CJC-1295 vs sermorelin at a glance
| Compared | CJC-1295 | Sermorelin |
|---|---|---|
| What it copies | GHRH (modified, often with DAC) | First 29 amino acids of GHRH |
| How long it lasts | Days (with DAC) | Minutes to hours |
| Human research | Small phase 1 and 2 studies | Approved for children in 1997; small adult studies |
| Status | Never approved; research chemical | Formerly FDA-approved (Geref); compounded by prescription |
| Sport | Banned (WADA) | Banned (WADA) |
How are CJC-1295 and sermorelin different?
Both copy GHRH, the brain hormone that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone. Sermorelin is the active fragment of natural GHRH and is broken down quickly, while CJC-1295 is modified to resist breakdown, and the version with DAC binds to a blood protein so it lasts for days.
What does the research show for each?
Sermorelin was approved in 1997 as Geref for children with growth hormone deficiency and withdrawn in 2008 for business reasons. CJC-1295 raised growth hormone for about a week after one injection in healthy adults, but development stopped after a trial participant’s death that was reported as unrelated.
Neither has good trials showing it builds muscle or slows aging in healthy adults.
How do the side effects compare?
Both commonly cause injection-site reactions, flushing and headache. CJC-1295’s long action means growth hormone and IGF-1 stay high for longer, which in its study pushed IGF-1 above the normal range at higher amounts.
Which is legal?
Sermorelin can be compounded by US pharmacies with a prescription. CJC-1295 isn’t approved for human use; see growth hormone peptides for the whole group.