CJC-1295 (no DAC) and ipamorelin are two short peptides that stimulate growth hormone (GH) release through different receptors. They are sold together as a blend, usually in a 1:1 ratio. Neither is an approved drug for healthy adults, and good human evidence for the benefits people hope for is thin. If you are researching the combination, the useful questions are what each peptide is, what the regulatory record says, and how to tell whether a vial matches its label. This guide covers all three.
TL;DR
- CJC-1295 (no DAC) is a GHRH analog with a half-life of roughly 30 minutes. Ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor agonist. They act on different pituitary receptors, which is the logic behind stacking them.
- "CJC-1295 no DAC" is a commercial label. Technically the molecule is Mod GRF(1-29), and mixing it up with the DAC form is a dosing-error risk.
- Human evidence for muscle, fat loss, recovery or anti-ageing in healthy people is weak, and an FDA advisory committee did not back ipamorelin for compounding in 2024.
- Both peptides are prohibited by WADA at all times, in and out of competition.
- Because blends are sold as "research use only", purity and content vary by vendor. Independent lab results are the only objective check.
Table of Contents
- What CJC-1295 (no DAC) actually is
- What ipamorelin does
- Why the two are stacked
- What the evidence supports, and what it doesn't
- The regulatory record in the US
- Reading a blend listing without being misled
- Price per milligram: the fair comparison
- Where Peptide Vendor Reviews fits
- Our perspective
- Before you buy: a short checklist
- FAQ
- Sources
What CJC-1295 (no DAC) actually is
The name causes more confusion than any other part of this topic. In clinical literature, "CJC-1295" refers to the form with a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC), which binds to serum albumin. The version sold as "no DAC" is technically modified GRF(1-29), also written Mod GRF(1-29). Peptide reference material describes the two as distinct molecules with very different pharmacokinetics.
The practical gap is large:
| Feature | CJC-1295 with DAC | CJC-1295 no DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) |
|---|---|---|
| Albumin binding | Yes | No |
| Approximate half-life | 5 to 8 days | About 30 minutes |
| GH signal pattern | Prolonged | Short, pulse-like |
| Typical blend partner | Rarely | Ipamorelin |
This matters for two reasons. First, protocols written for one form do not transfer to the other. Second, a vendor label that says only "CJC-1295" tells you nothing about which molecule is inside. If a listing does not state DAC or no DAC clearly, treat that as a red flag before you look at anything else.
What ipamorelin does
Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue. It is a ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist, so it prompts the pituitary to release GH in a pulse. PepGuide's evidence summary describes the pairing this way: the GHRH analog primes GH synthesis while ipamorelin triggers the release.
Ipamorelin is often described as "selective" because it is reported to have less effect on other hormones than older secretagogues. That is a description from preclinical and small-study work, not a safety guarantee in long-term human use.
Why the two are stacked
The rationale is receptor complementarity. CJC-1295 (no DAC) acts on the GHRH receptor. Ipamorelin acts on the ghrelin receptor. Hitting both pathways is reported to produce a GH response two to three times greater than either peptide alone. Treat that as an estimate from a vendor-adjacent guide, not a clinical trial result.
The same source notes that the blend approach is designed to mimic natural GH pulsatility instead of producing sustained, constant elevation. Because the no-DAC form clears within about half an hour, the signal stays pulse-like. That is the design argument. It is not proof that the outcome is better for a person.
What the evidence supports, and what it doesn't
The honest summary is that the mechanism is plausible and the outcomes data are missing. A September 2026 review from an Australian men's health organization, Healthy Male, states there is no good-quality human evidence that these peptides help healthy people build muscle, lose fat, recover faster or slow ageing.
The wider research picture is similar. These peptides show potential for GH enhancement in small or preclinical studies. Large, long-term human safety trials are absent. Concerns that persist include shifts in insulin sensitivity and mitogenic risk in susceptible people, because chronically raised GH has metabolic effects.
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, a history of cancer, or a pituitary condition, talk to an endocrinologist before considering anything that raises GH. That is the person who can interpret IGF-1 and glucose labs, which a vendor's certificate of analysis cannot do.
The regulatory record in the US
People often assume that because a peptide is easy to buy, it must be sanctioned. It isn't.
- FDA advisory committee. On October 29, 2024, the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee discussed ipamorelin free base and ipamorelin acetate for the 503A Bulks List. The committee reviewed nominations from compounding pharmacies, and the FDA has highlighted that ipamorelin-related substances are poorly characterized, with limited long-term safety data and open questions about sterility and stability for injection.
- Research-use-only labels. Blends sold this way are not marketed as medicines. That label shifts responsibility to the buyer and says nothing about quality.
- Sport. Both peptides sit in category S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics) of the WADA Prohibited List, banned at all times. Tested athletes should not use them.
Laws differ by country, so check your own jurisdiction. This section describes the United States.
Reading a blend listing without being misled
You do not need to be a chemist to spot weak listings. Look at the product page for these items.
