
CJC-1295 comes in two forms — DAC (Drug Affinity Complex, 6-8 day half-life) and no-DAC (also called Mod GRF 1-29, ~30 minute half-life). They're priced similarly but dosed very differently, and vendors sometimes mislabel one as the other. Research pricing runs from $7/mg to $50/mg for the same molecule, driven almost entirely by vial size and vendor markup. Community protocols have grown around mod GRF 1-29 + ipamorelin stacks, so dual-peptide buying is the norm.
This guide covers what you should actually pay per milligram, which vial size matches your protocol (no-DAC vs DAC dosing is radically different), and how to verify a COA for both forms. CJC-1295 is a 30-amino-acid GHRH analog with D-Ala, Gln, Ala, and Leu substitutions at positions 2, 8, 15, and 27 — a legitimate vendor will confirm all four on their COA.
This is not a ranked vendor list — for that, see our Best CJC-1295 Vendors comparison. This guide teaches you how to evaluate any vendor yourself.
Understanding CJC-1295 Pricing
CJC-1295 is sold as a lyophilized powder in sealed glass vials. The two forms (DAC and no-DAC) trade at similar per-mg prices because synthesis costs are comparable — the price spread comes mostly from vendor markup, vial size, and whether the vendor invests in third-party testing.
Current Market Pricing (2026)
| Vial Size |
Typical Price Range |
Price Per mg |
Best For |
| 2 mg |
$35-50 |
$17.50-25/mg |
Short no-DAC trial (~3 weeks at 100 mcg/day) |
| 5 mg |
$35-85 |
$7-17/mg |
Standard — most popular size |
| 10 mg |
$66-140 |
$6.60-14/mg |
Long protocols, best $/mg |
The pattern is clear: 5mg is the sweet spot for virtually every CJC-1295 protocol — both DAC (2.5-5 week supply at 1-2 mg/week) and no-DAC (with reconstitution splitting). 10mg vials save an additional 5-15% per mg.
Cost Per Week at Common Doses
CJC-1295 no-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) protocols:
| Weekly Dose |
Monthly Cost (5mg vial) |
Monthly Cost (10mg vial) |
Savings |
| 700 mcg/week (100 mcg/day) |
$20-48/month |
$18-39/month |
~15% |
| 1.4 mg/week (200 mcg 1-2× daily) |
$40-96/month |
$37-78/month |
~15% |
CJC-1295 DAC protocols:
| Weekly Dose |
Monthly Cost (5mg vial) |
Monthly Cost (10mg vial) |
Savings |
| 1 mg/week |
$28-68/month |
$26-56/month |
~15% |
| 2 mg/week |
$56-136/month |
$53-112/month |
~15% |
For current vendor-specific pricing with exact $/mg breakdowns, see our Best CJC-1295 Vendors comparison.
How to Verify CJC-1295 Quality

CJC-1295 is a 30-amino-acid synthetic GHRH analog with four modifications to resist degradation: D-Ala at position 2 (prevents DPP-IV cleavage), Gln at position 8 (prevents asparagine rearrangement), Ala at position 15 (enhances bioactivity), and Leu at position 27 (prevents methionine oxidation). The DAC form adds a maleimidopropionic acid (MPA) linker that covalently binds albumin, extending half-life from ~30 minutes to 6-8 days. A cheap synthesis that skips any of the four substitutions produces a less stable peptide that behaves more like native GHRH.
What a COA (Certificate of Analysis) Should Include
Identity Confirmation
- Mass spectrometry confirming the correct molecular weight:
- Mod GRF 1-29 (no-DAC): 3,368.7 Da
- CJC-1295 DAC: ~3,647 Da (includes MPA linker)
- Amino acid sequence verification with the four modifications at positions 2, 8, 15, and 27
- For DAC form: confirmation of the MPA conjugation
Purity Testing
- HPLC purity — look for 98%+ purity
- The chromatogram should show a single dominant peak
Contamination Testing
- Endotoxin levels (bacterial contamination)
- Residual solvent analysis (acetonitrile, TFA)
- Heavy metals screening
How to Verify a COA Is Legitimate
-
Check the testing lab — Reputable labs include Janoshik Analytical, MZ Biolabs, and Colmaric Analyticals. Avoid vendors who only show "in-house" testing.
