CJC-1295 with DAC: what the long-acting GHRH analogue is and what the research actually shows

What CJC-1295 with DAC is

CJC-1295 with DAC is the same modified GHRH analogue as the No DAC variant, with one key addition: a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC), specifically a maleimide group that covalently binds to free thiol groups in biological fluids. In practice, this means the maleimide group binds to Cys-34 of serum albumin. This bond transforms the pharmacokinetics of the compound: instead of a half-life measured in hours, the albumin-bound form circulates for several days in animal models, with the peptide being slowly released as albumin undergoes normal protein turnover.

The research concept is a depot effect: the peptide binds albumin in circulation and is released gradually, creating sustained GHRH receptor stimulation rather than the pulsatile signal produced by the No DAC variant. For certain research questions, this sustained stimulation is specifically what is needed; for others, the pulsatile profile of the No DAC variant is more appropriate.

CJC-1295 with DAC is not a medicine and not a therapeutic product. It is a research reference material for laboratory experiments examining sustained GHRH receptor stimulation and the GH axis effects of prolonged, non-pulsatile growth hormone secretion. It must not be used for human or veterinary administration.

Mechanism: albumin binding and extended GHRH receptor stimulation

The Drug Affinity Complex mechanism relies on the maleimide group's reactivity with free thiol groups. In blood, the primary thiol source is Cys-34 of serum albumin, which has a free sulfhydryl group that reacts with maleimides under physiological conditions. The resulting thioether bond is stable, creating a covalent albumin-peptide conjugate that circulates with the pharmacokinetics of albumin rather than the free peptide.

Albumin has a half-life of approximately 19 days in humans and corresponding values in laboratory animal species. The CJC-1295-albumin conjugate is gradually hydrolysed or the peptide released as albumin is catabolised, providing a slow-release depot. In animal models, this results in sustained GHRH receptor stimulation over multiple days from a single application.

The physiological consequence of sustained versus pulsatile GHRH receptor stimulation is a key research question. Natural GH secretion is pulsatile; the liver and other target tissues respond to GH pulses through receptors that undergo desensitisation and resensitisation cycles. Chronic, non-pulsatile GHRH receptor activation produces different downstream effects than pulsatile stimulation, and studying this difference is one reason the DAC variant is a distinct experimental tool from the No DAC variant.

An important methodological note for researchers: because the maleimide group reacts with free thiols, the presence of thiol-containing compounds in laboratory media or cell culture can potentially compete with albumin binding. This is a consideration when designing in vitro experiments with the DAC variant that differ from the in vivo context where albumin is the dominant thiol source.

What the research has examined

CJC-1295 with DAC is used in basic GH axis research where sustained, prolonged GHRH receptor activation is required, in contrast to the pulsatile profile of the No DAC variant.

Chronic GH axis stimulation

In animal models, CJC-1295 DAC has been used to examine the effects of sustained GHRH receptor stimulation on IGF-1 levels, body composition parameters, and metabolic variables over extended experimental periods. The prolonged duration of action makes it useful for studies examining chronic GH axis activation without the need for repeated compound administration.

Pulsatile versus sustained GH stimulation comparison

One of the most relevant research applications of the two CJC-1295 variants is as a paired experimental system for comparing pulsatile and sustained GH secretion. The liver, muscle, and bone have different gene expression responses to pulsatile versus continuous GH stimulation, and this distinction has physiological relevance for understanding sex-specific differences in GH signalling (where males tend to have more pulsatile patterns and females more continuous patterns in many species). The two CJC-1295 variants provide complementary tools for this comparative research.

Albumin-binding drug delivery research

Independently of GHRH, the maleimide-albumin binding strategy is a drug delivery approach of interest in medicinal chemistry research. CJC-1295 DAC has been cited as a model system for this approach, relevant to researchers studying how albumin binding can be used to extend the effective half-life of short peptides more generally.

GH/IGF-1 axis investigations

Because GH stimulates hepatic IGF-1 production, sustained GH stimulation via CJC-1295 DAC allows examination of the GH/IGF-1 axis in animal models over extended experimental time courses. These downstream IGF-1 effects and their tissue-specific gene regulation are a relevant area of basic endocrinology research.

UK regulatory status

CJC-1295 with DAC is not a licensed medicine in the UK. As a GHRH analogue, it appears on the WADA prohibited list (S2 Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors and Related Substances), with implications for competitive athletes. This is relevant sporting context, not a general legal restriction on research compound procurement for laboratory use.

As a research reference compound for in vitro laboratory use, CJC-1295 with DAC occupies a different regulatory category from a pharmaceutical product. It is not a licensed medicine, is not subject to prescribing requirements, and cannot be marketed or supplied for human use. Titeris operates strictly within the research-use-only framework. Every listing on this site is for research use only.

Our UK legal status page provides an overview of the applicable regulatory framework. Questions about WADA compliance for athletes should be directed to the relevant sporting authority.

Laboratory context: how CJC-1295 with DAC is used in basic research

In the laboratory, CJC-1295 with DAC is used as a research reference compound for experiments where sustained GHRH receptor stimulation is required over an extended experimental duration. Common applications include animal model experiments examining chronic GH axis activation, comparative studies contrasting the GH pulse profiles produced by the DAC and No DAC variants, receptor stimulation studies in pituitary-derived cell preparations, and drug delivery research examining the albumin-binding mechanism.

A key methodological consideration specific to the DAC variant is the thiol reactivity of the maleimide group. In cell culture media containing reducing agents such as beta-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol, or in serum-containing media with abundant thiol sources, the maleimide group may react before reaching its target in an in vivo model. Researchers designing in vitro experiments should account for this by using serum-free or defined media conditions, or by pre-reacting the compound with purified albumin before adding to the culture system.

Proper storage of the lyophilised reference material is important for maintaining the integrity of the maleimide group, which can hydrolyse on prolonged exposure to moisture. Storage at -20°C in the dry state is appropriate. Reconstitution should be done promptly before use in laboratory experiments. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles of the reconstituted compound.

Standard laboratory safety protocols apply: gloves, lab coat, and appropriate eye protection. Disposal follows institutional chemical waste guidelines.

Choosing between CJC-1295 No DAC and CJC-1295 with DAC

The choice between the two CJC-1295 variants depends on the research question being addressed. The core distinction is the duration of GHRH receptor stimulation each variant produces.

CJC-1295 No DAC is appropriate for: studies examining pulsatile GH secretion patterns, experiments where a short, defined window of GHRH receptor activation is required, combination experiments with GHRPs examining the synergistic mechanism of acute GH pulse generation, and experiments where the No DAC variant's shorter duration more closely mimics natural GHRH biology.

CJC-1295 with DAC is appropriate for: studies examining the effects of sustained, prolonged GHRH receptor stimulation, chronic animal model experiments where extended GHRH receptor activation over days is required, comparative studies examining the differential effects of pulsatile versus sustained GH secretion on target tissue gene expression, and drug delivery research examining the albumin-binding mechanism as a half-life extension strategy.

Both variants are available in the Titeris catalogue, and researchers requiring both for comparative experiments can order them together. See our contact page for multi-compound orders.

CJC-1295 with DAC in our catalogue

See our documentation policy for what supplier batch documentation covers, and our UK legal status page for the regulatory framing every listing follows.

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