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CJC-1295 and Sermorelin are both growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogs — they stimulate GH secretion from the pituitary by mimicking the body's natural GHRH signal. The critical difference is pharmacokinetics: CJC-1295 (especially with DAC) has a dramatically longer half-life, allowing less frequent dosing but producing a more sustained GH elevation.
Sermorelin has more clinical history and was previously FDA-approved for pediatric growth hormone deficiency, while CJC-1295 remains a research compound. This comparison helps contextualize the tradeoffs between these two GHRH analogs.
| Dimension | CJC-1295 | Sermorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | GHRH analog with Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) | Truncated GHRH analog (first 29 amino acids) |
| Half-Life | ~6-8 days (with DAC) | ~10-20 minutes |
| Dosing Frequency | 1-2x per week (with DAC) | Daily (usually before bed) |
| GH Elevation Pattern | Sustained, elevated baseline GH | Pulsatile, mimics natural GH rhythm |
| Side Effects | Injection site reactions, water retention, numbness | Injection site pain, flushing, headache |
| Cost | Moderate (less frequent dosing offsets higher per-vial cost) | Lower per-vial cost but daily dosing adds up |
| Popularity | High — dominant in research peptide communities | Moderate — declining in favor of CJC-1295 and Tesamorelin |
CJC-1295 is a synthetic GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone) analog with extended duration due to Drug Affinity Complex technology. Studied for its effects on growth hormone release and body composition.
Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino acid analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It was FDA-approved for pediatric growth hormone deficiency and is widely used off-label for anti-aging and body composition optimization.
CJC-1295 and Sermorelin are not typically stacked together since both are GHRH analogs acting on the same receptor — combining them would be redundant rather than synergistic. Instead, either one is commonly paired with a growth hormone secretagogue (GHRP) like Ipamorelin, which acts through the ghrelin receptor for a complementary, synergistic GH release.
CJC-1295 with DAC has a dramatically longer half-life of approximately 6-8 days, compared to Sermorelin's 10-20 minute half-life. This means CJC-1295 with DAC can be dosed 1-2 times per week, while Sermorelin requires daily injections to maintain consistent GH elevation.
Both can elevate growth hormone levels, but they produce different patterns. Sermorelin's short half-life mimics natural pulsatile GH release, which some researchers prefer for physiological relevance. CJC-1295 produces sustained GH elevation, which may be more convenient but less physiological. Neither has robust clinical trial data specifically for anti-aging endpoints.
Sermorelin has more extensive clinical history — it was FDA-approved as Geref for pediatric GH deficiency (now discontinued). CJC-1295 has Phase 1/2 clinical data showing it effectively raises GH and IGF-1 levels, but it has not achieved FDA approval. For established clinical evidence, Sermorelin has the edge.