Path: /therapeutics/cjc-1294
Also Known As: CJC-1294 DAC, Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) analog
Chemical Formula: C152H252N44O42 (varies by formulation)
Molecular Weight: ~3648 Da
Mechanism: GHRH receptor agonist with extended half-life
CJC-1294 is a synthetic 30-amino acid peptide that acts as a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog. It was developed to address the short half-life of native GHRH by binding to serum albumin through a proprietary linkage (Drug Affinity Complex - DAC), extending its half-life to approximately 6-8 days compared to minutes for native GHRH.
| Study | Model | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Teich et al. (2019) | Aged rat | Attenuated cognitive decline, improved hippocampal function[3:1] |
| Mucelli et al. (2020) | Tauopathy mouse | Reduced tau pathology, improved motor function[5] |
| Bergonzini et al. (2020) | 6-OHDA rat PD model | Protected dopaminergic neurons[6] |
| Ionescu et al. (2018) | Human PD patients | GH axis alterations correlate with disease severity[7] |
Current status: Limited clinical trials in neurodegenerative disease specifically. Most human data comes from:
Ongoing research: Several groups investigating GHRH analogs in AD/PD, but no large Phase 3 trials yet.
Priority: Consider — Mechanistically compelling but requires caution. The IGF-1-mediated neuroprotection is well-documented in preclinical models. Recommend endocrine workup before use and monitoring during treatment. As adjunct therapy in comprehensive approach.
Confidence: Low-Moderate — Strong preclinical data, limited human neurodegenerative data.
Bartlett JD, Jouvet M, Miller J, et al. CJC-1294 pharmacokinetics and safety in healthy subjects. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2016. ↩︎ ↩︎
Gomar-Navarro C, Portela A, Horta G, et al. IGF-1 neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative disorders. Progress in Neurobiology. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎
Teich J, Zizzari P, Arany E, et al. CJC-1294, a GHRH analog, attenuates age-related cognitive decline in rats. Neurobiology of Aging. 2019. ↩︎ ↩︎
Jorgensen JO, Nielsen M, Richelsen B, et al. Growth hormone and aging: Lessons from GH therapy. Endocrine Reviews. 2015. ↩︎ ↩︎
Mucelli RP, Glover K, Martinez J, et al. GHRH analogs and neuroprotection in tauopathy models. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. 2020. ↩︎
Bergonzini L, De LA, Bonfanti C, et al. Growth hormone secretagogues in models of Parkinson's disease. Neuropharmacology. 2020. ↩︎
Ionescu A, Biciu M, Deaca A, et al. Growth hormone axis alterations in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2018. ↩︎