elevates IGF-1, supporting downstream anabolic and repair signaling throughout the research window.
- Body composition studies — lean mass and fat mass over 8–16 week protocols
- GH deficiency research — replacement and supplementation models
- Bone mineral density — sustained IGF-1 effects on skeletal remodeling
- Anti-aging — GH axis decline and restoration in aging models
- Comparison with no-DAC version — pulsatile vs sustained GH release research
- Combination with ipamorelin or GHRP for enhanced GH pulse amplitude research
- Long-duration models requiring weekly rather than daily injection protocols
CJC-1295 DAC vs no-DAC is one of the most important distinctions in GH secretagogue research — they produce fundamentally different GH release profiles.
| Aspect | CJC-1295 DAC | CJC-1295 no-DAC | Sermorelin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Life | ~8 days (albumin bound) | ~30 minutes | ~10–20 minutes |
| GH Release Pattern | Sustained ('GH bleed') | Pulsatile (with GHRP) | Pulsatile |
| Dosing Frequency | Once weekly | Daily (with GHRP) | Daily |
| Best Use | Long-duration studies | Physiological pulse mimicry | Conservative GH research |
| Preferred Stack | Ipamorelin for amplitude | Ipamorelin / GHRP-6 | Ipamorelin or GHRP |
Extended half-life — weekly dosing interval practical for long-duration research
Reliable IGF-1 elevation — sustained GH activity consistently raises IGF-1 over research period
Resistant to DPP-IV degradation — amino acid modifications improve stability vs native GHRH
Sustained vs pulsatile GH — the 'GH bleed' pattern is not physiological; may not be ideal for studies where pulse pattern matters
This overview is strictly educational and based on publicly available scientific literature as of 2026. It does not constitute medical advice. All Helixera Labs products are for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. · Helixera Labs LLC © 2026