CJC-1295 vs PEG-MGF
CJC-1295 (GHRH analog (long-acting, with Drug Affinity Complex / DAC)) and PEG-MGF (IGF-1 splice variant analog (PEGylated Mechano Growth Factor)) 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 | PEG-MGF |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | GHRH analog (long-acting, with Drug Affinity Complex / DAC) | IGF-1 splice variant analog (PEGylated Mechano Growth Factor) |
| Research category | Growth & GH-Axis | Growth & GH-Axis |
| Length (amino acids) | 30 amino acids | 24 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | Approximately 3647 g/mol (with DAC linker) | ~2867 Da (peptide core, excluding PEG) |
| Half-life | Substantially extended vs native GHRH; reported on the order of days (approximately 6-8 days) due to albumin binding via DAC | Extended relative to unmodified MGF due to PEGylation (reported on the order of days), though precise values are not well established |
| 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. | PEG-MGF is a PEGylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF), a splice variant of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1Ec in humans) produced in response to mechanical loading and muscle damage. The MGF peptide corresponds to the unique C-terminal E-domain of this IGF-1 splice variant; PEGylation is added to extend its otherwise very short half-life. |
“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 PEG-MGF works
MGF is a splice variant of IGF-1 whose distinctive C-terminal E-domain is implicated in activating muscle satellite (stem) cells and promoting local muscle repair and hypertrophy after mechanical stress, with actions that appear partly independent of the classical IGF-1 receptor. PEGylation (attachment of polyethylene glycol) protects the peptide from rapid degradation and clearance, substantially extending its half-life compared with native MGF. Much of the mechanistic detail remains at the preclinical/research level.
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
PEG-MGF
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.
PEG-MGF
PEG-MGF is based on a mechanically induced IGF-1 splice variant (MGF) rather than mature IGF-1, and PEGylation gives it a long half-life while the peptide's focus is local muscle repair via satellite cells.
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.
What is PEG-MGF?
PEG-MGF is a pegylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF), itself a 24-amino-acid C-terminal splice variant of IGF-1 (IGF-1Ec) produced in response to mechanical stress. Attaching a polyethylene glycol (PEG) group greatly extends its otherwise very short circulating half-life.
How does PEG-MGF differ from regular MGF?
Native MGF has a half-life of only about 5-7 minutes, limiting it to localized action. PEGylation extends the half-life substantially (reported hours to days), so PEG-MGF is studied for systemic subcutaneous administration rather than the site-specific injection unmodified MGF requires.
How does MGF relate to IGF-1?
MGF is an alternative splice variant of the IGF-1 gene (IGF-1Ec) with a unique C-terminal peptide. It is studied for a distinct role in activating muscle satellite cells and tissue repair, separate from the systemic growth signaling of mature IGF-1.
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.