Comparison
CJC-1295 vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side of CJC-1295 and GHK-Cu. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 peptide profile: GHRH analog forms (with-DAC ~7-day half-life, no-DAC Mod GRF 1-29 ~30 min), ipamorelin pairing, recovery use, dosing, side effects.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu peptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is a topical copper peptide. Trials show fine-line and wound-healing gains; injectable longevity claims rem.
Effects at a glance
CJC-1295
- •GHRH analog that binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs to release endogenous GH
- •DAC variant has ~7 day half-life via albumin binding; non-DAC variant ~30 minutes
- •Teichman 2006 trial showed sustained 2 to 10 fold IGF-1 elevation at 60 to 250 mcg/kg DAC dosing
- •Anecdotal protocols pair non-DAC CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin to mimic pulsatile GH release
- •Side effects: water retention, numbness or tingling at injection site, vivid dreams, transient flushing
- •No completed phase III RCTs; research-use-only and not FDA approved
GHK-Cu
- •Endogenous tripeptide that binds copper(II); plasma levels decline ~60% from age 20 to 60
- •Topical RCTs show improvement in skin firmness, fine lines, and barrier function over 12 weeks
- •Wound-healing models report accelerated re-epithelialization in diabetic and aged skin
- •Pickart gene-expression analyses show reset of >4000 genes toward a younger expression profile in cell culture
- •Anecdotal subcutaneous longevity protocols use 1 to 3 mg daily; no human longevity RCTs exist
- •Hair-growth claims rest on small open-label trials and topical scalp formulations
Side-by-side
| Attribute | CJC-1295 | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, tesamorelin analog | Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, GHK |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 2 |
| Dosing frequency | weekly (DAC); 1-3x daily (non-DAC) | daily |
| Routes | subcutaneous | topical, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 168 |
| Molecular weight | 3367.83 | 340.85 |
| Molecular formula | C152H252N44O42 | C14H24N6O4 (GHK alone); C14H22CuN6O4 with Cu(II) |
| Mechanism | Binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, stimulating pulsatile growth-hormone release. The DAC modification extends plasma residence by tethering the peptide to serum albumin via a maleimide-cysteine bond. | Tripeptide that chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase). Modulates expression of >4000 genes toward a younger profile in fibroblast culture, including upregulation of decorin and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA | Topical cosmetics legal in most jurisdictions; injectable form not FDA approved for any indication; research-use-only grey market |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Topical OTC (cosmetic); injectable not FDA approved; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient data; topical use likely low-risk; injectable not recommended |
| CAS | 446262-90-4 | 49557-75-7 |
| PubChem CID | 91971820 | 73587 |
| Wikidata | Q5012154 | Q3104638 |
Safety profile
CJC-1295
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- water retention
- numbness or tingling at injection site
- vivid dreams
- transient flushing
- head pressure or mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- diabetic retinopathy (theoretical)
- history of pituitary tumor
Interactions
- Ipamorelin: synergistic GH release; commonly co-administered in anecdotal protocols(minor)
- insulin: GH-induced insulin resistance can shift glycemic control over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH-axis response; reduce expected efficacy(moderate)
GHK-Cu
Common side effects
- mild erythema at topical site
- transient itch
- blue-green discoloration of injection site (copper)
- rare contact dermatitis
Contraindications
- copper allergy
- Wilson disease
- open wound near injection site (caution)
- pregnancy (no data)
Interactions
- topical retinoids: additive irritation; alternate days or apply at different times(minor)
- topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid): ascorbate reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I), which can destabilize the GHK-Cu complex; separate by 30 minutes(minor)
Which Should You Take?
GHK-Cu comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 4 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. CJC-1295 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is skin health, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick GHK-Cu.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (CJC-1295 ~168 hr vs GHK-Cu ~0.5 hr). CJC-1295 reaches steady state faster; GHK-Cu is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: GHK-Cu. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for CJC-1295 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between CJC-1295 and GHK-Cu?
CJC-1295 and GHK-Cu differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, CJC-1295 or GHK-Cu?
CJC-1295 half-life is 168 hours; GHK-Cu half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack CJC-1295 with GHK-Cu?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper