Comparison. Research use only.
CJC-1295 (DAC) vs Tesamorelin
CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin are both synthetic analogs of growth hormone-releasing hormone, and both act on the same pituitary receptor. They differ in how each was engineered to resist breakdown, in how long CJC-1295 persists in plasma, and above all in clinical history: Tesamorelin reached FDA approval, while CJC-1295 development was discontinued after early-phase studies.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin?
CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin both activate the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs. CJC-1295 (DAC) is a GHRH(1-29) analog with a maleimide group that binds serum albumin, giving an estimated half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days; Tesamorelin is a GHRH analog stabilized with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved (Egrifta) after Phase 3 trials, while CJC-1295 development was discontinued after Phase 1.
| Attribute | CJC-1295 (DAC) | Tesamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide scaffold | Human GHRH(1-29) with D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15 and Leu27 substitutions | Human GHRH analog with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid group |
| Protection from DPP-4 breakdown | D-alanine at position 2 | N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid group |
| Molecular weight | 3647.25 g/mol | 5135.89 Da |
| Receptor target | GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs | GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs |
| Human evidence | Phase 1 pharmacology in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006; Ionescu and Frohman, 2006) | Phase 3 RCTs in HIV lipodystrophy (Falutz et al., NEJM 2007, n=412; JAIDS 2010, n=404); Phase 2 cognition trial (Baker et al., 2012, n=152) |
| Regulatory status | Not approved anywhere; clinical development discontinued | FDA-approved as Egrifta (2010) for one indication |
| WADA | Prohibited (S2, GHRH analog) | Prohibited (S2, GHRH analog) |
What is CJC-1295 (DAC)?
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, built on the biologically active N-terminal 1-29 fragment of human GHRH. It acts as an agonist at the GHRH receptor, a class B G-protein-coupled receptor found on anterior pituitary somatotrophs, the pituitary cells that make growth hormone.
Read the full CJC-1295 (DAC) research summary →What is Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH, also known as somatocrinin), with a trans-3-hexenoic acid group attached to the N-terminus. That modification makes it resistant to cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), the enzyme that normally breaks GHRH down, so it stays active longer than native GHRH(1–44).
Read the full Tesamorelin research summary →CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin specifications
Frequently asked questions
Do CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin act on the same receptor?
Yes. CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin are both agonists at the GHRH receptor, a class B G-protein-coupled receptor on anterior pituitary somatotrophs. Occupying that receptor raises intracellular cAMP and prompts the cells to release their own growth hormone, which in turn drives IGF-1 production in the liver. The two differ in structure, plasma persistence and clinical history rather than in their target.
How do CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin resist breakdown?
Both were engineered against dipeptidyl peptidase-4, the enzyme that inactivates native GHRH. CJC-1295 (DAC) uses a D-alanine at position 2 and adds a maleimide group that binds serum albumin covalently, which Teichman et al. (2006) linked to an estimated half-life of 5.8 to 8.1 days. Tesamorelin carries an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid group, which keeps it active longer than native GHRH.
Have CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin been studied in humans?
Tesamorelin has the larger human record: Phase 3 randomized trials in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (Falutz et al., NEJM 2007, n=412; JAIDS 2010, n=404) supported its FDA approval, and a Phase 2 trial examined cognition in older adults (Baker et al., 2012). CJC-1295 (DAC) was studied only in early-phase pharmacology trials in healthy adults (Teichman et al., 2006; Ionescu and Frohman, 2006) before development was discontinued.
What is the regulatory status of CJC-1295 (DAC) and Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is FDA-approved as Egrifta for reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy; other uses are investigational. CJC-1295 (DAC) is not approved by any regulatory authority and is categorized as an abandoned drug candidate with no completed efficacy trials. WADA prohibits both CJC-1295 and Tesamorelin under section S2 as GHRH analogs.
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