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Growth & GHPeptideEvidence A3 cited

Tesamorelin

GHRH Analog for Fat Loss

aka Egrifta · TH9507 · tesamorelin acetate

FDA-approved GHRH analog research shows significant visceral fat reduction, particularly in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Molecular wt
5136g/mol
Formula
C221H366N72O67S
CAS
218949-48-5
Half-life
26 min
established
Tmax
30 min
Route
Subcutaneous injection
PubChem
16137828

Sequence

One-letter44 residues

YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDIMSRQQGESNQERGARARL

Three-letter

Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu

Read this before quoting the sequence
44-residue human GHRH(1-44) backbone (UniProt P01286 residues 32-75, C-terminal Leu-amide) carrying a trans-3-hexenoyl group on the N-terminal Tyr. FDA label states tesamorelin 'comprises the 44 amino acid sequence of human GRF and a hexenoyl moiety' attached to the N-terminal tyrosine.
Source ↗

Mechanism of action

Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. This increase in growth hormone levels leads to enhanced lipolysis, particularly in visceral fat. The peptide also influences insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, which plays a role in metabolic processes.

What the evidence actually shows

Grade A

Multiple human trials have demonstrated Tesamorelin's efficacy in reducing visceral fat, particularly in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. These studies consistently show significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue and improvements in metabolic markers. However, long-term safety data and effects on non-HIV populations are less well-documented.

Regulatory status

Status
Approved in the United States. Initial U.S. approval 2010; currently marketed as EGRIFTA SV and EGRIFTA WR.
Approved as
EGRIFTA SV / EGRIFTA WR (tesamorelin) for injection, subcutaneous. Indication: 'Reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adult patients with lipodystrophy.' Dose: EGRIFTA SV 1.4 mg SC once daily; EGRIFTA WR 1.28 mg SC once daily.
Clinical stage
Approved; additional phase 2/3 trials ongoing in other indications (24 records on ClinicalTrials.gov).
WADA
Prohibited at all times. Tesamorelin is named explicitly under S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors / GHRH analogues) of the WADA 2026 Prohibited List.
UK
prescription_only

In the UK, Tesamorelin is available by prescription only, primarily for the treatment of HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Source ↗

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life
26 min
Tmax
30 min
Absorption
subcutaneous
Elimination
renal
Washout
1 days
Low-confidence pharmacokinetics
These figures are recorded as established rather than measured in a published PK study. Treat them as an order of magnitude. Anything downstream of them — accumulation, steady state, washout — inherits that uncertainty.

Dosing — what backs each figure

Tesamorelin has fully established FDA-labelled human dosing for HIV-associated lipodystrophy: 2 mg SC once daily in the original EGRIFTA formulation, revised to 1.4 mg once daily (EGRIFTA SV) and 1.28 mg once daily (EGRIFTA WR) as the formulation changed. It is a chronic daily therapy with no labelled cycle or washout.

ClinicalApproved labelling or a published human trial

Handling and storage

Lyophilized
EGRIFTA WR 11.6 mg vial: 'Store EGRIFTA WR 11.6 mg vial at room temperature at 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F).' EGRIFTA SV 2 mg vial: 'Store at room temperature at 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F); excursions permitted to 15 C to 30 C (59 F to 86 F).' Neither approved presentation is stored frozen.
Reconstituted
EGRIFTA WR (reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water): 'Discard unused solution of EGRIFTA WR vial 7 days after mixing'; stored at room temperature; 'Do not freeze.' EGRIFTA SV (reconstituted with Sterile Water): administer immediately; 'If not used immediately, discard the reconstituted solution. Do not freeze or refrigerate the reconstituted solution.'
Solvent
EGRIFTA WR: Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP - 1.3 mL per 11.6 mg vial (multi-day vial, 7 daily doses). EGRIFTA SV: 'Use only the diluent provided, Sterile Water for Injection' - 0.5 mL per 2 mg vial (single use).

EGRIFTA SV label: 'Protect EGRIFTA SV from light by keeping in the original box until time of use.' The two currently marketed presentations differ materially in diluent and in-use stability, so a single storage line cannot cover both. No freeze-thaw tolerance data appear in either label.

Source ↗
→ Reconstitution walkthrough→ Reconstitution calculator

Safety

Commonly reported
  • ·Injection site reactions
  • ·Arthralgia
  • ·Peripheral edema
Rarely reported
  • ·Hypersensitivity reactions
  • ·Carpal tunnel syndrome
Contraindications
  • ·Active malignancy
  • ·Hypersensitivity to tesamorelin or its components
  • ·Pregnancy
Drug interactions
  • ·Corticosteroids: May reduce the efficacy of tesamorelin by opposing its effects on growth hormone release.

Injection-site reactions, arthralgia, fluid retention, raised IGF-1

Reported combinations

Reported as synergistic
  • ·L-arginine: May enhance growth hormone release when used in conjunction.
Reported as antagonistic
  • ·Glucocorticoids: May counteract the effects of tesamorelin on growth hormone secretion.

Combination claims in this dataset are largely unsourced and should be treated as folk knowledge until a citation appears beside them.

References (3)

Data provenance

Chemistry and citations on this page were checked against primary sources on 2026-08-14. Values that could not be verified were left blank rather than filled with a plausible guess.

Research use only
This profile is educational reference material. It is not medical advice, not a prescription, and not an endorsement of self-administration. Compounds discussed here are research chemicals and most are not approved for human therapeutic use.

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