Overview
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analogue of the full 44-amino-acid human GHRH sequence, modified with a trans-3-hexenoyl group at the N-terminus. This addition protects the peptide from cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 while preserving its ability to activate the GHRH receptor.
Developed by Theratechnologies, tesamorelin was evaluated in phase 3 trials in people living with HIV who had accumulated excess abdominal fat. Pooled analyses showed significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue compared with placebo, and the FDA approved it in 2010 as the prescription medicine Egrifta for this indication; a European application was withdrawn. Later research has examined hepatic fat in HIV-associated fatty liver disease. Effects were reported to reverse after discontinuation. Our product is the research-grade reference compound for GHRH-receptor and adipose-biology studies, not for clinical use.
Mechanism studied
- Tesamorelin
- GHRH receptor
- Endogenous GH / IGF-1
- Visceral fat endpoints
Tesamorelin binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, raising cAMP and stimulating synthesis and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone. GH then increases hepatic IGF-1 production and promotes lipolysis, with visceral adipose tissue appearing especially responsive in clinical imaging studies. Because it acts through the physiological pituitary pathway, IGF-1 and somatostatin feedback remain active, unlike direct administration of GH. The N-terminal hexenoyl modification extends its stability without changing receptor selectivity.
Research highlights
- 01Full-length GHRH(1-44) analogue with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoyl group
- 02Phase 3 trials showed reduced visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy
- 03FDA-approved in 2010 as Egrifta; European application withdrawn
- 04Studied for hepatic fat in HIV-associated fatty liver disease
- 05Prohibited in sport under WADA class S2
Research areas
- Visceral adipose tissue research
- HIV lipodystrophy studies
- Hepatic fat (NAFLD) research
- GHRH analogue pharmacology
Evidence & regulatory status
Overall status: Approved (Rx, US) — HIV-associated abdominal fat excess
Key references
- [1]Falutz et al., 2010 — J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
- [2]Egrifta® prescribing information — FDA
- [3]WADA — Prohibited List of Substances and Methods
Latest published research
105 papers on PubMed →Peptides in urology and sexual medicine: clinical effectiveness, dosing, indications, and safety: a narrative review
Vasylieva V et al. · Sexual medicine reviews · 2026 Sep 30 · PMID 42862021
The effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone on cognition and brain connectivity in adults with cognition ranging from normal to mild cognitive impairment
Stewart CE et al. · eNeurologicalSci · 2026 Sep · PMID 42382101
Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance
Mendias CL et al. · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026 Aug · PMID 41966639
Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIV (TRIUMPH): a clinical trial protocol
Erlandson KM et al. · BMJ open · 2026 Jul 8 · PMID 42419889
The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration
Dominikowski A et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026 · PMID 42395176
Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications
Villegas Meza AD et al. · JBJS reviews · 2026 May 1 · PMID 42160466
Differing Presentations of Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat in People Living With HIV: Two Clinical Cases Highlighting Distinct Therapeutic Pathways With Tesamorelin and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
Beach R et al. · Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2026 May 15 · PMID 42139091
Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives
Renke G et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Apr 27 · PMID 42123471
Live feed from PubMed (NCBI) for “Tesamorelin”, updated 2026-10-30. Listing a paper is not an endorsement of its findings.
Registered studies
24 on ClinicalTrials.gov →- TerminatedPhase 4
Body Composition and Adipose Tissue in HIV
NCT03226821 · Columbia University · 2018-02-07
- RecruitingPhase 2
Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIV
NCT06554717 · Massachusetts General Hospital · 2025-07-10
- RecruitingPhase 2
Tesamorelin for Reduction of Liver Fat in Adults With Fatty Liver Disease (Mock Study)
NCT07481734 · Hudson Biotech · 2026-02-02
- CompletedPhase 2
Phase II Trial of Tesamorelin for Cognition in Aging HIV-Infected Persons
NCT02572323 · University of California, San Diego · 2017-02-15
- CompletedPhase 2
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog to Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Cardiovascular Risk
NCT03375788 · Massachusetts General Hospital · 2019-01-17
- RecruitingPhase 2
Tesamorelin to Improve Functional Outcomes After Peripheral Nerve Injury
NCT03150511 · Johns Hopkins University · 2018-06-01
- CompletedPhase 3
TH9507 Extension Study in Patients With HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy
NCT00608023 · Theratechnologies · 2007-08
- Completed
Growth Hormone Dynamics and Cardiac Steatosis in HIV
NCT03826160 · Massachusetts General Hospital · 2019-01-30
From the public ClinicalTrials.gov registry for “Tesamorelin”, updated 2026-10-30. Shown for research context only; Purity Peptides products are not for human use.
FAQ
Sermorelin is the 29-residue active fragment of GHRH, while tesamorelin spans the full 44 residues and carries an N-terminal hexenoyl group that resists enzymatic cleavage. Tesamorelin is an approved prescription medicine in the US; our product is a research reference compound only.
Lyophilized Tesamorelin is normally kept sealed at −20 °C, protected from light and moisture. Once reconstituted for laboratory work, aliquots are held at 2–8 °C for short-term use or frozen, avoiding repeated freeze–thaw. Follow the lot-specific guidance on the certificate of analysis.
Every lot of Tesamorelin ships with a certificate of analysis reporting HPLC purity, mass-spectrometry identity against the expected molecular weight, appearance and lot number. Match the COA lot to the vial label and keep it with your experimental records.
Last updated October 2026 · Reviewed by the Purity Peptides research team · Information is a summary of published literature and is not a recommendation for any use.
