Head to head
Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295
Same receptor, one approval between them.
Both are synthetic GHRH analogs that raise GH and IGF-1 through the same receptor. Tesamorelin went through two Phase 3 trials and is FDA-approved for visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. CJC-1295 stopped at a single human PK study and has no approved use.
| Measure | TesamorelinGHRH analog | CJC-1295Long-acting GHRH analog |
|---|---|---|
| Best evidence | Established | Clinical |
| Human-tested claims | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Status | Approved | Research-only |
| Cited sources | 1 | 2 |
Where the evidence lands
This is the cleanest illustration in the catalog of what an approval adds: tesamorelin's label tells you what happens to glucose, injection sites and fluid balance over months, and that its benefit reverses on stopping. CJC-1295 raises the same hormones for longer and tells you none of that, because nobody has run the trials. A longer half-life is an engineering feature, not evidence.
Where they differ
Each row cites a fixed record. Numbers from different trials are not directly comparable, and the rows say so where that applies.
| Aspect | Tesamorelin | CJC-1295 |
|---|---|---|
| Molecule[1] | GHRH(1-44) with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid group. | Modified GHRH(1-29) carrying an albumin-binding DAC group. |
| Duration[2] | Daily injection. | Half-life of roughly a week; GH and IGF-1 stay raised for days after one dose. |
| Human evidence[1] | Two Phase 3 randomized trials. | One PK/PD study in healthy adults. |
| Status[1] | FDA-approved for visceral fat reduction in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. | Research-only; never approved anywhere. |
| Known safety[1] | Label warns of glucose intolerance, injection-site reactions and fluid retention; contraindicated in active malignancy. | Transient injection-site reactions, headache and flushing in a small study; no long-term data. |
What each is studied for
The efficacy claims from each monograph, with their tiers. Follow the entry for sources and safety.
Tesamorelin
- EstablishedFDA-approved to reduce visceral adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, based on two Phase 3 randomized trials.
- EstablishedVisceral-fat reduction reverses after discontinuation, so benefit depends on continued use.
CJC-1295
- ClinicalRaised GH 2–10× (for ≥6 days) and IGF-1 1.5–3× (for 9–11 days) after a single dose in healthy adults; half-life ~6–8 days.
References
The monographs
Written by Twenty Residues editorial. Medical review: pending; a named reviewer is being assigned.
Last updated October 1, 2026.
Tiers are explained in the Standard. Spot an error? Report a correction.