Sermorelin vs CJC-1295

Sermorelin and CJC-1295 are both synthetic forms of growth hormone-releasing hormone, and both are banned in sport. CJC-1295 (with DAC) is built to last longer in the blood and is not approved, while sermorelin was approved in the US and later withdrawn. This page compares their study results.

Best randomized result by outcome

For each outcome that two or more peptides have results for: the best result of a single randomized trial, on the same measure (the same kind of number, the same unit). When a trial has several dose arms, the cell shows the highest dose arm. The trials differ in people, length and dose, so a gap between two cells is not proof that one peptide works better.

No outcome has a randomized-trial result on the same measure for two or more of these peptides yet.

Outcomes with a randomized result for one peptide only (1 outcome)

The other peptides have no randomized result on the same measure, so these results cannot be set side by side.

Outcomes with a randomized result for one peptide only: Sermorelin, CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Outcome	Sermorelin	CJC-1295 (with DAC)
PharmacokineticsPharmacologyCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in d	No comparable result 5 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.	5.8 to 8.1 d Half-life · CJC-1295 28 d and 49 d trialsn not reported2006

PharmacokineticsPharmacologyCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in d
- Sermorelin
  No comparable result
  5 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
- CJC-1295 (with DAC)
  5.8 to 8.1 d
  Half-life · CJC-1295
  28 d and 49 d trialsn not reported2006

Comparing 2 peptides · Data version 308560

Only differences

Swipe sideways to see every peptide.

Comparison of Sermorelin, CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Peptide	Synthetic fragment Sermorelin	Synthetic analog CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Identity
Kind	Synthetic fragment	Synthetic analog
Area	Growth hormone axis	Growth hormone axis
Evidence
Amount of evidence	304 (plus 5 on natural levels, listed separately)	43
Evidence level	Has results from studies in people	Has results from studies in people
Safety
Safety results	30 (30 in people)	2 (2 in people)
Status
Approval
Sport (WADA)
Registered trials	None registered2 more mention it but do not test it	1

Shared outcomes

Growth hormone and IGF-1188
Pharmacokinetics34
Adverse events18
Body weight7
Bone and joint3
Receptor activity and mechanism3

Approval and sport status

From the regulatory data of each peptide.

Sermorelin
The maker told the FDA it stopped selling the product. The FDA later found that the products were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.
CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Its most advanced trial is in phase 2. The FDA, the EMA and the other sources we use show no approval (as of 9 Oct 2026).

Amount of evidence by outcome

Outcome groups with study results for at least two of these peptides. Counts include only results from studies that gave the peptide. Bar length is the number of results, on one scale. The bars show how much was studied, not how large an effect was. A peptide with more studies can look stronger here without being stronger. For results, see the randomized results above.

Study results per shared outcome group and evidence class
Outcome group	Sermorelin	CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormones	161131282	2716101
PharmacokineticsPharmacology	271665	7151
Adverse eventsWhole body	1717	11
Body weightMetabolic and weight	312	44
Bone and jointMusculoskeletal	22	11
Receptor activity and mechanismEndocrine and hormones	22	11

Sequence alignment

Each analog against its native parent, residue by residue. Substitutions, non-standard residues and modifications are marked. Calculated from the two sequences.

Against Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44)Sermorelin, CJC-1295 (with DAC)

Sermorelin is the same as Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) residues 1 to 29, with 1 added group.

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: Sermorelin

YADAIFTNSY

RKVLGQLSAR

KLLQDIMS

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Modified side chain or end
Parent context

What is different

1Position 29: Arg carries an added group: C-terminal amide.

CJC-1295 (with DAC) differs from Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) at 5 positions.

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: CJC-1295 (with DAC)

YDAIFTSY

RKVLQLSAR

KLLQDISR

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Modified side chain or end
Parent context

What is different

1Position 2: Ala is replaced by its mirror-image form, D-Ala.
2Position 8: Asn is replaced by Gln.
3Position 15: Gly is replaced by Ala.
4Position 27: Met is replaced by Leu.
5Position 30: Gln is replaced by Lys.

Trials side by side

Registered trials, ranked by phase (late phases first), then posted results and enrollment. Status is the registry status. Study results come from published studies. Results posted at ClinicalTrials.gov are shown on each trial page.