What is the difference between Cagrilintide and Tesamorelin?

Cagrilintide: Long-acting amylin analogue; acts on amylin/calcitonin receptors to prolong satiety; synergistic with semaglutide in CagriSema combination Tesamorelin: Tesamorelin stimulates pulsatile GH secretion from the anterior pituitary by binding GHRH receptors.

Is Tesamorelin FDA approved?

Tesamorelin is FDA approved (FDA status current as of 2010-11-10). This regulatory status is provided for research and educational context only.

How is Cagrilintide administered in research settings?

In research settings, Cagrilintide is typically administered via the subcutaneous route. PeptideBase does not provide dosing or administration instructions.

How is Tesamorelin administered in research settings?

In research settings, Tesamorelin is typically administered via the subcutaneous route. PeptideBase does not provide dosing or administration instructions.

Home›Research›Compare›Cagrilintide vs Tesamorelin

Peptide Comparison

Cagrilintide vs Tesamorelin

Name: Cagrilintide vs Tesamorelin — Per-mg Price Comparison
Creator: PeptideBase
License: https://peptidebase.io/terms

Cagrilintide

AM833

Fat LossUnder clinical reviewResearch Only

Half-life: ~7 days

21 providers listed

Full Cagrilintide profile →

Tesamorelin

Egrifta

Fat LossFDA ApprovedPrescription

Half-life: 26–38 minutes

245 providers listed

Full Tesamorelin profile →

Bottom line

Cagrilintide and Tesamorelin target different goals — Cagrilintide for Metabolic, Tesamorelin for FDA-approved GHRH analog for HIV-associated lipodystrophy (Egrifta / Egrifta SV). They're compared here for reference, not as direct substitutes.

Quick Verdict

Cagrilintide

Half-life

~7 days

Tesamorelin

Half-life

26–38 minutes

Different Goals

Cagrilintide and Tesamorelin target different goals — Cagrilintide for Metabolic, Tesamorelin for GH / IGF Axis. They're compared here for reference; there isn't a single “better” choice between them.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Cagrilintide

Tesamorelin

Mechanism Family

Metabolic

GH / IGF Axis

Half-life

~7 days

26–38 minutes

FDA Status

Under clinical review

approved

Admin Routes

subcutaneous

Availability

Research Only

Prescription

Providers

21 listed

245 listed

FDA Update

Under clinical review

Nov 2010

Avail. Notes

Amylin analog by Novo Nordisk. Phase 3 as CagriSema (+ semaglutide, NCT05669755) for obesity. Not yet approved. NDA submission anticipated 2026-2027 if trials succeed.

FDA-approved GHRH analog. Brand: Egrifta SV (NDA 022505, Nov 2010). Indicated for excess abdominal fat in HIV lipodystrophy. Prescription only. Daily subcutaneous injection.

Research Evidence

Cagrilintide

Meta-analysis · 9 key studies · most recent 2026

Tesamorelin

RCT · 7 key studies · most recent 2026

Research Citations

Cagrilintide

Meta-analysis2026 · Endocrinol Diabetes Metab

Novel Amylin-Based Therapies for Weight Management in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: A N…

RCT2026 · Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol

Efficacy and safety of co-administered cagrilintide and semaglutide versus semaglutide alone in adults with o…

RCT2023 · Lancet

Combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide 2·4 mg for weight management in adults with overweight and obesit…

RCT2021 · Lancet

Cagrilintide 2·4 mg once-weekly subcutaneous injection in adults with overweight or obesity (SCALE-CAGRI): a…

+5 more

Tesamorelin

RCT2012 · Arch Neurol

Effects of growth hormone–releasing hormone (tesamorelin) on cognitive function in adults with MCI and health…

RCT2010 · Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in HIV-infected patients with exce…

RCT2010 · J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Effects of tesamorelin in HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: pooled analysis of two phase 3 RCTs

Case series2026 · Clin Infect Dis

Differing Presentations of Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat in People Living With HIV: Two Clinical Cases Highli…

+3 more

About Cagrilintide

Long-acting amylin analogue; acts on amylin/calcitonin receptors to prolong satiety; synergistic with semaglutide in CagriSema combination

Research Areas

fat_loss

About Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin stimulates pulsatile GH secretion from the anterior pituitary by binding GHRH receptors. Its stabilisation protects it from rapid enzymatic cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase IV, extending the effective half-life compared to unmodified GHRH. Downstream effects on visceral adiposity are mediated through elevated IGF-1 and direct lipolytic signalling.

Research Areas

FDA-approved GHRH analog for HIV-associated lipodystrophy (Egrifta / Egrifta SV)visceral fat reduction via GH/IGF-1 axis — strongest clinical evidence of any fat-targeted peptide2 mg/day subcutaneous injection — structured monthly dosing in approved indicationIGF-1 elevation monitoring relevant — considered in metabolic syndrome and diabetes contexts

Safety Profile

Information below reflects published research data only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified provider before use.

Cagrilintide

Absolute Contraindications

Under clinical review

Being verified by our medical team before we display contraindications for this peptide.

Suggested Monitoring

HbA1cFasting glucoseTSHCalcitoninLipaseeGFRALT/AST

Given mechanistic overlap with GLP-1 agonists when used as CagriSema, monitor thyroid C-cell markers (calcitonin), lipase for pancreatitis risk, and a baseline metabolic panel. Amylin-specific monitoring guidance is evolving as Phase 3 data matures; follow prescribing protocol of the co-administered agent.

Tesamorelin

Absolute Contraindications

Disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (hypophysectomy, hypopituitarism, pituitary tumor/surgery, head irradiation, or head trauma)Active malignancy (any prior cancer must be inactive and treatment complete)PregnancyKnown hypersensitivity to tesamorelin or mannitol

Warnings & Cautions

Elevated IGF-1Glucose intolerance / new or worsening diabetesFluid retentionNot for use in children with open epiphyses

Source: FDA label

Suggested Monitoring

Under clinical review

Being verified by our medical team before we display monitoring guidance for this peptide.

Regulatory Notes

global — WADA

This compound falls under WADA Prohibited List category S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics), prohibited at all times for competing athletes.

source

Price (per mg)

Cagrilintide

$10.00/mg

$7.98 – $14.55 range

23 vendors

View price index →Find providers →

Tesamorelin

$7.78/mg

$6.68 – $9.99 range

48 vendors

View price index →Find providers →

Find Providers

Where to source these peptides

Providers offering

Cagrilintide

21 listed

Browse directory →

Providers offering

Tesamorelin

245 listed

Browse directory →

PeptideBase lists providers for educational research purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before obtaining or using any peptide.

Related Comparisons

Browse all peptides →

Educational research tools — not medical advice.

Cite this page

Data last updated August 26, 2026

Free to reference and republish with attribution to PeptideBase. Choose a format:

PeptideBase. (2026). Cagrilintide vs Tesamorelin — Per-mg Price Comparison. Retrieved September 11, 2026, from https://peptidebase.io/peptides/compare/cagrilintide/tesamorelin

https://peptidebase.io/peptides/compare/cagrilintide/tesamorelin Methodology License Download JSON Download CSV