5-Amino-1MQ vs Tesamorelin: What’s the Difference? (Plain English)
People compare 5-Amino-1MQ and tesamorelin constantly, but they’re about as different as two compounds can be. Here’s the difference in plain English.
- Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid peptide that mimics GHRH; 5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule that blocks the NNMT enzyme.
- Tesamorelin is well studied and has a US prescription version (Egrifta), developed by Montreal’s Theratechnologies; 5-Amino-1MQ is mostly studied in mice.
- Popular Peptides sells tesamorelin 10mg for $74.99 CAD and 5-Amino-1MQ 50mg for $79.99 CAD.
The quick version
People compare these two all the time, usually because they both come up in the same “metabolism” conversations online. But they’re about as different as two things on a peptide website can be:
- —Tesamorelin is a long peptide (44 amino acids) that copies a natural hormone called GHRH. $74.99 for 10mg.
- —5-Amino-1MQ is a tiny small molecule, not a peptide at all, that blocks an enzyme called NNMT. $79.99 for 50mg.
One copies a signal. The other switches off an enzyme. That’s the whole difference in a sentence.
Side by side
| Tesamorelin | 5-Amino-1MQ | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A 44-amino-acid peptide | A small molecule (not a peptide) |
| How it works | Copies GHRH, a natural signalling hormone | Blocks the NNMT enzyme |
| Prescription version? | Yes, as Egrifta in the US, developed by Montreal’s Theratechnologies | No |
| Research stage | Well studied, including human trials | Mostly mouse and lab studies |
| Comes as | Freeze-dried powder, needs mixing | Powder |
| Size and price here | 10mg, $74.99 | 50mg, $79.99 |
Tesamorelin in plain words
Tesamorelin is a lab-made copy of GHRH, the hormone that tells your body to release growth hormone, with a small tweak that makes it last longer. It’s the most studied of the two by a long way. Fun Canadian fact: it was developed by Theratechnologies, a Montreal company, and a prescription version called Egrifta is approved in the US for a specific medical use. What we sell is the research compound, not the medicine.
More in our tesamorelin buying guide and tesamorelin research overview.
5-Amino-1MQ in plain words
5-Amino-1MQ blocks an enzyme called NNMT. Researchers got interested after mouse studies suggested that blocking NNMT changes how fat cells use energy. It’s newer, less studied and not approved anywhere. More in our 5-Amino-1MQ buying guide.
Which one should I look at?
Honestly, they answer completely different research questions, so it’s less “which is better” and more “what are you studying?” If your work is about hormone signalling, tesamorelin is the one. If it’s about enzymes and cell metabolism, 5-Amino-1MQ. Plenty of researchers look at both.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 5-Amino-1MQ and tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid peptide that mimics the hormone GHRH. 5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule, not a peptide, that blocks the NNMT enzyme. They work in completely different ways.
Is tesamorelin stronger than 5-Amino-1MQ?
They can’t really be compared that way, because they act on different systems. Tesamorelin is far better studied, including in human trials; 5-Amino-1MQ has mostly been studied in mice.
Is tesamorelin a prescription drug?
A prescription version called Egrifta is approved in the US for a specific medical use. Research suppliers sell tesamorelin as a laboratory compound.
Can I buy both in Canada?
Yes, as research compounds. Popular Peptides sells tesamorelin 10mg for $74.99 CAD and 5-Amino-1MQ 50mg for $79.99 CAD, both shipped from Vancouver with no customs. Together they come to just over $150; add a few more items and you’ll hit free shipping at $300.
Where to next
- —Tesamorelin 10mg
- —5-Amino-1MQ 50mg
- —Compare more compounds on our compare page
Sold for laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption.
Every batch we sell is independently third-party tested, with the full Certificate of Analysis published and checkable by lot number.