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CJC-1295 vs HGH: What the Research Shows

CJC-1295 and HGH side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
GHRH analogNot FDA approved · research chemicalCJC-1295CJC-1295, a GHRH analog; in healthy adults a single injection produced dose-dependent rises in mean plasma GH of 2- to 10-fold and in IGF-I of 1.5- to 3-fold.[4]Growth hormone+49% searchesRecombinant growth hormoneFDA approved (prescription only)HGHRecombinant human growth hormone, FDA-approved by prescription; in a randomized trial, 4 weeks of supraphysiological dosing did not improve power output or oxygen uptake.[14]Growth hormone+39% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider CJC-1295 if…

  • you want randomized human hormone data (hormone levels, not a clinical benefit): a single injection raised mean plasma GH 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more[4]

Consider HGH if…

  • you want products with an FDA label: Genotropin (somatropin) is indicated for children with growth failure from inadequate growth hormone secretion[9]
  • you want randomized data in adults with growth hormone deficiency: Within 3 months lean body mass rose 5.09% and body fat fell 10.89%; waist fell 1.42%.[15]

What they have in common

  • WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin[1]
  • Growth hormone is prohibited by WADA at all times, in and out of competition[1]
Both are prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 9 of 12 fields where the two differ. Category, PCAC vote, Jul 2026, Evidence strength are the same or both unknown.

FieldCJC-1295HGH
ClassGHRH analogRecombinant growth hormone
Also calledCJC, mod GRF, GRF 1-29GH, growth hormone, generic HGH, IU
FDA statusNot FDA approved · research chemicalFDA approved (prescription only)
WADAProhibited by WADA (S2.2.4)CJC-1295 is named as a GHRH analogue in S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors), prohibited at all times.Prohibited by WADA (S2.2.3)Growth hormone and its analogues and fragments are prohibited at all times (S2.2.3).
Anti-doping detection
  • A urine assay detects CJC-1295 and other GHRH analogues at very low concentrations.PMID 35298973
  • Labs expect GHRH analogues like CJC-1295 to be hard to find because of tiny urine concentrations; the study reports no detections in routine anti-doping samples.PMID 34665524
None reportedanti-doping literature, as of 2 Oct 2026
Half-lifeNo published half-life foundPubMed search, 2 Oct 20260.4 hours IV; 3.0 hours subcutaneousintravenous (normal adults); subcutaneous (GHD adults), Genotropin · FDA label (Genotropin)
Human studies we summarised4 human (1 randomized or controlled) of 7 summarised13 human (13 randomized or controlled) of 20 summarised
Typical study doses
US searches per month60,500 · +49% searches74,000 · +39% searches

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Sources

  1. 1World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2An antibody-free, ultrafiltration-based assay for the detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations using nanoLC-HRMS/MS.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022PMID 35298973Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs.Drug testing and analysis · 2021PMID 34665524Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16352683Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 17018654Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16822960Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) (33 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (7 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9GENOTROPIN (SOMATROPIN) KIT [PFIZER LABORATORIES DIV PFIZER INC]FDA label (Genotropin), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Effect of growth hormone on aging connective tissue in muscle and tendon: gene expression, morphology, and function following immobilization and rehabilitation.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2014PMID 24235105Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Impact of GH replacement therapy on sleep in adult patients with GH deficiency of pituitary origin.European journal of endocrinology · 2013PMID 23447518Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Local administration of growth hormone stimulates tendon collagen synthesis in elderly men.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2012PMID 22961272Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (somatropin[tiab] OR "recombinant human growth hormone"[tiab] OR "recombinant growth hormone"[tiab] OR rhGH[tiab] OR "growth hormone therapy"[tiab] OR "growth hormone treatment"[tiab] OR "growth hormone replacement"[tiab] OR "growth hormone administration"[tiab] OR "GH therapy"[tiab] OR "GH treatment"[tiab] OR "GH replacement"[tiab] OR "GH administration"[tiab] OR "growth hormone injection"[tiab] OR "growth hormone injections"[tiab] OR "growth hormone supplementation"[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14Short-term administration of supraphysiological recombinant human growth hormone (GH) does not increase maximum endurance exercise capacity in healthy, active young men and women with normal GH-insulin-like growth factor I axes.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2005PMID 15784718Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Two years of replacement therapy in adults with growth hormone deficiency.Clinical endocrinology · 1997PMID 9404448Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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