CJC-1295 (no-DAC) — also known as Modified GRF 1-29 or Mod GRF 1-29 — is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and secrete growth hormone in amplified, physiologically patterned pulses. With a plasma half-life of approximately 30 minutes and a purity of 99.90%, it is one of the most precisely characterised GH-axis peptides available for research, and a foundational compound in body recomposition, metabolic, and anti-aging research protocols.
This guide covers the mechanism of CJC-1295 no-DAC, how it differs from CJC-1295 with DAC, its key research applications, dosing protocol, and why it is most commonly studied in combination with Ipamorelin.
What Is CJC-1295 (No-DAC)?
CJC-1295 is a 30-amino-acid modified peptide based on the first 29 amino acids of endogenous GHRH — the hypothalamic hormone that normally triggers pulsatile GH secretion from the anterior pituitary. The "no-DAC" variant lacks the Drug Affinity Complex (maleimidopropionic acid) that characterises its longer-acting sibling. This absence is deliberate: without the DAC moiety's covalent albumin-binding mechanism, CJC-1295 (no-DAC) has a half-life of approximately 30 minutes rather than the 6–8 days of the DAC version.
The result is a pharmacokinetic profile that more closely mirrors natural GHRH signalling: a sharp peptide stimulus to the pituitary that triggers a discrete, time-limited GH pulse, followed by a return to baseline before the next administration. This pulsatile pattern is important because continuous or tonic GH stimulation — as occurs with exogenous GH injections or very long-acting GHRH analogues — is associated with receptor desensitisation and suppression of the endogenous GH axis. CJC-1295 (no-DAC) is designed to work with the body's natural rhythm rather than overriding it.
The four amino acid substitutions incorporated into the CJC-1295 sequence (relative to native GHRH 1-29) improve proteolytic stability — extending the plasma half-life from the few minutes of native GHRH to approximately 30 minutes — while preserving full GHRH receptor (GHRHR) binding affinity and bioactivity.
CJC-1295 vs CJC-1295 with DAC — Key Differences
The distinction between CJC-1295 no-DAC and CJC-1295 with DAC is one of the most commonly misunderstood areas in GHRH peptide research. The two compounds have fundamentally different pharmacokinetic profiles that make them suited to different research designs.
CJC-1295 No-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29): Half-life approximately 30 minutes. Produces a discrete GH pulse when administered. Allows GH levels to return to baseline between doses, preserving pulsatility. Typically administered 2–3 times per day for sustained research coverage. Does not accumulate in plasma between doses. Preferred for research into pulsatile GH secretion and protocols that require physiological GH axis dynamics.
CJC-1295 with DAC: Half-life 6–8 days. The DAC moiety reacts covalently with plasma albumin, dramatically extending circulating time. Produces a sustained, blunted elevation of GH rather than discrete pulses. Typically dosed once or twice weekly. The prolonged GH elevation pattern differs substantially from the endogenous GH secretory profile and may be associated with greater pituitary desensitisation over time.
For research protocols that aim to amplify natural GH pulsatility — including those studying body recomposition, sleep-phase GH secretion, and anti-aging endpoints — CJC-1295 no-DAC is the more physiologically appropriate tool. The DAC version has utility in research designs that specifically require sustained GH elevation.
A key practical note: products sold simply as "CJC-1295" without specification are sometimes the DAC version. Researchers should verify the exact form when sourcing. Peptide Central's listing at /cjc-1295-no-dac/ specifies the no-DAC form explicitly.
Key Research Applications
GH Pulse Amplification
The primary research application of CJC-1295 (no-DAC) is amplification of endogenous GH pulses. In healthy subjects, GH is secreted in 4–8 pulses per day, with the largest pulse occurring during slow-wave sleep approximately 1 hour after sleep onset. The frequency and amplitude of these pulses decline progressively with age — a phenomenon called somatopause — with peak GH output in young adulthood declining by 14–15% per decade thereafter.
CJC-1295 no-DAC, administered at or before a natural GH pulse window (pre-sleep, pre-exercise), amplifies the amplitude of that pulse by potentiating GHRHR signalling in pituitary somatotrophs. Research data from clinical studies shows that pulse amplitude increases of 200–600% are achievable with GHRH analogue administration, depending on baseline somatotroph responsiveness and somatostatin tone at the time of administration.
Body Recomposition
Growth hormone is a primary driver of body recomposition through multiple mechanisms: direct lipolysis (GH activates hormone-sensitive lipase in adipocytes and promotes fatty acid oxidation), anti-insulin effects that preserve muscle glucose uptake, and indirect anabolic effects mediated by IGF-1 produced in the liver and peripheral tissues in response to GH stimulation. Elevated GH pulsatility is associated in research models with increased lean mass retention, reduced visceral adiposity, and improved body composition metrics.
