The short version of GHRH analogue fits in a sentence. The long version — which is the one that helps — is below.
This page was last updated on 2025-11-15 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
CJC-1295 belongs to a class of synthetic peptides modeled on growth hormone releasing hormone, a forty-four amino acid signal produced by the hypothalamus. The compound is built from the first twenty-nine residues of the natural sequence, with four substitutions introduced at positions 2, 8, 15 and 27. These changes were designed to slow enzymatic breakdown while preserving receptor activation. The result is a peptide that is shorter than native GHRH and considerably more resistant to ordinary clearance pathways in circulation.
Two related forms appear under the CJC-1295 name. The simpler analogue, commonly written as modified GRF(1-29), carries the four substitutions but no additional conjugation. The second form attaches a maleimidopropionic acid linker to a lysine residue, a modification frequently called the drug affinity complex. That linker reacts with the free thiol on serum albumin to form a covalent bond. Because albumin has a long residence time in blood, the conjugated peptide stays in circulation far longer than the unconjugated analogue.
The attached maleimide group explains the unusual duration of the DAC version. After injection it reacts with the thiol of cysteine-34 on serum albumin, forming a stable covalent bond. The resulting conjugate is too large for rapid kidney filtration and is shielded from many peptidases. Reported half-lives for this form reach several days, whereas the version without the group is cleared in roughly half an hour. That gap is the main pharmacological difference between the two.
Downstream of growth hormone, the liver and other tissues increase production of insulin-like growth factor 1, a mediator of many growth-promoting effects. Studies have documented elevated levels of both hormones after dosing, and the rise from the long-acting form persists longer than that produced by shorter-acting analogues. What remains unclear is whether sustained elevation of these markers translates into meaningful clinical benefit, and whether prolonged exposure carries risks that short trials could not detect.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide class | Synthetic GHRH analogue | Built on a 29 residue sequence |
| Primary target | GHRH receptor (GHRHR) | Class B G protein coupled receptor |
| Unconjugated half life | Minutes | Limited by protease degradation |
| Key modification | Four residue substitutions | Positions 2, 8, 15 and 27 |
| Common synonym | Modified GRF(1-29) | Usually denotes the form without DAC |
Binding to GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotroph cells triggers cyclic AMP signaling and stimulates growth hormone synthesis and release. Because the peptide acts upstream of the pituitary, effects are mediated through endogenous growth hormone rather than direct receptor activation in peripheral tissues. Increases in insulin-like growth factor 1 are generally described as a downstream consequence. Most published human exposure data come from small early-stage studies, and the clinical significance of the pharmacokinetic profile remains incompletely characterized.
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone, built on the 29-amino-acid GHRH(1-29) fragment. Four substitutions distinguish it from the natural sequence: D-alanine at position 2, glutamine at position 8, alanine at position 15, and leucine at position 27. These changes reduce enzymatic cleavage and extend the peptide's persistence in circulation. The compound is discussed in two forms, one carrying a drug affinity complex and one without it.
The drug affinity complex is a maleimidopropionic acid group attached to a lysine side chain. It reacts with the free thiol of cysteine-34 on circulating albumin, forming a covalent bond. This conjugation keeps the peptide in the bloodstream and shields it from rapid renal filtration and proteolysis. Reported circulation half-lives for the albumin-bound form fall in the range of roughly six to nine days in early human studies.
Two related forms circulate in technical discussion under the same family name. The original version carries a drug affinity complex (DAC) that binds covalently to serum albumin after administration, and this linkage substantially extends circulation time. A second form, frequently written as modified GRF(1-29) or CJC-1295 without DAC, lacks that linker and clears much faster. The naming is a frequent source of confusion because the shorthand CJC-1295 can refer to either form depending on the source. Reports sometimes fail to specify which variant was studied.
The peptide backbone includes a D-alanine at position two, which resists cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and several other substitutions that reduce degradation. Its molecular weight is roughly 3.4 kDa without the linker and about 3.6 kDa with it. The molecule is water soluble and is normally supplied as a lyophilized powder. Precise sequence and mass values depend on which variant is described, so technical documents usually state the exact form being referenced.
== Assessing beta cell function == Measuring beta-cell function is a challenge, since insulin secretory capacity cannot be readily assessed. Therefore, indirect methods of measurement have been developed. They include dynamic and static function tests.
=== Synthetic steroids and sterols === A variety of synthetic steroids and sterols have also been contrived. Most are steroids, but some nonsteroidal molecules can interact with the steroid receptors because of a similarity of shape. Some synthetic steroids are weaker or stronger than the natural steroids whose receptors they activate. Some examples of synthetic steroid hormones:
== Future development == Postmenopausal women may also suffer from HSDD due to a decline in androgen production from menopause. A research proposed two combinations of drugs, each designed against the different causes of HSDD. One combination is to utilise sublingual testosterone with a 5-HT1A receptor agonist to raise motivation for sex, by lifting the inhibition mechanisms in the brain's prefrontal regions. Testosterone is also proposed to be coupled with the PDE5 inhibitor, targeting an insensitive system for the production of sexual desire. As both clinical trials showed desirable results, this indicates the prosperity of further developing a single drug targeting HSDD for all women of different status, even though the FDA has not approved the two combinations.
