Keel
Growth Hormone

CJC-1295 No DAC

CJC-1295 No DAC, also called Modified GRF 1-29, is a peptide studied for its role in prompting the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Unlike the longer-acting DAC version, it clears the body relatively quickly and is generally studied for its shorter, more natural pattern of activity.

Sequence
Modified 29-amino acid chain based on GHRH (1-29)
Format
Lyophilized powder
Half-Life
Short; generally reported at around 30 minutes in research settings

What Is CJC-1295 No DAC?

CJC-1295 No DAC is a synthetic version of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the natural signal the body uses to prompt the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. It's built with a few amino acid substitutions designed to resist the enzymes that would normally break it down quickly in the bloodstream.

The "No DAC" part of the name distinguishes it from CJC-1295 with DAC, a related but chemically different version that includes a drug affinity complex allowing it to bind to albumin in the blood and remain active for days. Without that modification, No DAC clears the body much faster and is generally studied for producing a shorter, more pulsatile pattern of activity that more closely resembles the body's natural GHRH release.

What CJC-1295 No DAC Is Being Researched For

  • Growth Hormone Release

    The core area of research is how CJC-1295 No DAC activates the GHRH receptor on the pituitary gland, which is the first step in the body's natural growth hormone release process.[1][2]

  • Pulsatile Signaling Patterns

    Because it clears the body quickly, researchers have studied CJC-1295 No DAC for how closely it mirrors the body's own pulsatile release pattern, compared to longer-acting versions that produce more sustained activity.

  • Combination Research

    CJC-1295 No DAC is frequently studied alongside other growth hormone secretagogues, such as Ipamorelin, since the two act on separate receptors that both feed into growth hormone release.

How CJC-1295 No DAC Works

  • Activating the GHRH Receptor

    Research points to CJC-1295 No DAC binding to the GHRH receptor on pituitary cells, which triggers a chain of internal signaling that leads to growth hormone release. This is the same receptor the body's own GHRH activates naturally.[1][2]

  • Resisting Rapid Breakdown

    Research points to a handful of specific amino acid substitutions in the CJC-1295 sequence that make it more resistant to the enzymes that would otherwise break it down within minutes, giving researchers a more workable window to study its effects compared to unmodified GHRH fragments.[2]

Reconstitution and Handling

CJC-1295 No DAC is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder in a sealed vial and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before use in a research setting. Water should be added slowly rather than injected directly into the powder, and the vial should be swirled, not shaken.

Since the amount of water used affects the concentration of the final solution, researchers often use a dosage calculator to work this out before mixing. Once reconstituted, the solution is kept refrigerated to help preserve its stability.

Key Takeaways

CJC-1295 No DAC stands out among GHRH analogs for its short activity window, which researchers generally tie to a more natural, pulsatile pattern of growth hormone signaling compared to longer-acting versions. Its core research base centers on GHRH receptor activation and resistance to rapid enzymatic breakdown. Most available data still comes from animal and cell models, with human research concentrated on the longer-acting DAC version.

Clinical Overview

Evidence Summary

  • Human

    Human clinical trial data specific to the short-acting No DAC form (modified GRF 1-29) are limited; the most robust human growth hormone and IGF-1 data in the CJC-1295 program come from the long-acting DAC analog, which prolonged GH and IGF-1 secretion in healthy adults.[1]

  • Animal

    The modified GRF(1-29) sequence was shown to activate the GHRH receptor on the rat pituitary and to resist enzymatic degradation better than native GHRH fragments, supporting its GH-releasing mechanism.[2]

  • In vitro

    Amino acid substitutions in the CJC-1295 sequence confer resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase-IV cleavage, the principal enzymatic pathway that inactivates native GHRH, extending its functional window.[2][3]

  • In vitro

    CJC-1295 No DAC acts as a GHRH receptor agonist, initiating the cyclic AMP-mediated signaling cascade in somatotrophs that leads to growth hormone release.[2]

Pharmacokinetics

  • Route

    No approved formulation exists; the No DAC form is administered subcutaneously in research settings, with no published human bioavailability data.

  • Half-Life

    The short-acting No DAC form is generally reported to clear within roughly 30 minutes, in contrast to the multi-day half-life of the albumin-binding DAC analog; formal human half-life data for the No DAC form are not established.[1]

  • Metabolism and Clearance

    As a peptide it is subject to peptidase degradation; the DPP-IV-resistant substitutions slow but do not eliminate proteolytic clearance. Detailed human metabolism data for the No DAC form are not published.[2]

  • Time to Effect

    The short half-life is intended to produce a discrete, pulsatile growth hormone release rather than the sustained elevation characteristic of the DAC form.[1]

Contraindications and Interactions

  • Investigational compound with no approved human indication; not established as safe or effective for any therapeutic use.
  • No published human data address safety in pregnancy or lactation.
  • Growth hormone and IGF-1 elevation is theoretically undesirable in the setting of malignancy; no human data address use in patients with active or prior cancer.
  • GHRH-driven GH release may reduce insulin sensitivity, a theoretical concern in patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.[1]
  • Additive growth hormone axis stimulation is expected when combined with ghrelin receptor agonists such as ipamorelin, a commonly studied pairing.[1]

Monitoring Parameters

  • Clinicians commonly track IGF-1 as a marker of cumulative growth hormone axis stimulation, consistent with the GH and IGF-1 response reported for the DAC analog.[1]
  • Fasting glucose and HbA1c are commonly tracked given the potential for reduced insulin sensitivity with GH-axis stimulation.
  • Symptoms of growth hormone excess, including fluid retention, arthralgia, and carpal tunnel-type paresthesias, are relevant to clinical follow-up.
  • Injection-site tolerability and any unexpected endocrine symptoms are commonly noted at follow-up.

Reported Adverse Events

  • Injection-site reactions including redness, itching, and pain are plausible with parenteral use.
  • Facial flushing and transient warmth reported with GHRH analogs.[1]
  • Headache.
  • Fluid retention and arthralgia associated with growth hormone axis stimulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does "No DAC" Mean?

DAC stands for drug affinity complex, a chemical modification that lets a peptide bind to albumin in the blood and stay active for days. The No DAC version doesn't include this modification, so it clears the body much faster.

How Is CJC-1295 No DAC Different from CJC-1295 with DAC?

They share the same base amino acid sequence, but the DAC version is modified to last several days, while the No DAC version is active for roughly 30 minutes and produces a shorter, more pulsatile signal.

Is CJC-1295 No DAC the Same as Sermorelin?

They're related but not identical. Both are modified fragments of GHRH, but they carry different amino acid substitutions that affect stability and receptor activity.

Has CJC-1295 No DAC Been Tested in Humans?

Human trial data exists for CJC-1295 with DAC, tracking growth hormone and IGF-1 levels over time. Human data specific to the No DAC version is more limited, with much of the supporting mechanism work done in preclinical models.

Sources and Research

  1. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805.
  2. Jetté L, Léger R, Thibaudeau K, et al. Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29 albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog. Endocrinology. 2005;146(7):3052-3058.
  3. Sinha DK, Balasubramanian A, Tatem AJ, et al. Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males. Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(Suppl 2):S149-S159.

Related Reading

For educational and research purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting any protocol.