Phantom Stack (CJC-1295 DAC + GHRP-6)

Description

Phantom Stack — CJC-1295 DAC + GHRP-6 Bundel

De Phantom Stack is the designation for the CJC-1295 DAC + GHRP-6 bundle — one of the most studied dual-receptor growth hormone combinations in peptide research. CJC-1295 DAC stimulates the GHRH receptor for sustained GH baseline pulse elevation. Simultaneously, GHRP-6 activates the ghrelin receptor for acute, powerful GH peaks. As a result, the two peptides combine in the Phantom Stack Two completely separate pituitary signaling pathways in one protocol.

Moreover, the synergy between both peptides is well-documented scientifically. Research consistently shows that combining a GHRH analog with a GHRP produces greater GH release than either peptide individually. To this end, CJC-1295 DAC activates the cAMP/PKA pathway via the GHRH receptor, while GHRP-6 activates the phospholipase C signaling pathway via GHS-R1a and reduces somatostatin inhibition in the hypothalamus. Together, they therefore create a synergistic effect that is more than additive.

What is the Phantom Stack?

De naam “Phantom Stack” verwijst in de onderzoeksgemeenschap naar de combinatie van een langwerkend GHRH-analoog — CJC-1295 met DAC — en het klassieke GH-releasing peptide GHRP-6. De combinatie is populair omdat ze twee mechanistisch onderscheidende GH-stimuleringsroutes tegelijk activeert. Daartoe werkt CJC-1295 DAC als continue basispuls­verhoger, terwijl GHRP-6 krachtige acute GH-pieken triggert. Het resultaat is een breder GH-secretieprofiel dan wat Ipamorelin of CJC-1295 afzonderlijk bieden.

Concreet verschilt de Phantom Stack van de Growth Starter Kit (CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin) door het gebruik van GHRP-6 in plaats van Ipamorelin. GHRP-6 produceert grotere acute GH-pieken maar beïnvloedt daarbij ook cortisol- en prolactine­niveaus — wat juist voor onderzoek naar stress­hormoon­interacties relevant is. Ipamorelin is selectiever maar minder krachtig qua GH-piekamplitude. Daarmee richt de Phantom Stack zich op een ander en aanvullend onderzoeksprofiel.

CJC-1295 DAC: Long-term GHRH Receptor Stimulation

CJC-1295 DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a synthetic GHRH analog that achieves a half-life of 6–8 days via covalent binding to endogenous serum albumin. This allows for once-weekly dosing — a fundamental advantage over native GHRH, which has a half-life of only a few minutes.

Clinical studies in healthy adults show robust results. After a single injection of CJC-1295, GH plasma concentrations increased dose-dependently by a factor of 2 to 10 for at least 6 days. IGF-1 concentrations increased by a factor of 1,5 to 3 for 9 to 11 days. After repeated doses, IGF-1 levels remained above baseline for up to 28 days — a unique characteristic of long-acting GHRH analogues.

Furthermore, pulsatile GH secretion was preserved after CJC-1295 administration. Baseline GH levels (trough) increased by a factor of 7,5 — which explains the mechanism of IGF-1 elevation. Thus, CJC-1295 DAC provides a solid baseline for GH secretion upon which GHRP-6 can overlay its acute GH peaks.

Research applications CJC-1295 DAC

• Prolonged GHRH receptor stimulation and pulsatile GH secretion
• Dose-dependent GH and IGF-1 elevation in human studies
• Pharmacokinetics of albumin-bound GHRH analogues
• Body composition, fat metabolism and lean mass development
• Cumulative IGF-1 response after repeated administration

Scientific References — CJC-1295 DAC

• Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-I secretion by CJC-1295 in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799–805. PubMed PMID 16352683
• Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile GH secretion persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(12):4792–7. PubMed PMID 17018654
• Sackmann-Sala L, et al. Activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis by CJC-1295 results in serum protein profile changes in normal adult subjects. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2009;19(6):499–507. PubMed PMID 19386527

GHRP-6: Powerful Acute GH Release via Ghrelin Receptor

GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6) is a synthetic hexapeptide that acts as a ghrelin mimetic via the GHS-R1a receptor. It belongs to the first generation of GH-releasing peptides, making it one of the longest-studied GHRP compounds in the scientific literature.

The mechanism of GHRP-6 differs fundamentally from that of CJC-1295. Whereas CJC-1295 activates the cAMP pathway via the GHRH receptor, GHRP-6 acts via GHS-R1a by activating the phospholipase C pathway. Consequently, intracellular calcium increases and somatostatin inhibition in the hypothalamus decreases. It is precisely this inhibition of the “GH inhibitory system” that makes GHRP-6 particularly effective as an acute GH trigger.

Moreover, combination studies show that GHRP-6 acts synergistically with GHRH analogs. Combined administration of a GHRP with a GHRH analog produces greater GH release than either peptide alone. In this process, the GHRP picks up the GH peak while the GHRH analog maintains the baseline—together mimicking the physiological GH secretion pattern.

Furthermore, GHRP-6 is relevant for research into appetite regulation. It activates ghrelin receptors involved in food intake regulation and gastric motility — thereby, GHRP-6 offers a broader research profile than purely GH-targeted peptides.

