CJC-1295 (No DAC) is a research compound studied for its role in performance & hormone research. This page covers mechanism of action, published studies, preclinical protocols, and analytical specifications.
Store lyophilized at -20°C. Reconstituted: 4°C, use within 28 days.
Reconstitution
Add 2ml bacteriostatic water per vial. Inject slowly along vial wall, swirl gently.
Mechanism of Action
CJC-1295 (No DAC) — also known as Modified GRF(1-29) or Mod-GRF(1-29) — is a synthetic 29-amino acid GHRH analog with four strategically placed amino acid substitutions that distinguish it from both native sermorelin and the DAC-modified version of CJC-1295.
The Four Substitutions and Their Purpose: Position 2 (Ala→D-Ala): Protects against DPP-IV (dipeptidyl peptidase IV) cleavage of the N-terminal dipeptide, the primary route of sermorelin inactivation in plasma. Position 8 (Asn→Gln): Reduces asparagine deamidation, improving chemical stability. Position 15 (Gly→Ala): Enhances alpha-helical conformation for improved GHRH-R binding. Position 27 (Met→Nle): Eliminates methionine oxidation susceptibility, improving shelf stability. Together, these substitutions extend plasma half-life from ~10–20 minutes (sermorelin) to approximately 30 minutes, while preserving pulsatile GH release dynamics.
GHRH-R Activation: CJC-1295 No DAC activates the GHRH receptor through the same cAMP-PKA-CREB mechanism as sermorelin, stimulating GH gene transcription and somatotroph GH granule release. The improved half-life means receptor occupancy is sustained slightly longer than with sermorelin, producing amplified GH pulse amplitude without transitioning to the sustained, non-pulsatile elevation seen with DAC-modified CJC-1295.
No DAC vs With DAC: The Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) modification adds a maleimidopropionic acid (MPA) linker that forms a stable covalent bond with circulating albumin, extending half-life to 7–8 days. This produces sustained GH elevation. CJC-1295 No DAC lacks this modification, retaining a ~30-minute half-life and producing amplified but physiologically-spaced GH pulses — considered more similar to endogenous GH secretion patterns.
Research Applications
Amplified Pulsatile GH Research: The primary application distinguishing CJC-1295 No DAC from sermorelin is pulse amplitude — CJC-1295 No DAC produces larger GH peaks while preserving pulsatile timing, enabling research into how pulse amplitude (vs frequency) affects downstream IGF-1 and metabolic responses.
Dual-Pathway GH Stack Research: CJC-1295 No DAC is the GHRH component in the most-studied dual-pathway GH research protocol, combined with ipamorelin (GHSR agonist) to simultaneously activate both the GHRH receptor and ghrelin receptor pathways for synergistic GH release.
Half-life Comparison Studies: The sermorelin vs CJC-1295 No DAC vs CJC-1295 DAC comparison is an active research area for understanding how GH pulse duration and inter-pulse interval affects somatotroph desensitisation, IGF-1 kinetics, and tissue-specific GH sensitivity.
DPP-IV Resistance Research: CJC-1295 No DAC serves as a model compound for studying how DPP-IV-resistant peptide modifications affect plasma stability and pharmacokinetics in peptide drug development research.
Key Published Research
Primary publications relevant to CJC-1295 (No DAC) research. Full citations available via PubMed. QSC does not endorse or make claims based on this research.
Teichman et al. (2006)
“Prolonged Stimulation of GH and IGF-I Secretion by CJC-1295” — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Clinical pharmacokinetic characterisation of CJC-1295 variants, establishing the half-life differences and GH/IGF-1 response profiles between No DAC and DAC formulations.
Ionescu & Frohman (2006)
“Pulsatile Secretion of Growth Hormone Determined by a Modified GRF” — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Characterises the pulsatile GH release profile produced by modified GRF(1-29) compounds, establishing CJC-1295 No DAC’s research positioning relative to sermorelin.
Alba et al. (2006)
“Dose-Dependent Pharmacokinetics of a GHRH/GHRP Combination” — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Establishes the pharmacological rationale for dual-pathway GHRH + GHRP co-administration protocols relevant to CJC-1295 No DAC + ipamorelin research.
Research Protocol Reference
Model / Context
Dose Range
Route
Protocol Notes
Rodent Pulsatile GH Study
100–300 μg/kg
Subcutaneous injection
Acute single-dose; serial blood sampling at 15–90 min for GH pulse characterisation
Dual-Pathway Protocol
200 μg/kg CJC + 200 μg/kg ipamorelin
Subcutaneous injection
Simultaneous co-administration; GH peak typically at 30–45 min post-injection
Chronic IGF-1 Study
100–200 μg/kg/day
Subcutaneous injection
Once or twice daily for 4–8 weeks; endpoints: IGF-1, IGFBP-3, body composition
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ‘No DAC’ mean?
DAC stands for Drug Affinity Complex — a modification that covalently binds CJC-1295 to albumin, extending its half-life to ~7–8 days and producing sustained GH elevation. ‘No DAC’ means this modification is absent; the peptide has a ~30-minute half-life and produces amplified but pulsatile GH release, more similar to physiological GH secretion.
Is CJC-1295 (No DAC) the same as sermorelin?
Both are GHRH analogs activating the same receptor, but CJC-1295 No DAC has four amino acid substitutions (DPP-IV resistance, oxidation resistance, improved receptor binding) that extend its half-life from ~10–20 min (sermorelin) to ~30 min, producing larger GH pulse amplitude while preserving pulsatility.
Why is CJC-1295 (No DAC) studied with ipamorelin?
CJC-1295 No DAC activates the GHRH receptor; ipamorelin activates the ghrelin receptor (GHSR). These are independent pathways that converge on somatotroph GH release. Simultaneous activation produces synergistically greater GH pulse amplitude than either compound alone — the most-studied dual-pathway GH research combination.
How should CJC-1295 (No DAC) be stored?
Lyophilized at -20°C. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, store at 4°C and use within 28 days.
What purity is QSC CJC-1295 (No DAC)?
≥99% by HPLC and mass spectrometry. COA on product page, verifiable via Janoshik.
Research Use Only: All products sold on qsc-usa.com are intended strictly for laboratory research purposes only. They are not approved for human consumption, veterinary use, or any other application. Researchers are responsible for understanding and complying with local regulations in their jurisdiction.
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