CJC-1295 vs Tesamorelin

Side-by-side comparison of evidence, mechanisms, dosing, safety, and regulatory status.

CJC-1295: DTesamorelin: A

Attribute	CJC-1295	Tesamorelin
Category	Growth Hormone Secretagogue	Growth Hormone Secretagogue
Evidence Rating	D — Preclinical	A — FDA Approved
Clinical Status	Research-only / Not approved for human use	FDA-approved (Egrifta SV 2019, Egrifta WR March 2025) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy
Mechanism	CJC-1295 binds to GHRH receptors (GHRHR) on pituitary somatotroph cells, activating intracellular cAMP signaling to stimulate both the transcription of the GH gene and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone, which in turn increases IGF-1 levels. The released IGF-1 travels to muscle tissue fo...	Tesamorelin binds to and stimulates human GRF (growth hormone-releasing factor) receptors on the anterior pituitary with similar potency as endogenous GRF, stimulating synthesis and release of endogenous growth hormone. This increases IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels, leading to increased lipolysis and redu...
Half-Life	No DAC (mod GRF 1-29): ~30 min; With DAC: ~8 days	~26–38 minutes
Bioavailability	—	—
Molecular Weight	No DAC: ~3367.9 g/mol; With DAC: ~3647.3 g/mol	~5135.9 g/mol
WADA Status	Prohibited	Prohibited
Dosing	No DAC: 100 mcg before bed daily; DAC: 1–2 mg 2–3x weekly, Once daily (no DAC) or 2–3 times weekly (with DAC) (Subcutaneous)	2 mg/day SC (FDA-approved dose), Once daily (Subcutaneous)
Key Use Cases	Anti-Aging Body Composition	Body Composition
Safety Concerns	Common: transient flushing/"head rush" within 5-10 minutes post-injection — hallmark of a potent injection, harmless and brief Self-reported: flu-like symptoms, headaches, irritability, anxiety, nausea, hives (mild and transient) Water retention and edema (dose-dependent; elevated GH causes sodium/water retention via kidneys)	Common: injection site reactions (17%), arthralgia (13%), myalgia (6%), peripheral edema (6%) Headache, nausea, and flu-like symptoms reported May increase blood glucose -- monitoring recommended in diabetics
Contraindications	Active malignancy or history of cancer (GH promotes cell proliferation) Pregnancy and breastfeeding Pituitary tumors or prior pituitary surgery Diabetes or pre-diabetes (risk of insulin resistance from sustained GH elevation)	Pregnancy (Category X -- absolute contraindication) Active cancer or history of any tumor (benign or malignant) Pituitary gland disorder, tumor, or history of pituitary surgery History of head injury or radiation treatment to the head
Regulatory (US)	Not FDA-approved. Research chemical only. WADA-banned under Section S2 (growth factors and related substances).	FDA-approved: Egrifta SV (Oct 2019) and Egrifta WR (March 2025) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Prescription only.

Shop CJC-1295

View CJC-1295 Product

Shop Tesamorelin

View Tesamorelin Product

Research Disclaimer: This comparison is provided for educational purposes only. All products are sold exclusively for in vitro research use. The information presented is based on published preclinical and clinical research and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding peptide use.

Explore More
Comparisons

Compare any two peptides side-by-side or browse our curated popular matchups.

All Comparisons Browse Catalog

CJC-1295 vs Tesamorelin

Explore MoreComparisons

Your Cart

Explore More
Comparisons