CJC-1295 (no-DAC) is particularly valued in body recomposition research because it achieves these effects through physiological GH axis stimulation rather than exogenous GH administration, which bypasses endogenous regulation entirely. The intact negative feedback loop — where elevated IGF-1 suppresses further GH secretion — provides a built-in safety mechanism absent with direct GH administration.
Anti-Aging Protocols
The age-related decline in GH pulsatility is increasingly recognised as a contributor to several hallmarks of biological ageing: reduced muscle mass and strength, increased visceral fat accumulation, impaired sleep architecture, reduced bone mineral density, and declining skin collagen synthesis. GHRH analogue research has explored whether restoring more youthful GH pulse patterns can attenuate these age-associated changes.
Preclinical studies in aged rodent models show improvements in body composition, immune function, and metabolic parameters with GHRH analogue administration. Human research with the GHRH analogue tesamorelin (an approved pharmaceutical) demonstrates significant reductions in visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, providing clinical proof-of-concept for the body composition effects. CJC-1295 no-DAC is studied as a research tool for investigating similar mechanisms in anti-aging and longevity-focused research designs.
Dosage Protocol
Standard research dose: 100–200 mcg per injection, 2–3 times per week (total 1–2 mg/week)
Half-life: Approximately 30 minutes. This short window means timing relative to natural GH pulse windows is relevant for research designs seeking to amplify physiological pulses. Pre-sleep administration is commonly timed 30–60 minutes before sleep to coincide with the anticipated slow-wave sleep GH pulse.
Administration: Subcutaneous injection after reconstitution with bacteriostatic water. Use the BAC water reconstitution calculator to calculate the correct diluent volume for your target concentration (commonly 100 mcg/0.1 mL for easy volumetric dosing).
Storage: Lyophilised powder at -20°C for long-term storage; reconstituted solution at 4°C, use within 28 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles of reconstituted solution.
Protocol note: Because of its short half-life, CJC-1295 no-DAC is virtually always studied in combination with a GH secretagogue (typically Ipamorelin) to produce synergistic GH pulses. Monotherapy protocols are less common in current research literature.
CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin: The Gold Standard GH Stack
The combination of CJC-1295 (no-DAC) with Ipamorelin is the most extensively studied and most widely referenced GH-axis peptide stack in research literature. The two peptides stimulate GH secretion through entirely independent receptor systems, and co-administration produces a synergistic GH pulse substantially larger than either peptide achieves alone.
CJC-1295 no-DAC acts on the GHRH receptor (GHRHR) on pituitary somatotrophs — the same receptor targeted by endogenous GHRH. Ipamorelin, a selective ghrelin mimetic, acts on the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHS-R1a), an entirely separate G-protein coupled receptor that uses a different second-messenger cascade to promote GH exocytosis. When both receptors are activated simultaneously, the resulting GH secretion is additive-to-synergistic, as demonstrated across multiple preclinical and early-phase clinical studies.
Ipamorelin's selectivity profile is a key reason this combination is preferred over older GH secretagogue stacks: unlike GHRP-2 or GHRP-6, Ipamorelin does not significantly elevate cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH at research doses. This cleaner hormonal profile makes it easier to attribute observed effects specifically to GH and IGF-1 axis modulation rather than corticosteroid or prolactin confounds.
For researchers seeking the convenience of a pre-combined product, Peptide Central also offers the CJC-Ipamorelin Blend, which co-formulates both peptides in a single vial at verified ratios. This eliminates the need for two separate reconstitutions and simplifies protocol execution for research designs using fixed-ratio co-administration.
Stack dosing reference: CJC-1295 no-DAC 100–200 mcg + Ipamorelin 100–300 mcg, administered together via subcutaneous injection, 2–3 times weekly. Many research protocols time one injection approximately 30–60 minutes before sleep onset to align with the endogenous sleep-phase GH pulse. Use the BAC water calculator for each peptide individually if reconstituting separately.
Where to Buy CJC-1295 (No-DAC) in India
Peptide Central stocks CJC-1295 (no-DAC) at 99.90% HPLC-verified purity — among the highest purity specifications available in the Indian research peptide market. A full Certificate of Analysis (COA) is included with every order. Available as a 10mg vial at ₹4,999 (originally ₹7,999), representing over 37% savings.
Pan-India delivery with Cash on Delivery (COD), UPI, and IMPS payment options. Same-day dispatch confirmation via WhatsApp. For researchers building a complete GH stack, Ipamorelin and the pre-combined CJC-Ipamorelin Blend are also available at matching purity standards.