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CJC-1295 (No DAC) vs Sermorelin
Two GHRH(1-29)-based signals. Sermorelin is the native sequence; CJC-1295 No DAC is the same sequence with four amino acid substitutions that resist enzymatic degradation. This page compares what the peer-reviewed literature currently supports on each.
Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Peptide structure
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
GHRH(1-29) with four amino acid substitutions (D-Ala², Gln⁸, Ala¹⁵, Leu²⁷) that resist DPP-IV and other enzymatic degradation. No albumin-binding modification.
Sermorelin
Native GHRH(1-29)NH2 sequence — the shortest fragment of endogenous GHRH that retains full receptor activity. No chemical modifications.
2 citations in this row
Half-life and pulse profile
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
~30 minutes. Produces a physiologic pulsatile GH release, similar in pattern to sermorelin but sustained slightly longer per pulse.
Sermorelin
~10–20 minutes. Produces a shorter, sharper GH pulse — closest of the class to the endogenous pattern.
1 citation in this row
Regulatory status
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Not FDA-approved for any indication. Access via compounding pharmacies or research supply.
Sermorelin
Historically FDA-approved as Geref (1990). NDA withdrawn from the U.S. market by the sponsor in 2008 for commercial reasons (not a safety issue). No currently marketed FDA-approved product.
1 citation in this row
Human evidence base
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Human PK/PD data for CJC-1295 primarily cover the DAC form (Teichman JCEM 2006, Ionescu JCEM 2006). The No-DAC form is best supported by preclinical work in GHRH-knockout mice (Alba AJP-Endo 2006). Modern controlled human trial data on No-DAC specifically is limited.
Sermorelin
Human data from the Geref era: pediatric GHD trials (Thorner JCEM 1996), adult GH-axis studies (Walker JCEM 1994), and the Prakash 1999 pharmacology review.
5 citations in this row
Reported dosing
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Research contexts commonly report 100–300 µg subcutaneously per pulse, once daily to 3× daily. The 'saturation dose' concept places the plateau around 100 µg per pulse based on preclinical GHRH-receptor kinetics.
Sermorelin
Historical Geref pediatric dose: ~30 µg/kg subcutaneously at bedtime. Adult research doses reported in the 200–500 µg/day range in published trials.
2 citations in this row
Position in the GHRH class
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Chemically stabilised research analogue. Its practical advantage vs sermorelin is a somewhat longer half-life without changing the physiologic pulsatile pattern.
Sermorelin
The native sequence — the reference peptide for the GHRH(1-29) class. Historical FDA-approved status makes it the class's regulatory benchmark, even without a current active product.
1 citation in this row
CJC-1295 No DAC and sermorelin share the GHRH(1-29) architecture but sit at different points in their regulatory and evidentiary trajectories. Sermorelin carries a historical FDA legacy and the class's reference sequence. CJC-1295 No DAC is a research-only chemically stabilised variant with a somewhat longer half-life. Neither compound is a substitute for a clinical decision informed by an individual's medical history.
References
- Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults· Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, et al. · 2006
- Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog· Ionescu M, Frohman LA · 2006
- Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse· Alba M, Fintini D, Sagazio A, et al. · 2006
- Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)(1-29)NH2 for treatment of GH deficiency in adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial· Walker RF, Codd EE, Barone FC, et al. · 1994
- Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy· Thorner MO, Rochiccioli P, Colle M, et al. · 1996
- Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?· Prakash A, Goa KL · 1999
- FDA history — GEREF (sermorelin acetate) for injection (approval 1990, withdrawn 2008)· U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2008
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