- The DAC statement. The label should say "no DAC" or "Mod GRF 1-29" explicitly.
- Amounts per peptide. A "10 mg" blend can mean 5 mg of each peptide or 10 mg of each. Listings in search results vary: some state 5 mg plus 5 mg, others 10 mg plus 10 mg. Compare vendors on the milligrams of each peptide, not the headline number.
- A batch-specific certificate. Look for a lab report tied to a lot number, not a generic PDF reused on every product.
- The testing lab. An independent lab, not the vendor's own, with a report you can match to the batch.
- Reconstitution and storage guidance. Lyophilized powder is normally stored cold, and a vendor who gives no storage information is not paying attention to stability.
For blends there is an extra complication. A two-peptide vial needs a lab to quantify both components. A report showing a single purity figure may cover only one of them, so check what was actually measured.
Price per milligram: the fair comparison
Blend prices are hard to compare because of the ratio issue above. A $199.00 listing for a 5 mg/5 mg vial is a different purchase from a listing with 10 mg of each peptide. Convert everything to price per milligram of each active peptide, and then ask whether the cheaper product has a lab report you can verify. A low price with no lot-matched certificate is not a bargain.
Our peptide price list shows cost per milligram for every peptide we track, and Peptide Prices lets you compare lab-tested suppliers side by side.
Where Peptide Vendor Reviews fits
We compile and analyze data from 12,423 independent lab tests across 481 peptide vendors. Our grades rest on those lab tests alone, never on paid submissions or vendor marketing, and every score links back to the original lab certificate. We do earn commissions when readers buy through affiliate links to vendors, but our reviews and rankings cannot be influenced by advertising or affiliate partnerships. You can read the full approach in our grading methodology and our editorial policy.
When you are ready to compare, start with the peptide purity page for lab results by peptide, then browse the vendor list, where every shop is graded on its lab record. If you want to run your own checks first, our guide on how to verify a peptide vendor lists seven checks to make before ordering.
Our perspective
The CJC-1295 and ipamorelin pairing is a good example of why we built this site. The science people quote is mostly mechanism and small studies. The product people buy is a freeze-dried powder whose contents they cannot see. Between those two facts sits a gap that only independent testing can narrow.
We do not tell readers what to take. We do not publish dosing protocols, because the evidence is not strong enough to support them, and the people best placed to advise on injectable hormones are licensed clinicians. What we can do is show, from lab records, which vendors delivered what their label promised and which did not. A vial that is mislabeled by even a few milligrams, or that is the wrong CJC molecule, turns an uncertain experiment into an unmeasurable one.
Our grading uses independent lab tests and nothing else. If a vendor is excellent, the lab certificates show it. If a vendor is not, no affiliate relationship changes the score. That is the only arrangement under which a review is worth reading.
— Ross
Before you buy: a short checklist
- Confirm the exact molecule: no DAC means Mod GRF(1-29).
- Work out milligrams of each peptide and the price per milligram.
- Open the certificate and match the lot number to the vial you are buying.
- Confirm both components were quantified, not just one.
- Check whether the vendor appears among closed peptide vendors, since shops that vanish leave you with no recourse.
- If you compete in tested sport, do not use either peptide.
- If you have a metabolic, pituitary or cancer history, see a physician before considering any GH secretagogue.
For readers who want the bigger picture, our peptides by goal page organizes compounds by the outcome people are interested in, with lab-ranked vendors for each.
FAQ
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC?
The DAC version binds to serum albumin, which extends its half-life to about 5 to 8 days. The no-DAC version, technically Mod GRF(1-29), has a half-life of roughly 30 minutes. They behave differently in the body, so information about one does not apply to the other.
Is the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend FDA approved?
No. Neither is an approved drug for healthy adults. In October 2024 an FDA advisory committee discussed ipamorelin for the 503A Bulks List, and the agency has pointed to limited long-term safety data. Products sold online as research peptides are not medicines.
What are the common side effects?
Reports commonly mention injection-site reactions, flushing, headache and water retention. Because both peptides raise GH, there are also concerns about insulin sensitivity and glucose, discussed in the Healthy Male review. Long-term human safety data is limited, so a physician should guide anyone with a metabolic condition.
How much does a 10 mg blend cost?
Prices vary widely, and a "10 mg" blend may contain 5 mg of each peptide or 10 mg of each. Compare the price per milligram of each active ingredient, and make sure a lot-matched lab certificate backs the listing. Our price comparison is a good place to start.
Can athletes use CJC-1295 or ipamorelin?
No. Both are prohibited under category S2 of the WADA Prohibited List at all times, in and out of competition. Athletes in WADA-compliant sports risk sanctions.
Sources
- Peptidepedia: CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin
- PepGuide: CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin Blend, Evidence & Safety
- Healthy Male: CJC-1295 and ipamorelin evidence
- FDA: October 29, 2024 Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting
- FDA: PCAC meeting transcript, October 29, 2024
- WADA Prohibited List 2026