-
Verify on the lab's website — Janoshik COAs have a task number you can look up directly at janoshik.com.
-
Check the date — COAs should be recent (within 6 months).
-
Match the batch — The batch/lot number on the COA should match what's printed on your vial.
-
Look for the original PDF — Screenshots are easier to fake than full PDFs with lab letterhead and signatures.
Red Flags to Avoid
- No COA available — any vendor unwilling to provide testing results is not worth the risk
- DAC vs no-DAC labeling is unclear — they're different molecules with different dosing; vendors must label clearly
- Only in-house testing — self-reported purity numbers are meaningless
- Prices well below $6/mg — implausible for correctly-synthesized material with all four substitutions
- No contact information — legitimate vendors have real customer service
- No return or reship policy — reputable vendors stand behind their products
Choosing the Right Vial Size

Vial sizing depends entirely on which form of CJC-1295 you're running. DAC is dosed weekly at 1-2 mg; no-DAC is dosed daily at 100-200 mcg. These are 20-fold different protocols and need different planning.
The 28-Day Rule
Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, CJC-1295 is stable for up to 28 days refrigerated. Sterile water drops this to 24 hours. See our CJC-1295 reconstitution guide for step-by-step mixing.
CJC-1295 no-DAC (100 mcg/day):
| Vial Size |
Duration |
Status |
| 2 mg |
20 days |
✓ Inside 28-day window |
| 5 mg |
50 days |
⚠️ Exceeds — split reconstitution |
| 10 mg |
100 days |
⚠️ Exceeds — split reconstitution |
CJC-1295 DAC (1-2 mg/week):
| Vial Size |
At 1 mg/week |
At 2 mg/week |
| 2 mg |
2 weeks ✓ |
1 week ✓ |
| 5 mg |
5 weeks ⚠️ |
2.5 weeks ✓ |
| 10 mg |
10 weeks ⚠️ |
5 weeks ⚠️ |
⚠️ = exceeds 28-day window per reconstitution
Solution: For the larger vials, split reconstitution. Mix only the amount you'll use in 28 days, leave the rest as powder.
Recommended Vial Size by Protocol
CJC-1295 no-DAC short protocol (3-4 weeks):
- 2mg vial — lasts 20 days at 100 mcg/day, inside the window
- Low upfront cost if you're just trialing the GHRH pulse
Standard CJC-1295 no-DAC or DAC protocol:
- 5mg vial — the all-around best size
- No-DAC: reconstitute in halves for ~25-day batches
- DAC: 2.5-5 weeks of supply at typical doses
Long-term users or stacked with ipamorelin:
Buying Multiple Smaller vs One Large Vial
| Factor |
Multiple Small (e.g., 2× 5mg) |
One Large (1× 10mg) |
| Cost per mg |
Higher ($7-17/mg) |
Lower ($6.60-14/mg) |
| Freshness |
Better (reconstitute as needed) |
Requires splitting |
| Flexibility |
Can stop anytime |
Committed to full supply |
| Storage |
Easier (smaller volumes) |
Requires careful planning |
| Shipping |
More frequent orders |
Single shipment |
Our recommendation: The 5mg vial is the right choice for most users. It covers both DAC and no-DAC protocols, and the modest premium over 10mg is worth the simpler reconstitution cycle.
Vendor Evaluation Methodology
When comparing CJC-1295 vendors, we evaluate three weighted factors:
Price Competitiveness (40%)
We normalize to cost per milligram for fair comparison across vial sizes. A vendor selling 10mg at $80 ($8/mg) scores higher than one selling 5mg at $60 ($12/mg), all else being equal.
