Growth hormone main

For research use only.

Tesamorelin

GHRH analog · 44 amino acids + fatty chain
What it is

Tesamorelin is a lab-made analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), also called growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF): the full 44-amino-acid human sequence with a short fatty chain added at one end.[1][2]

Pathway: GHRH. FDA’s label calls it an analog of GHRH, the brain’s "go" signal for growth hormone.[1]

Origin: Developed as TH9507 and studied in phase 3 trials for excess abdominal fat in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy; FDA approved it in 2010 as Egrifta.[2][3][4]

What researchers study it for

Research areas

Large human trials and the FDA-approved labels point to several research and labeled uses.

  • Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, the labeled use for Egrifta products[1][2][4]
  • Changes in visceral fat and liver fat in people with HIV and abdominal fat accumulation[5]
  • Growth hormone and IGF-1 pathways linked to body-fat distribution in that setting[1][2]

Evidence level

Level 4 of 4: Large human trialsTwo phase 3 randomized trials of tesamorelin in HIV-associated lipodystrophy were pooled (806 adults), and tesamorelin is FDA approved as Egrifta products for that labeled use.[1][2][4]

Why so few human trials?

Cautions

Studies and regulators point to several reasons for care.

  • FDA labels warn about increased risk of neoplasms, elevated IGF-1, fluid retention, glucose intolerance or diabetes, and hypersensitivity reactions[1]
  • Labels say long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established, and the medicine is not indicated for weight-loss management[1]
  • The approved brand-name medicines are for a specific labeled use in HIV-associated lipodystrophy; research materials are not those medicines[1][4]

Tesamorelin is FDA approved as Egrifta products (including Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR) for reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy, for the uses on those labels.[1][4]

Also called

Tesamorelin goes by several names.

  • TH9507, an early study code[2]
  • Growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analog[1]
  • Egrifta, Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR, the FDA-approved brand names[1][4]

Good to know

The approved Egrifta products are finished medicines reviewed by FDA; a research vial of tesamorelin is not the same as those brand-name products.[1][4]

Handling

Storage basics General

These general basics apply to most freeze-dried research peptides.

Most research peptides come as a freeze-dried powder in a sealed vial
Unmixed vials are generally kept cold, dry, and away from light
Mixed solutions are generally refrigerated, since they are less stable than the dry powder
Peptides 101For mixing basicsNPL Dose CalculatorTo work out concentration after mixing
Go deeper

Sources and studies

These studies and official pages are the research behind this profile.