GHRP-6 Research Applications

• Acute GH pulse activation via GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor)
• Somatostatin inhibition in the hypothalamus for maximal GH response
• Synergistic GH delivery in combination with GHRH analogues
• Ghrelin signaling, appetite regulation and gastric motility research
• Cortisol and prolactin response profiling alongside GH secretion

Scientific References — GHRP-6

• Bowers CY, et al. On the in vitro and in vivo activity of a new synthetic hexapeptide that acts on the pituitary to specifically release growth hormone. Endocrinology. 1984;114(5):1537–45. PubMed PMID 6324435
• Ishida J, et al. Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism of action, and clinical development. JCSM Rapid Commun. 2020;3(1):25–37. DOI 10.1002/rco2.9
• Spartan Peptides. Growth Hormone Peptide Research: CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, and GHRP-6 Mechanisms and Applications. 2025. Spartan Peptides Blog 2025

Why the CJC-1295 DAC and GHRP-6 Form the Phantom Stack Together

The synergy in the Phantom Stack is well explained mechanistically. CJC-1295 DAC increases basal GH secretion via prolonged GHRH receptor stimulation — it expands the pulse window and keeps IGF-1 levels persistently elevated. GHRP-6 subsequently triggers acute, powerful GH peaks on top of that elevated baseline — via a completely separate receptor system.

Specifically, the scientific rationale is as follows. GHRH (via CJC-1295) activates the cAMP/PKA pathway and stimulates GH gene transcription and vesicular GH release. GHRP-6 (via GHS-R1a) simultaneously activates the phospholipase C pathway and reduces somatostatin inhibition. In doing so, GHRP-6 actively removes the primary “brake” on GH secretion. Together, both peptides therefore produce a synergistic GH pulse profile that neither CJC-1295 nor GHRP-6 can achieve individually.

Moreover, the research profile of GHRP-6 makes the Phantom Stack complementary to the Growth Starter Kit. Because GHRP-6 also modulates cortisol and prolactin — unlike the more selective Ipamorelin — the Phantom Stack offers valuable data for researchers wishing to study the full hormonal response to GH secretagogues.

Research applications of the Phantom Stack

• Dual-receptor GH secretagogue study via GHRH and GHS-R1a pathways
• GH pulse profile study — baseline elevation and acute peaks simultaneously
• IGF-1 signaling pathways and systemic anabolic downstream effects
• Hormone interaction study: GH alongside cortisol and prolactin
• Ghrelin receptor biology and appetite modulation as a bypass
• Somatostatin inhibition and hypothalamic feedback mechanism

Who Is the Phantom Stack Intended For?

• Endocrinologists studying GH secretagogue pharmacology and receptor dynamics
• Researchers modeling GHRH/GHRP-synergistic GH release
• Sports scientists who study body composition and GH-axis dynamics
• Biochemists studying hormonal interactions between GH, cortisol, and prolactin

Bundle Contents

• CJC-1295 DAC — research-grade lyophilized peptide (≥98% purity, HPLC-verified)
• GHRP-6 — research-grade lyophilized peptide (≥98% purity, HPLC-verified)

Both peptides are supplied as lyophilized powder. HPLC certificates are available upon request.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Phantom Stack

What is the difference between the Phantom Stack and the Growth Starter Kit?

The Growth Starter Kit combines CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin — a selective GHS that barely affects cortisol or prolactin. The Phantom Stack combines CJC-1295 DAC with GHRP-6 — a more potent but less selective GHS that does modulate cortisol and prolactin levels. This makes the Phantom Stack suitable for research into the broader hormonal response to GH secretagogues, while the Growth Starter Kit isolates pure GH effects.

Why CJC-1295 DAC instead of CJC-1295 NO DAC?

CJC-1295 DAC has a half-life of 6–8 days thanks to the Drug Affinity Complex. This allows for once-weekly dosing, and IGF-1 levels remain elevated for up to 28 days after repeated doses. CJC-1295 NO DAC (Modified GRF 1-29) has a half-life of only 30 minutes and requires multiple daily injections for comparable effects. The choice depends on the desired dosing protocol in the study design.

Scientific References

1. Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of GH and IGF-I by CJC-1295. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799–805. PubMed PMID 16352683
2. Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile GH secretion persists during CJC-1295. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(12):4792–7. PubMed PMID 17018654
3. Sackmann-Sala L, et al. GH/IGF-1 axis activation by CJC-1295. Growth Hormone IGF Res. 2009;19(6):499–507. PubMed PMID 19386527
4. Bowers CY, et al. In vitro and in vivo activity of GHRP-6. Endocrinology. 1984;114(5):1537–45. PubMed PMID 6324435
5. Ishida J, et al. Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism, clinical development. JCSM Rapid Commun. 2020;3(1):25–37. DOI 10.1002/rco2.9

⚠ For research purposes only — Disclaimer: This product is intended solely for in vitro and laboratory research . It is not intended for use in humans or animals, self-administration, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease or medical condition. CJC-1295 DAC and GHRP-6 do not have approval from the FDA, EMA , or any equivalent regulatory authority for therapeutic use in humans. Researchers must comply with all applicable local laws and regulations. Keep out of reach of children. Handle in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines.