Tesamorelin

Also known as Egrifta.

Approved-medicine listing only. This is not available from the Cellular Sequence shop. Licensed products require a prescriber and an ARTG-registered presentation.

At-a-glance profile

Classification: GHRH analogue (prescription medicine in labelled indications)
Approval status: Approved medicine
Research status: Approved in the United States to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy (EGRIFTA). Not a general anti-ageing approval.
Molecular formula: C221H366N72O67S (approximate; salt/form specific)
Molecular weight: ~5136 g·mol⁻¹ (tesamorelin acetate; confirm PI)
Sequence: Stabilised GHRH analogue (44 amino acids with trans-3-hexenoyl modification).
Primary biological target: Growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) on pituitary somatotrophs
Half-life: Short plasma half-life relative to downstream IGF-1 effect; see EGRIFTA PI for PK tables
Routes investigated: Subcutaneous
Human evidence level: A — Approved clinical use / strong human evidence

What is it?

A prescription peptide medicine for HIV-associated lipodystrophy in some markets. Grey-market ‘tesamorelin 5 mg vials’ are not that product. Cellular Sequence does not sell tesamorelin.

Synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue.

Mechanism of action

Established (labelled / textbook receptor pharmacology)

Tesamorelin binds pituitary GHRH receptors, increasing endogenous GH pulsatility and circulating IGF-1. The labelled indication is reduction of excess visceral abdominal fat in a defined HIV-associated lipodystrophy population, not unrestricted body-composition use.

Raises GH/IGF-1 under medical supervision in labelled disease.

What is it being studied for?

HIV-associated lipodystrophy (visceral fat)
A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence
Pivotal trials investigated abdominal visceral adipose tissue in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.^[1]
Growth-hormone axis
A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence
GH and IGF-1 rise is part of the labelled pharmacology.^[2]

Investigational findings are not proven clinical benefits unless an authority has labelled that indication.

Evidence level

Overall human evidence grade: A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence

Human research

Phase 3 randomised, placebo-controlled

Population: Adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy
Participants: Pivotal programme hundreds of participants (see papers)
Compound: Tesamorelin 2 mg
Dose / route: 2 mg once daily · Subcutaneous
Duration: 26 weeks with extension data
Primary outcome: Visceral adipose tissue

Visceral fat decreased versus placebo; IGF-1 increased. Glucose should be monitored per label.

Limitations: HIV lipodystrophy population; not a licence for sports GH use.

^[1]

Preclinical research

Animal, cell and in-vitro findings are listed separately from human effects.

GHRH pharmacology is established.

Doses reported in published research

This section does not provide personalised medical dosing. Values are those reported in papers or protocols. Animal mg/kg doses are not converted to human doses.

Doses reported in human studies

Pivotal HIV lipodystrophy programme
Dose: 2 mg
Route: Subcutaneous
Frequency: Once daily
Duration: 26 weeks (core)
Population: Adults with HIV-associated excess abdominal fat
Purpose: Visceral adipose tissue reduction
^[1]

Preclinical / animal study dosing

Insufficient reliable evidence identified.

Approved product dosing

Taken from regulator product information. This is not mixed with research-chemical schedules.

FDA · United States
EGRIFTA SV (tesamorelin)
Indication: Reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy
Regimen: 2 mg subcutaneously once daily as labelled (confirm current USPI for reconstitution and dose).
FDA Prescribing Information — EGRIFTA
TGA · Australia
Check ARTG for tesamorelin; may not match US HIV-lipodystrophy registration
Indication: Insufficient reliable evidence identified that a matching Australian registered product is universally available — verify ARTG.
Regimen: Do not substitute research-chemical GHRH analogues for EGRIFTA.
TGA ARTG search

Pharmacokinetics

See EGRIFTA USPI for absorption and IGF-1 pharmacodynamic timing.

Safety

Injection-site reactions, arthralgia, oedema and glucose changes are discussed in the PI.

Serious events. IGF-1 elevation; contraindicated with active malignancy per label.

Pregnancy / lactation. See PI.

Unknowns. Absence of a published harm signal is not evidence of safety.

Contraindications. Not for self-administration. Malignancy history is a clinical concern for GH-axis drugs.

Regulatory status

Australia — TGA: Verify ARTG; US approval does not automatically equal Australian registration.
United States — FDA: Approved (EGRIFTA) for a specific HIV lipodystrophy indication.
European Union — EMA: Confirm whether a tesamorelin product is authorised; do not assume US label applies.

Citations

[1] Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507) on visceral fat and metabolic profile in HIV
Falutz J et al. Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507) on visceral fat and metabolic profile in HIV N Engl J Med / related HIV lipodystrophy programme papers. 2010. PMID 21083385
PMID 21083385
[2] EGRIFTA (tesamorelin) prescribing information
FDA / manufacturer EGRIFTA (tesamorelin) prescribing information
Open source

For educational and research reference only. This page summarises published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, prescribing information or a recommendation to use an investigational compound. Research doses shown describe doses reported in published studies and are not personalised dosing instructions.

Last reviewed 2026-09-13. Research areas: Metabolic, Healthy Ageing · Compare peptides