CJC-1295 No DAC
low riskAlso: Modified GRF 1-29 · Mod GRF 1-29 · CJC-1295 Without DAC · GRF(1-29) · Sermorelin analog
CJC-1295 Without DAC (also called Modified GRF 1-29 or Mod GRF 1-29) is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) spanning positions 1–29 of the native sequence, with four amino acid substitutions for stability. Unlike CJC-1295 with DAC, it lacks the Drug Affinity Complex that extends half-life to 6–8 days — resulting in a half-life of 30 minutes and a GH pulse that more closely mimics physiological pulsatile secretion. Commonly used in combination with GHRPs (ipamorelin, GHRP-6) to produce synergistic GH release. Distinct clinical and pharmacokinetic profile from the DAC version.
Reported Benefits
Growth hormone pulse amplification
Modified GRF 1-29 produces a strong pulsatile GH release within 15–30 minutes of injection, significantly above baseline, through GHRH receptor activation at the pituitary.
Body composition (lean mass / fat reduction)
Studies on GHRH analogs (class evidence) show improvements in lean body mass and reduction in visceral adiposity; Mod GRF 1-29 specific data extrapolated from class.
Sleep architecture improvement
GHRH receptor activation promotes slow-wave (deep) sleep; GH secretagogues timed before sleep show improved sleep quality metrics in clinical assessments.
Recovery and tissue repair
IGF-1 elevation downstream of GH secretion supports connective tissue, collagen synthesis, and muscle protein recovery; indirect evidence from GHRH class data.
Mechanism of Action
CJC-1295 No DAC binds and activates the GHRH receptor (GHRHR) on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary, triggering a PKA-mediated signaling cascade that stimulates growth hormone synthesis and acute GH secretion. The four amino acid substitutions at positions 2 (Ala→D-Ala), 8 (Asn→Gln), 15 (Gly→Ala), and 27 (Met→Leu) in the 1-29 sequence improve metabolic stability versus native GHRH while preserving full receptor agonism. Without the DAC moiety, the molecule does not covalently bind serum albumin, so half-life is ~30 minutes — producing a clean GH pulse that clears before the next injection, preserving pituitary sensitivity and natural pulsatility. Co-administration with a GHRP (e.g., ipamorelin) produces synergistic GH release by simultaneously blocking somatostatin and activating the ghrelin receptor.
Key Clinical Studies
Teichman SL et al. (2006)
Randomized, placebo-controlled (CJC-1295 with and without DAC) · 65
Both DAC and non-DAC forms dose-dependently increased GH and IGF-1; without-DAC form produced acute pulsatile GH elevation with return to baseline within 2–4 hours
Ionescu M, Frohman LA (2006)
Randomized, double-blind · 29
GHRH(1-29) analog produced synergistic GH release when combined with GHRP-6; combination exceeded either agent alone by 3–5x
Overview
CJC-1295 No DAC and CJC-1295 (with DAC) are frequently confused — they share a name but have meaningfully different pharmacokinetics and clinical behavior. The “DAC” (Drug Affinity Complex) is a technology that covalently binds the peptide to serum albumin, extending its half-life from 30 minutes to 6–8 days. Without DAC, the peptide behaves as a relatively short-acting GHRH analog — producing a GH pulse that rises and falls within a few hours, similar in kinetics to sermorelin. This distinction matters clinically: the DAC version maintains elevated GH and IGF-1 continuously (less physiological), while the no-DAC version preserves pulsatile GH secretion that more closely resembles endogenous GH release patterns.
Evidence
Modified GRF 1-29 has solid mechanistic and pharmacodynamic evidence — its ability to produce dose-dependent GH release is well-documented in the Teichman 2006 study and consistent with the broader GHRH literature. The downstream clinical outcomes (body composition, recovery, anti-aging) are supported by class-level evidence from GHRH and GH secretagogue research rather than No DAC-specific trials. The combination with ipamorelin is particularly well-studied, with synergistic GH release exceeding either agent alone by multiple fold.
Regulatory Status / Clinical Use
CJC-1295 No DAC occupies a regulatory gray zone similar to other GHRH analogs. It is not FDA-approved for any indication. Sermorelin (the native GHRH 1-29 analog with fewer stability substitutions) was FDA-approved but withdrawn from market in 2008; its approval history provides indirect regulatory precedent for the 1-29 peptide class. GHRH analogs as a class are in the FDA’s scrutiny zone for compounding. Practitioners who prescribe GH secretagogues increasingly use Modified GRF 1-29 combined with ipamorelin as a compounding-accessible alternative to sermorelin.
Bottom Line
If you’re evaluating CJC-1295, the No DAC version deserves independent consideration from the DAC version. For practitioners who prioritize pulsatile, physiologically mimetic GH secretion, No DAC is the preferred form. The combination protocol with ipamorelin is the dominant clinical use — producing synergistic GH release at lower individual doses with a cleaner side effect profile than legacy GHRPs like GHRP-6. Regulatory risk exists for the class; confirm current compounding status before prescribing.
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Regulatory Status
Research OnlyNot FDA-approved; not currently on 503A positive list; some compounders have offered as non-DAC alternative to restricted GHRH analogs
Safety Profile
Side Effects
- •Injection site redness/tingling
- •Water retention (mild, dose-dependent)
- •Fatigue (transient)
- •Headache
- •Hypoglycemia (if fasting; insulin-like downstream effect)
- •Acromegaly-like effects at supraphysiologic doses (long-term)
Contraindications
- •Active malignancy (GH is mitogenic)
- •Diabetes mellitus (insulin resistance effects)
- •Pregnancy
- •Intracranial hypertension
Drug Interactions
- •Insulin / GLP-1 agonists (metabolic interactions)
- •Glucocorticoids (reduce GH response)
- •Thyroid hormone (GH secretion partially thyroid-dependent)
Primary Uses
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