Sermorelin vs Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295: Which to Order

Order sermorelin when you need the unmodified GHRH(1-29) reference sequence, tesamorelin when you need the full 44-residue hormone with a stabilizing N-terminal cap, and CJC-1295 (no DAC) when you want a 29-residue analog built to resist enzymatic cleavage and oxidation. All three act on the same GHRH receptor, so the choice turns on which structural variable your in-vitro study is testing and on how much you want to spend per micromole.

This guide is for US labs deciding which of the three to put in the cart. It gives a decision table, the identity differences that matter at the bench, the vial that fits each stage of work, and a price table with the arithmetic shown.

Decide by what your study is testing

Check the identity differences before you commit

A useful check for buyers: sermorelin and CJC-1295 differ by only about 10 g/mol even though four positions are changed. Asn to Gln at position 8 and Gly to Ala at position 15 each add a methylene, Met to Leu at 27 removes a sulfur-containing side chain, and the switch to D-alanine at position 2 changes stereochemistry without changing mass at all. A mass spectrum can tell the two apart, but only with adequate resolution, and the D-Ala2 change needs a chiral or retention-based method to confirm. Tesamorelin, at more than 5,100 g/mol, is never confused with either of them.

For the reasoning behind each design, read sermorelin as the GHRH(1-29) reference analog, tesamorelin as a stabilized GHRH analog and how analog modifications change peptide half-life.

Match each analog to its receptor-level literature

At the level of published pharmacology, all three are agonists of the growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR), a class B G-protein-coupled receptor that signals through Gs and cAMP. Truncation studies established that residues 1 to 29 retain receptor activity, which is why sermorelin serves as the minimal reference. Tesamorelin keeps the full native chain and adds the hexenoyl cap, which the literature describes as limiting DPP-4 removal of the first two residues. CJC-1295 without DAC reaches a similar protective aim through sequence substitution rather than an N-terminal cap. The DAC version adds a drug affinity complex, a separate reactive group; the no-DAC form sold here does not carry it. That distinction is covered in the CJC-1295 DAC versus no-DAC article.

Consider the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend as a separate choice

The CJC-1295 & Ipamorelin Blend 10mg (5mg + 5mg) is not a fourth GHRH analog. It pairs a GHRH-receptor agonist with ipamorelin, a pentapeptide that acts at a different receptor, the ghrelin receptor GHS-R1a. Order it when your design compares or combines the two receptor pathways, and stay with the single analogs when the question is purely about GHRH-receptor structure. The blend’s composition is analyzed in our CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend analysis, the two receptor families are contrasted in GHRH analogs versus growth hormone secretagogues, and ipamorelin’s receptor profile is in the GHS-R1a selectivity article.

Size the vial to the stage of the project

• Setting up an assay. Start with a 5mg vial of sermorelin or CJC-1295. That quantity is enough to fix solubility, working concentration and HPLC retention before a larger commitment.
• Running a full comparison. The 10mg sermorelin vial almost halves the per-milligram cost of the 5mg and keeps the reference arm on one lot. Tesamorelin comes only as a 10mg vial, so there is no small trial size for it.
• Three-way head-to-head. A 10mg sermorelin, a 5mg CJC-1295 and a 10mg tesamorelin together total $300.97 once tesamorelin is back in stock, which clears the free-shipping line.

Because the three molecules differ in mass, equal milligrams do not mean equal molar amounts. Use the peptide concentration calculator to set equimolar stocks.

Compare cost per milligram and per micromole

Per micromole, the 10mg sermorelin is clearly the cheapest route to GHRH-receptor agonist molecules. Tesamorelin looks close to sermorelin per milligram but costs well over half as much again per micromole, because each molecule is about 53% heavier. The micromole column is what matters if you plan equimolar comparisons. The method is explained in comparing research peptide prices per milligram.

Plan delivery and verification

Orders ship within the US from Utah, leave within one business day and typically arrive in two to five days, with free shipping over $200. Quantity pricing is applied in the cart. These peptides are 99%+ purity and third-party tested with HPLC and purity testing. Some certificates are posted on the COAs page, and vials are matched to their certificate by cap and crimp color. For reading one, see how to read a peptide certificate of analysis.

FAQ

Which of the three should a first-time buyer order?

Sermorelin, in most cases. It is the unmodified reference sequence, so later work with tesamorelin or CJC-1295 can be compared against it.

Is CJC-1295 no DAC the same as modified GRF(1-29)?

Yes. It is the 29-residue GHRH fragment carrying the D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15 and Leu27 substitutions, with no drug affinity complex attached.

Why is tesamorelin so much heavier?

It keeps all 44 residues of native GHRH instead of the first 29, and it adds a trans-3-hexenoyl group at the N-terminus.

Is the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend a substitute for these single analogs?

No. It combines two receptor targets, GHRHR and GHS-R1a, so it answers a different question from a single-analog comparison.

Is tesamorelin available right now?

It was listed as out of stock at the time of writing. Check the tesamorelin product page for current availability.

See all our side-by-side guides on the peptide comparisons hub, or browse the full catalog.

All products are sold for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary use and are not drugs, foods or cosmetics.