The three substrates of this enzyme are loganin, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and oxygen. Its products are secologanin, oxidised NADP+, and water. This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-CH group of donor with oxygen as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is loganin:oxygen oxidoreductase (ring-cleaving). It is a member of the cytochrome P450 protein superfamily and participates in indole and ipecac alkaloid biosynthesis.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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The first pass through the hepatic portal vein results in some of the drug being metabolized by O-demethylation into an active metabolite of dextromethorphan called dextrorphan, the 3-hydroxy derivative of dextromethorphan. The therapeutic activity of dextromethorphan is believed to be caused by both the drug and this metabolite. Dextromethorphan also undergoes N-demethylation (to 3-methoxymorphinan or MEM), and partial conjugation with glucuronic acid and sulfate ions. Hours after dextromethorphan therapy, (in humans) the metabolites (+)-3-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan and (+)-3-morphinan and traces of the unchanged drug are detectable in the urine. A major metabolic catalyst involved is the cytochrome P450 enzyme known as 2D6, or CYP2D6. A significant portion of the population has a functional deficiency in this enzyme and are known as poor CYP2D6 metabolizers. O-demethylation of dextromethorphan to dextrorphan contributes to at least 80% of the dextrorphan formed during dextromethorphan metabolism. As CYP2D6 is a major metabolic pathway in the inactivation of dextromethorphan, the duration of action and effects of dextromethorphan can be increased by as much as three times in such poor metabolizers. In one study on 252 Americans, 84.3% were found to be "fast" (extensive) metabolizers, 6.8% to be "intermediate" metabolizers, and 8.8% were "slow" metabolizers of dextromethorphan. A number of alleles for CYP2D6 are known, including several completely inactive variants. The distribution of alleles is uneven amongst ethnic groups.
In 1977 one of East Germany's best sprinters, Renate Neufeld, fled to the West with the Bulgarian she later married. A year later she said that she had been told to take drugs supplied by coaches while training to represent East Germany at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
He added that "China's sovereignty, security, and development interests cannot be violated, and four red lines — the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, development paths and systems, and development rights — cannot be challenged". Shortly after Xi arrived to the US on September 23, Treasury Secretary Bessent announced that the trade truce between the two countries, reached at the Busan Summit and was set to expire on November 10, would be extended until January 10, 2027. On September 24, Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said that "it should be emphasized that the Taiwan question is the most important in China–US relations and maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common issue of the two countries and that "it is hoped that the US side will handle the Taiwan issue with extreme caution". Due to Trump's recent ban of several news outlets from the White House, most of Xi's state visit was not covered by the White House press pool. ABC World News Tonight placed the news of Xi's as the third item, with only photos and no video. CNN reported that the Chinese side had informally expressed its concerns to the United States that the boycott would affect the coverage of the visit. On September 24, the Trump administration returned the press credentials to the three media outlets, but still excluded CNN. The opening remarks of the summit meeting that day were not made public to the media as is customary, meaning the only publicly available video recording of the meeting was the segment broadcast by China Central Television.
A vacutainer blood collection tube is a sterile glass or plastic test tube with a colored rubber stopper creating a vacuum seal inside of the tube, facilitating the drawing of a predetermined volume of liquid. Vacutainer tubes may contain additives designed to stabilize and preserve the specimen prior to analytical testing. Tubes are available with a safety-engineered stopper, with a variety of labeling options and draw volumes. The color of the top indicates the additives in the vial. Vacutainer tubes were invented by Joseph Kleiner in 1949. Vacutainer is a registered trademark of Becton Dickinson, which manufactures and sells the tubes today.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The names are often used interchangeably in casual writing, but they are not strictly identical. Modified GRF(1-29) refers to the unconjugated analogue carrying only the four substitutions. The version sold as CJC-1295 with DAC includes the albumin binding linker and clears much more slowly.
DAC stands for drug affinity complex, a term describing the maleimidopropionic acid linker. This group forms a covalent bond with the cysteine residue on serum albumin after administration. The resulting adduct is what extends the circulating half life from minutes to days.
No. It is entirely synthetic and does not correspond to any known endogenous peptide. The design starts from human growth hormone releasing hormone and introduces deliberate substitutions. Any biological effect comes from mimicking the natural hormone at its receptor.
It binds the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor on pituitary somatotroph cells. Receptor activation raises cyclic AMP and promotes release of stored growth hormone granules. Because the peptide persists longer than natural releasing hormone, stimulation is prolonged rather than brief.