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Home/Compounds/Tesamorelin
Growth hormoneFDA approvedRx required

Tesamorelin

Also known as: Egrifta
Brands: Egrifta

GHRH analog FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, reduces visceral fat.

A
Grade A
Multiple human RCTs
Human studies27
PubMed citations28
Typical dose2 mg
Routesubcutaneous
Regulatory (US)FDA approved · Rx
Last verified2 months ago
TL;DR · 30-second summary
  • 15-18% reduction in visceral fat
  • Improved triglycerides and cholesterol ratios
  • No significant effect on subcutaneous fat
  • Maintains effect over long-term use

Mechanism of action

Synthetic GHRH analog that stimulates pituitary GH release. Specifically effective at reducing visceral adipose tissue through GH-mediated lipolysis.

Evidence summary

27
Human studies
28
PubMed citations
24
Clinical trials
A
Evidence grade

FDA approved based on trials showing significant visceral fat reduction in HIV lipodystrophy. Growing interest for general metabolic health.

Dosing protocols

Educational information only. Consult a licensed provider before using any peptide.
Dose range
2 mg

FDA-approved dose: 2mg daily subcutaneous injection.

Administration routes
subcutaneous

Side effects & safety

From the FDA label
Source
arthralgiadyspepsiainjection site erythemainjection site paininjection site pruritusinjection site reactionpalpitationspruritusrashurticariavomiting

Terms pulled directly from the referenced source. We don't fabricate frequencies — when a label doesn't publish a percentage, we don't either.

Contraindications
  • Active malignancy
  • Pregnancy
  • Disruption of hypothalamic-pituitary axis

Interactions

No documented drug interactions on file.

Regulatory status

United States
FDA approved

FDA approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy (Egrifta)

Compounding
Permitted

Available through compounding pharmacies with valid prescription.

Regulatory data last verified 4/17/2026

Clinical trials

NCT07481734A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study of Tesamorelin (GHRH Analog) for Reducing Hepatic Steatosis in Adults With Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)Recruiting · Phase 2 · Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease · n=120NCT02572323Phase II Trial of Tesamorelin for Cognition in Aging HIV-Infected PersonsCompleted · Phase 2 · Mild Cognitive Impairment · n=73NCT03375788Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog to Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Cardiovascular RiskCompleted · Phase 2 · Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease · n=51NCT03150511Tesamorelin Therapy to Enhance Axonal Regeneration, Minimize Muscle Atrophy, and Improve Functional Outcomes Following Peripheral Nerve InjuryRecruiting · Phase 2 · Peripheral Nerve Injuries · n=36NCT06554717Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIVRecruiting · Phase 2 · HIV-1-infection · n=100NCT03226821Body Composition and Adipose Tissue in HIV Lipodystrophy: Effects of Tesamorelin TherapyCompleted · Phase 4 · HIV Lipodystrophy Syndrome · n=5NCT00608023A Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Extension Study Assessing the Efficacy and Long-term Safety of a 2 mg Dose of TH9507, a GHRH Analog, in HIV Subjects With Excess Abdominal Fat AccumulationCompleted · Phase 3 · Lipodystrophy · n=263NCT03826160Role of Growth Hormone in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Cardiac Steatosis and Diastolic Dysfunction in HIVCompleted · Human Immunodeficiency Virus · n=23NCT01388920A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Two Doses of Tesamorelin in Stable Ambulatory COPD Subjects With Muscle WastingTerminated · Phase 2 · Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) · n=3NCT02196831Tesamorelin Effects on Liver Fat and Histology in HIV: A Collaborative UO1 GrantCompleted · N/A · Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) · n=61NCT02931474The Impact of GHRH on Sleep Promotion and Endocrine Regulation in Service Members Who Sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury and Have Current InsomniaWithdrawn · Phase 2 · Sleep DisorderNCT02553603The Effect of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone on Cognitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive ImpairmentCompleted · Phase 1 · Mild Cognitive Impairment · n=22

Showing 12 of 24 indexed studies. View all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Citations

PMID 41476424Mayfield CK, Bolia IK et al. · Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians.The American journal of sports medicine (2026)HumanPMID 41490200Rahman OF, Lee SJ et al. · Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026)HumanPMID 41545261Badran AS, Helal A et al. · Body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic, and safety outcomes of Tesamorelin, a GHRH analogue, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Obesity research & clinical practice (2026)HumanPMID 39813152Ellis RJ, Vaida F et al. · Effects of Tesamorelin on Neurocognitive Impairment in Persons With HIV and Abdominal Obesity.The Journal of infectious diseases (2025)HumanPMID 38905488Russo SC, Ockene MW et al. · Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors.AIDS (London, England) (2024)HumanPMID 38416754Chege BM, Mwangi PW et al. · Dietary regimens appear to possess significant effects on the development of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-associated metabolic syndrome.PloS one (2024)HumanPMID 36845310Rahman F, McLaughlin T et al. · Effect of tesamorelin in people with HIV with and without dorsocervical fat: Post hoc analysis of phase III double-blind placebo-controlled trial.Journal of clinical and translational science (2023)HumanPMID 34006921Fourman LT, Stanley TL et al. · Delineating tesamorelin response pathways in HIV-associated NAFLD using a targeted proteomic and transcriptomic approach.Scientific reports (2021)HumanPMID 32701508Fourman LT, Billingsley JM et al. · Effects of tesamorelin on hepatic transcriptomic signatures in HIV-associated NAFLD.JCI insight (2021)HumanPMID 31237318Adrian S, Scherzinger A et al. · The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV.The Journal of frailty & aging (2019)HumanPMID 28832410Fourman LT, Czerwonka N et al. · Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV.AIDS (London, England) (2018)HumanPMID 28477736Rochira V, Guaraldi G · Growth hormone deficiency and human immunodeficiency virus.Best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism (2017)HumanPMID 28793863Maggi P, Di Biagio A et al. · Cardiovascular risk and dyslipidemia among persons living with HIV: a review.BMC infectious diseases (2017)HumanPMID 28617838Clemmons DR, Miller S et al. · Safety and metabolic effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.PloS one (2017)HumanPMID 26457580Mangili A, Falutz J et al. · Predictors of Treatment Response to Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Analog, in HIV-Infected Patients with Excess Abdominal Fat.PloS one (2016)HumanPMID 27121785Teng S, Potvin D et al. · Impact of Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor (GRF) Analogue, on the Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin and Ritonavir in Healthy Volunteers.Clinical pharmacology in drug development (2016)PMID 24178787Makimura H, Murphy CA et al. · The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2014)HumanPMID 25038357Stanley TL, Feldpausch MN et al. · Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA (2014)HumanPMID 22050344Dhillon S · Spotlight on tesamorelin in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy (2012)HumanPMID 22495074Stanley TL, Falutz J et al. · Reduction in visceral adiposity is associated with an improved metabolic profile in HIV-infected patients receiving tesamorelin.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2012)Human

Showing 20 of 28 papers. View all on PubMed →