Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295

Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are both synthetic forms of growth hormone-releasing hormone, and both are banned in sport. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is approved in the US to reduce belly fat in adults with HIV-related lipodystrophy, while CJC-1295 (with DAC) is a long-acting form that is not approved. This page compares their study results.

Best randomized result by outcome

For each outcome that two or more peptides have results for: the best result of a single randomized trial, on the same measure (the same kind of number, the same unit). When a trial has several dose arms, the cell shows the highest dose arm. The trials differ in people, length and dose, so a gap between two cells is not proof that one peptide works better.

No outcome has a randomized-trial result on the same measure for two or more of these peptides yet.

Outcomes with a randomized result for one peptide only (3 outcomes)

The other peptides have no randomized result on the same measure, so these results cannot be set side by side.

Outcomes with a randomized result for one peptide only: Tesamorelin, CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Outcome	Tesamorelin	CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormonesCompared as: difference from placebo, in μg/liter	92 μg/liter Treatment effect on IGF-I Dose studied: 2 mg12 monthsn = 602012	No comparable result 3 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
PharmacokineticsPharmacologyCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in d	No comparable result 3 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.	5.8 to 8.1 d Half-life · CJC-1295 28 d and 49 d trialsn not reported2006
Body weightMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in cm2	−42 cm2 Treatment effect Dose studied: 2 mg6 monthsn = 482014	No randomized trial result 4 results from other study designs.

Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormonesCompared as: difference from placebo, in μg/liter
- Tesamorelin
  92 μg/liter
  Treatment effect on IGF-I
  Dose studied: 2 mg12 monthsn = 602012
- CJC-1295 (with DAC)
  No comparable result
  3 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
PharmacokineticsPharmacologyCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in d
- Tesamorelin
  No comparable result
  3 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
- CJC-1295 (with DAC)
  5.8 to 8.1 d
  Half-life · CJC-1295
  28 d and 49 d trialsn not reported2006
Body weightMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in cm2
- Tesamorelin
  −42 cm2
  Treatment effect
  Dose studied: 2 mg6 monthsn = 482014
- CJC-1295 (with DAC)
  No randomized trial result
  4 results from other study designs.

Comparing 2 peptides · Data version 308560

Only differences

Swipe sideways to see every peptide.

Comparison of Tesamorelin, CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Peptide	Modified form Tesamorelin	Synthetic analog CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Identity
Kind	Modified form	Synthetic analog
Area	Growth hormone axis	Growth hormone axis
Evidence
Amount of evidence	288	43
Evidence level	Has results from studies in people	Has results from studies in people
Safety
Safety results	43 (34 in people)	2 (2 in people)
Status
Approval
Sport (WADA)
Registered trials	23 · 3 active1 more mentions it but does not test it	1

Shared outcomes

Growth hormone and IGF-149
Body weight43
Adverse events30
Pharmacokinetics25

Approval and sport status

From the regulatory data of each peptide.

Tesamorelin
The FDA label for Egrifta says: “Reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adult patients with lipodystrophy” No central EU authorisation (EMA).
CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Its most advanced trial is in phase 2. The FDA, the EMA and the other sources we use show no approval (as of 9 Oct 2026).

Amount of evidence by outcome

Outcome groups with study results for at least two of these peptides. Counts include only results from studies that gave the peptide. Bar length is the number of results, on one scale. The bars show how much was studied, not how large an effect was. A peptide with more studies can look stronger here without being stronger. For results, see the randomized results above.

Study results per shared outcome group and evidence class
Outcome group	Tesamorelin	CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormones	22193	2716101
Body weightMetabolic and weight	39354	44
Adverse eventsWhole body	29236	11
PharmacokineticsPharmacology	18792	7151

Sequence alignment

Each analog against its native parent, residue by residue. Substitutions, non-standard residues and modifications are marked. Calculated from the two sequences.

Against Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44)Tesamorelin, CJC-1295 (with DAC)

Tesamorelin is the same as Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) residues 1 to 44, with 2 added groups.

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: Tesamorelin

ADAIFTNSY

RKVLGQLSAR

KLLQDIMSRQ

QGESNQERGA

RAR

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Modified side chain or end

What is different

1Position 1: Tyr carries an added group: other modification.
2Position 44: Leu carries an added group: C-terminal amide.

CJC-1295 (with DAC) differs from Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) at 5 positions.

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: CJC-1295 (with DAC)

YDAIFTSY

RKVLQLSAR

KLLQDISR

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Modified side chain or end
Parent context

What is different

1Position 2: Ala is replaced by its mirror-image form, D-Ala.
2Position 8: Asn is replaced by Gln.
3Position 15: Gly is replaced by Ala.
4Position 27: Met is replaced by Leu.
5Position 30: Gln is replaced by Lys.

Trials side by side

Registered trials, ranked by phase (late phases first), then posted results and enrollment. Status is the registry status. Study results come from published studies. Results posted at ClinicalTrials.gov are shown on each trial page.

Tesamorelin23 registered trials

Top 3 of 23 trials, ranked by phase, then posted results and enrollment: 2 completed · 1 stopped early · 2 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 3Results postedNCT00608023