CJC-1295 vs GHRP-2
CJC-1295 (GHRH analog (long-acting, with Drug Affinity Complex / DAC)) and GHRP-2 (Growth-hormone secretagogue (GHRP) / ghrelin receptor agonist) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | CJC-1295 | GHRP-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | GHRH analog (long-acting, with Drug Affinity Complex / DAC) | Growth-hormone secretagogue (GHRP) / ghrelin receptor agonist |
| Research category | Growth & GH-Axis | Growth & GH-Axis |
| Length (amino acids) | 30 amino acids | 6 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | Approximately 3647 g/mol (with DAC linker) | 817.0 g/mol |
| Half-life | Substantially extended vs native GHRH; reported on the order of days (approximately 6-8 days) due to albumin binding via DAC | Short, on the order of tens of minutes (reported approximately 30-60 minutes) |
| Origin | CJC-1295 (with DAC) is a synthetic long-acting GHRH analog based on a modified GHRH(1-29) sequence, developed by ConjuChem. It incorporates a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) that binds serum albumin to greatly extend circulating half-life. | GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide growth-hormone secretagogue. It has been used in Japan as a diagnostic agent for assessing growth-hormone secretory capacity. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How CJC-1295 works
CJC-1295 is a GHRH-receptor agonist that stimulates pulsatile GH secretion from the pituitary. Its GHRH(1-29) backbone carries stabilizing amino-acid substitutions (e.g. at positions 2, 8, 15, 27) that resist DPP-4 degradation, and the DAC group forms a covalent bond with albumin, dramatically prolonging its action. This produces a sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 rather than sharp discrete pulses.
How GHRP-2 works
GHRP-2 is an agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a, ghrelin receptor), stimulating pulsatile GH release from the pituitary. It is a potent GH secretagogue and also stimulates appetite via ghrelin-receptor signaling. It can modestly increase ACTH, cortisol, and prolactin, though generally less than GHRP-6 for appetite effects.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
CJC-1295
GHRP-2
What sets each apart
CJC-1295
The DAC version's albumin binding gives it a far longer half-life (days) than the no-DAC 'Mod GRF 1-29' (minutes), making it the long-acting member of the CJC-1295 family.
GHRP-2
GHRP-2 is a potent GH releaser with an approved diagnostic use in Japan (pralmorelin), and it stimulates appetite, distinguishing it from the more selective ipamorelin.
Frequently asked questions
What is CJC-1295 (with DAC)?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic long-acting analog of GHRH(1-29). This slug refers to the DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version, which carries a maleimidopropionic acid linker that covalently binds serum albumin after injection, dramatically extending its circulating half-life to several days.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC?
Both share the same modified 29-amino-acid GHRH core with substitutions that resist DPP-IV cleavage. The DAC version adds an albumin-binding complex giving a half-life of roughly 6-8 days, producing a sustained 'GH bleed,' whereas the no-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) has only a ~30 minute half-life and produces discrete pulses.
What does the long half-life mean for research design?
Because CJC-1295 with DAC persists for days, it raises the baseline of GHRH tone rather than producing sharp pulses. In research this is described as elevating overall GH and IGF-1 output; studies often examine how this sustained tone interacts with pulsatile GHRP stimulation.
Why is GHRP-2 studied with a GHRH analog?
GHRP-2 stimulates the ghrelin receptor while GHRH analogs (CJC-1295, sermorelin) stimulate the GHRH receptor. Combining the two produces a synergistic GH pulse larger than either pathway alone, a widely referenced approach in GH-secretagogue research.
What is GHRP-2 (pralmorelin)?
GHRP-2, also called pralmorelin, is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone-releasing peptide that activates the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) to stimulate pulsatile GH secretion from the anterior pituitary. It is one of the most clinically studied GHRPs and was developed as a diagnostic agent for GH deficiency.
How does GHRP-2 differ from ipamorelin?
Both activate the ghrelin receptor, but GHRP-2 is a stronger GH stimulus that also produces more transient elevation of cortisol and prolactin, whereas ipamorelin is more selective with minimal effect on those hormones. Research design often chooses between them based on whether off-target hormone effects are acceptable.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.