Comparison
CJC-1295 vs Sermorelin
Side-by-side of CJC-1295 and Sermorelin. 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.
Sermorelin
Sermorelin peptide therapy uses a 29-amino-acid GHRH analog to raise endogenous GH. Dosing, half-life, sermorelin vs ipamorelin, and safety.
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
Sermorelin
- •Synthetic 29-amino-acid GHRH fragment; FDA approved 1997 for pediatric GH deficiency as Geref
- •Voluntarily discontinued by Serono in 2008 for commercial reasons; not safety-related
- •Compounded by 503A/503B pharmacies for off-label adult anti-aging and body-composition use
- •Produces physiologic pulsatile GH release; ~10 to 20 minute plasma half-life
- •Standard anti-aging clinic protocol: 200 to 500 mcg subcutaneously pre-bed, often with ipamorelin
- •Banned by WADA under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors)
Side-by-side
| Attribute | CJC-1295 | Sermorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, tesamorelin analog | Sermorelin acetate, GRF 1-29, Geref, GHRH (1-29) NH2 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 0.25 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Dosing frequency | weekly (DAC); 1-3x daily (non-DAC) | 1-2x daily |
| Routes | subcutaneous | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 0.5 |
| Molecular weight | 3367.83 | 3357.88 |
| Molecular formula | C152H252N44O42 | C149H246N44O42S |
| 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. | Synthetic 29-amino-acid GHRH fragment that binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs to stimulate endogenous pulsatile GH synthesis and release while preserving the GH-IGF-1 negative feedback loop. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA | FDA approved 1997 (Geref, pediatric GHD); voluntarily discontinued by Serono 2008; compounded by 503A/503B pharmacies for off-label adult use; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Rx only via compounding (no controlled-substance schedule) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Category C (historical labeling); not recommended in pregnancy |
| CAS | 446262-90-4 | 86168-78-7 |
| PubChem CID | 91971820 | 16129617 |
| Wikidata | Q5012154 | Q416620 |
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)
Sermorelin
Common side effects
- injection-site pain or irritation
- transient flushing
- headache
- vivid dreams (pre-bed dosing)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- diabetic retinopathy (theoretical)
- untreated hypothyroidism
Interactions
- ipamorelin: synergistic GH release via parallel GHRH and ghrelin pathways; standard anti-aging clinic pairing(minor)
- CJC-1295: pharmacologically redundant (both GHRH-pathway); typically not stacked(minor)
- insulin: sustained GH can blunt insulin sensitivity over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH response; reduce expected efficacy(moderate)
- levothyroxine (untreated hypothyroidism): untreated hypothyroidism blunts GH response; correct thyroid first(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Sermorelin comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, FDA approved 1997 (Geref, pediatric GHD); voluntarily discontinued by Serono 2008; compounded by 503A/503B pharmacies for off-label adult use; banned by WADA, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. CJC-1295 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is body composition, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick Sermorelin.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Sermorelin.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (CJC-1295 ~168 hr vs Sermorelin ~0.25 hr). CJC-1295 reaches steady state faster; Sermorelin is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Sermorelin. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, 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 Sermorelin?
CJC-1295 and Sermorelin 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 Sermorelin?
CJC-1295 half-life is 168 hours; Sermorelin half-life is 0.25 hours.
Can you stack CJC-1295 with Sermorelin?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper