Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and has a half-life of about three weeks. A small peptide bound to it is protected: it is not filtered by the kidney and enzymes reach it with difficulty. It works as a circulating depot.
There are two ways to achieve that binding. The non-covalent, reversible one, through a fatty-acid chain (the lipidation of semaglutide or tirzepatide). And the covalent one, which is that of DAC: a reactive group (maleimide) attached to the peptide through a spacer, which forms a stable bond with a free cysteine on albumin.
CJC-1295 with DAC is the classic example: the same base sequence as Mod GRF 1-29, but with the affinity complex, which takes its half-life from minutes to several days. The pharmacodynamic consequence is important: it goes from a brief, pulsatile signal to sustained exposure.
When “CJC-1295 with DAC” and “without DAC” are compared, these are not two brands of the same product: they are two different pharmacological profiles. The product name should always state which one it is.
Related terms
Learn it in depth at the Peptide University
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- Half-life engineering · Module 2
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Definition for educational and scientific purposes. It is not medical advice or a recommendation for use. NeoPeptidos products are sold labelled for research use only (RUO).