Tesamorelin has become a popular choice for clinicians looking to manage excess abdominal fat in people with HIV and also for those seeking improved metabolic profiles. Its effectiveness is often compared with other growth hormone releasing peptides, most notably CJC 1295. Understanding the nuances between these agents helps patients make informed decisions about their treatment plans.
Introduction
Growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs) are a group of synthetic analogues that stimulate the pituitary gland to produce growth hormone. They differ in structure, half-life, dosing frequency and clinical indications. Among them, tesamorelin, sermorelin and CJC 1295 occupy prominent positions. While sermorelin vs cjc 1295 ipamorelin is a shorter peptide used mainly for diagnostic purposes or short-term growth hormone deficiency treatment, tesamorelin is FDA approved for the reduction of visceral adipose tissue in HIV patients with lipodystrophy. CJC 1295, on the other hand, is an older analogue that has been studied extensively for its ability to elevate circulating growth hormone levels over a longer period.
Overview of Tesamorelin and CJC 1295
Tesamorelin is a synthetic peptide consisting of 44 amino acids with a modified sequence that confers stability against enzymatic degradation. It binds to the ghrelin receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, triggering a surge in growth hormone release. The hormone then stimulates liver production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which mediates many of the anabolic effects.
CJC 1295 is a longer-acting analogue that has been engineered with a C-terminal heptapeptide to increase its half-life by preventing renal clearance. It also binds to the same ghrelin receptor but does so more potently and for an extended duration, leading to sustained growth hormone secretion.
Both peptides are administered subcutaneously