Modified GRF 1-29, Mod GRF
Evidence Grade C — Moderate human evidence. 27 published studies, 16 human. 1 registered clinical trial.
CJC-1295 (without DAC) is a synthetic modified fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone designed to resist enzymatic breakdown, stimulating the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. It has no approval from any regulatory agency and no Phase III trials have been completed. It is widely available through unregulated sources, often combined with ipamorelin.
27 published studies: 16 human, 5 animal, 4 in-vitro, 4 reviews
CJC-1295 (without DAC) has no marketing authorisation from any regulatory agency. Limited Phase I pharmacokinetic data showed increased growth hormone levels following single injections. No Phase III trials have been conducted.
CJC-1295 is widely available through unregulated channels, often in combination with ipamorelin. These combinations have no clinical trial support. Products from unregulated sources lack pharmaceutical quality assurance. The compound should be distinguished from CJC-1295 DAC (#90), which has a different pharmacokinetic profile.
Research suggests CJC-1295 binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary cells, stimulating growth hormone release. The four amino acid substitutions protect the peptide from the enzyme DPP-IV that rapidly degrades native GHRH. These observations come from limited early-phase human pharmacokinetic data and animal studies. The clinical significance of these effects has not been established in controlled trials.
Research is limited to early-phase pharmacokinetic data showing that CJC-1295 increases growth hormone levels after single injections. No efficacy trials have been conducted for any clinical outcome. The commonly used combination with ipamorelin has no clinical trial support whatsoever. Safety concerns include potential pituitary desensitisation with repeated use, unknown effects of sustained IGF-1 elevation (including theoretical cancer risk), and cortisol co-stimulation. A death was reported in a 2006 clinical trial of the DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version, though causality was not established. Products from unregulated sources lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
A Study to Evaluate CJC 1295 in HIV Patients With Visceral Obesity
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
Somatropin has been available since the mid-1980s and is one of the most established peptide therapies. It is sold under numerous brand names including Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, and Omnitrope (the first biosimilar approved in the US, 2006). Approved indications include childhood and adult growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, children born small for gestational age, Prader-Willi syndrome, idiopathic short stature, and short stature from chronic kidney disease. Daily injection has been the main burden of somatropin therapy, particularly for paediatric patients who may require years of treatment. This has driven the development of once-weekly alternatives (somatrogon and somapacitan), which are gradually changing the treatment landscape. Annual treatment costs remain substantial, and concerns about misuse in anti-ageing and performance enhancement contexts are ongoing.
Tesamorelin is marketed as Egrifta SV (approved November 2010) for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. In clinical trials, it reduced visceral fat by approximately 15% compared to a 5% increase with placebo, and this reduction was sustained with continued treatment. Tesamorelin occupies a unique niche — it is the only approved GHRH analogue and the only medication specifically approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Beyond its approved indication, it has attracted research interest for potential effects on liver fat, cognitive function, and peripheral neuropathy. Fat reduction reverses when treatment stops, and it is not approved for general weight loss or body composition purposes.
Somatrogon is marketed as Ngenla (approved June 2023) for paediatric growth hormone deficiency in children aged 3 years and older. In the pivotal trial, once-weekly somatrogon produced growth rates equivalent to daily somatropin injections (10.1 cm/year versus 9.8 cm/year), confirming that reducing injection frequency does not compromise growth outcomes. Ngenla represents a meaningful advance for paediatric patients and their families, reducing injections from 365 to 52 per year. Treatment adherence has been a persistent challenge with daily growth hormone, and weekly dosing is expected to improve long-term outcomes through better compliance. Somatrogon competes directly with somapacitan (Sogroya), the other approved weekly growth hormone, creating a new generation of less burdensome treatment options.
