CJC-1295 vs sermorelin: a research-compound comparison
Record paths
Need the public record instead of the explainer? Jump to COAs, browse research listings, or review support boundaries.
Answer first
CJC-1295 and sermorelin are both synthetic analogues of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), but they differ in modification and duration of action in research models. Sermorelin corresponds to the GHRH(1-29) fragment (about 3357.93 g/mol, C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S, CAS 86168-78-7). CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH(1-29) analogue engineered for greater metabolic stability; its base no-DAC form (Modified GRF 1-29) is about 3367.97 g/mol (C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂, CAS 863288-34-0), while the with-DAC variant adds a Drug Affinity Complex group (about 3647.30 g/mol, C₁₆₅H₂₆₉N₄₇O₄₆, CAS 446262-90-4) that extends its research half-life. Both act on the same GHRH receptor but are not identical compounds.
Researchers comparing CJC-1295 and sermorelin are usually weighing two GHRH-analogue research peptides that differ mainly in stability and duration of action. This page compares them on structure, molecular properties, and GHRH-receptor mechanism context only. Both are supplied strictly as chemical reference materials for in-vitro laboratory research and are not approved for human or veterinary use.
CJC-1295 vs sermorelin at a glance
| Property | CJC-1295 | Sermorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide class | Modified GHRH(1-29) analogue | GHRH(1-29) fragment |
| Molecular weight | 3367.97 g/mol (no-DAC); 3647.30 g/mol (with-DAC) | 3357.93 g/mol |
| Molecular formula | C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂ (no-DAC); C₁₆₅H₂₆₉N₄₇O₄₆ (with-DAC) | C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S |
| CAS number | 863288-34-0 (no-DAC); 446262-90-4 (with-DAC) | 86168-78-7 |
| Receptor (research) | GHRH receptor (class B GPCR) | GHRH receptor (class B GPCR) |
| Key modification | Stabilising substitutions vs native GHRH(1-29); optional DAC (MPA-Lys30) for albumin binding and extended half-life | None — native 1-29 sequence |
| Relative duration (research models) | Long-acting, especially the with-DAC variant | Short-acting |
| Contains sulfur | No (both no-DAC and with-DAC forms) | Yes (methionine) |
Sermorelin in research
Sermorelin corresponds to GHRH(1-29), the N-terminal active fragment of native growth-hormone-releasing hormone and the shortest fully active GHRH sequence. In research models it binds the GHRH receptor — a class B G-protein-coupled receptor on anterior-pituitary somatotrophs — and is studied as a benchmark GHRH-analogue reference compound. It is a 29-residue peptide (about 3357.93 g/mol, C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S, CAS 86168-78-7) with a comparatively short research half-life, and it is the only one of the two that contains a sulfur atom (a methionine residue). Supplied for in-vitro research only.
CJC-1295 in research
CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH(1-29) analogue carrying amino-acid substitutions that increase resistance to enzymatic degradation relative to the native sequence. The base no-DAC form, also catalogued as Modified GRF 1-29, is about 3367.97 g/mol (C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂, CAS 863288-34-0). The with-DAC variant adds a Drug Affinity Complex group (a maleimidopropionyl-lysine, MPA-Lys30, modification, CAS 446262-90-4, about 3647.30 g/mol, C₁₆₅H₂₆₉N₄₇O₄₆) that binds albumin and markedly extends the duration of GHRH-receptor stimulation in research models; Teichman et al. (2006) characterised CJC-1295 as a long-acting GHRH analogue with prolonged GH and IGF-I stimulation. The two forms differ explicitly in formula, molecular weight, and duration. Supplied for in-vitro research only — no human-use, dosing, or therapeutic claims are made.
How CJC-1295 and sermorelin differ
- Sequence modification: CJC-1295 carries stabilising substitutions on the GHRH(1-29) backbone, whereas sermorelin is the native, unmodified 1-29 fragment.
- Size: the CJC-1295 no-DAC form (about 3367.97 g/mol) and with-DAC form (about 3647.30 g/mol) versus sermorelin at about 3357.93 g/mol.
- Duration in research models: CJC-1295, and especially its with-DAC variant, is long-acting, while sermorelin is short-acting.
- Catalog distinction: CJC-1295 is offered in both with-DAC and without-DAC forms, which differ in formula, molecular weight, and research half-life.
- Composition: only sermorelin contains a sulfur atom (methionine); neither CJC-1295 form does.
Why researchers compare them
Because CJC-1295 and sermorelin target the same GHRH receptor but have different stability profiles, they are studied as a short-acting versus long-acting GHRH-analogue pair rather than as substitutes. Nexus stocks sermorelin alongside both CJC-1295 forms — with-DAC and without-DAC — so laboratories can run side-by-side reconstitution and identity work across the duration spectrum. As always, the individual per-compound Certificate of Analysis remains the source of truth for the identity and purity of each material. This comparison is strictly structural and mechanistic; no GH-elevation, anti-aging, or human-use claims are made.
Verification and certificates of analysis
All three compounds in the Nexus catalog are independently verified, with public Certificates of Analysis reporting HPLC area-percent purity and mass-spectrometry identity for the release batch. New to reading these records? Start with the guide to reading a peptide certificate of analysis, then review the full lab-verified archive.
Lab-verified
From the notes to the catalog
Nexus publishes lot-specific analytical records for finalized batches. Each page shows only the methods and results held for that represented lot. Browse the catalog or read the public COA archive.
Research FAQ
Are CJC-1295 and sermorelin the same thing?
No. Sermorelin is the native GHRH(1-29) fragment (about 3357.93 g/mol); CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH(1-29) analogue offered in a no-DAC form (about 3367.97 g/mol) and a longer-acting with-DAC form (about 3647.30 g/mol). They act on the same GHRH receptor but have different structures and stability profiles.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC?
The with-DAC variant adds a Drug Affinity Complex group (a maleimidopropionyl-lysine, MPA-Lys30, modification) that binds albumin and extends the duration of GHRH-receptor stimulation in research models. The two forms differ in molecular formula, molecular weight (about 3647.30 vs 3367.97 g/mol), and research half-life.
What is the molecular weight of CJC-1295 vs sermorelin?
Sermorelin is about 3357.93 g/mol (C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S). CJC-1295 is about 3367.97 g/mol in its no-DAC form (C₁₅₂H₂₅₂N₄₄O₄₂) and about 3647.30 g/mol in its with-DAC form (C₁₆₅H₂₆₉N₄₇O₄₆).
Are CJC-1295 or sermorelin approved for human use?
No. Both are supplied strictly as chemical reference materials for in-vitro laboratory research. They are not approved for human consumption, veterinary use, or any therapeutic application.