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CJC-1295 vs IGF-1 LR3: What the Research Shows

CJC-1295 and IGF-1 LR3 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% searchesIGF-1 analogNot FDA approved · research chemicalIGF-1 LR3IGF-1 LR3, a long-acting IGF-1 analog with no published human trial; in rats it was 2.5 to 3 times more potent than IGF-I at restoring growth.[15]Growth hormone+230% 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 IGF-1 LR3 if…

No sourced contrast for this side yet. We add a point here only when it is tied to a study or label.

What they have in common

  • Only animal or lab studies of IGF-1 LR3 were found (e.g. rat): The IGF-I variants were 2.5-3 times more potent than IGF-I at restoring growth in diabetic rats.[15]
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 10 of 13 fields where the two differ. Category, FDA status, PCAC vote, Jul 2026 are the same or both unknown.

FieldCJC-1295IGF-1 LR3
ClassGHRH analogIGF-1 analog
Also calledCJC, mod GRF, GRF 1-29LR3
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 (S2.3)IGF-1 and its analogues (LR3 is an IGF-1 analogue) are prohibited in S2.3, at all times.
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 2026563 min half-life in wound fluid (versus 872 min for IGF-I)wound chamber (rat) (rat) · The American journal of physiology 1999, PMID 10198302
Evidence strengthHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2006, PMID 16352683Human observational evidence, 3 of 4Strongest: Growth hormone & IGF research 2010, PMID 20675162
Human studies we summarised4 human (1 randomized or controlled) of 7 summarised1 human (0 randomized or controlled) of 12 summarised
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg0.1 mg, 1 mg
US searches per month60,500 · +49% searches22,200 · +230% 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. 9Clearance of IGFs and insulin from wounds: effect of IGF-binding protein interactions.The American journal of physiology · 1999PMID 10198302Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Detection of His-tagged Long-R³-IGF-I in a black market product.Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society · 2010PMID 20675162Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11IGF-1 LR3 does not promote growth in late-gestation growth-restricted fetal sheep.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2025PMID 39679943Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Intranasal long R3 insulin-like growth factor-1 treatment promotes amyloid plaque remodeling in cerebral cortex but fails to preserve cognitive function in male 5XFAD mice.Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2025PMID 39610283Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Insulin-like growth factor-I and analogues increase growth in artificially-reared neonatal pigs.The British journal of nutrition · 2002PMID 12067429Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND ("Long R3"[tiab] OR (LR3[tiab] AND (IGF[tiab] OR "IGF-1"[tiab] OR "IGF-I"[tiab] OR "insulin-like growth factor"[tiab])))PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Insulin-like growth factor-I and more potent variants restore growth of diabetic rats without inducing all characteristic insulin effects.The Biochemical journal · 1993PMID 7683875Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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