COA & Testing (30%)
We verify that COAs are:
- From recognized third-party labs
- Recent (within the last 6 months)
- Verifiable on the lab's website
- Correctly distinguishing DAC form (3,647 Da) from no-DAC (3,368.7 Da)
Reputation (30%)
Community feedback from peptide forums, shipping reliability, customer service responsiveness, and business track record. We give extra weight to vendors who label DAC vs no-DAC clearly and sell both forms without confusion.
Shipping and Storage
What to Expect When Your Order Arrives
Lyophilized CJC-1295 should arrive as a white or off-white powder cake in a sealed glass vial. Check:
- Vial integrity — no cracks, proper rubber seal, aluminum cap intact
- Powder appearance — solid cake or loose powder, NOT liquid or discolored
- Labeling — batch/lot number, milligram content, "DAC" or "no-DAC" clearly stated, "for research use only"
- Cold pack — reputable vendors ship with cold packs in summer months
Storage Guidelines
| State |
Temperature |
Duration |
| Lyophilized (powder) |
Room temp |
Weeks (for shipping) |
| Lyophilized (powder) |
Refrigerated (2-8°C) |
12-24 months |
| Lyophilized (powder) |
Frozen (-20°C) |
2+ years |
| Reconstituted (BAC water) |
Refrigerated (2-8°C) |
28 days max |
| Reconstituted (sterile water) |
Refrigerated (2-8°C) |
24 hours |
| Reconstituted |
Frozen |
Not recommended (peptide degradation) |
Key point: Keep unreconstituted vials refrigerated and label clearly whether each vial is DAC or no-DAC — mixing them up costs you efficacy or causes unintended prolonged exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CJC-1295 legal to buy?
CJC-1295 (both forms) is sold as a research chemical and is legal to purchase in most jurisdictions for research purposes. It is not FDA-approved for human use and is part of the ongoing regulatory review of GH-releasing peptides. Research vendors label product "not for human consumption."
How much does CJC-1295 cost per month?
CJC-1295 no-DAC at 100 mcg/day runs $18-48/month from a reputable vendor. CJC-1295 DAC at 1-2 mg/week runs $26-112/month depending on dose. Most users stack with ipamorelin, roughly doubling the cost.
What vial size should I buy?
For CJC-1295 no-DAC (daily dosing), start with a 2mg or 5mg vial. For CJC-1295 DAC (weekly dosing), a 5mg vial covers 2.5-5 weeks cleanly. Step up to 10mg once you're confident in a long-term protocol — the ~10-15% per-mg savings is meaningful.
What purity should I look for?
Look for vendors providing third-party COA testing showing 98%+ purity via HPLC, plus mass spec confirming the correct molecular weight for the form you're buying: 3,368.7 Da for no-DAC, ~3,647 Da for DAC. The four D-Ala/Gln/Ala/Leu substitutions should be verified.
Can I buy CJC-1295 from a pharmacy?
Not from retail pharmacies. Some 503A compounding pharmacies have offered CJC-1295 in the past, but GH-releasing peptides have faced increasing regulatory scrutiny. Research-grade CJC-1295 is only available through specialty peptide vendors.
How do I know if a vendor is trustworthy?
Check for: third-party COA testing that distinguishes DAC from no-DAC, verifiable lab results, responsive customer service, community reputation on peptide forums, consistent pricing, and a clear return/reship policy. See our Best CJC-1295 Vendors for pre-vetted options.
References
| Citation |
Topic |
PMID |
| Teichman SL, et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2006) |
CJC-1295 prolonged GH/IGF-1 secretion, half-life 5.8-8.1 days |
16352683 |
| Ionescu M, Frohman LA, J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2006) |
Pulsatile GH secretion persists with CJC-1295 |
17018654 |
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any condition. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any peptide.