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Tesamorelin.app

Definition

What is tesamorelin?

Tesamorelin is a synthetic peptide analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH, also called GRF). It stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone[1,2]. In the United States it is an FDA-approved prescription medicine, sold as EGRIFTA SV and EGRIFTA WR[5,6].

By Tesamorelin.app editorial teamSources reviewed How we source

The short answer

  • Type of molecule: a 44-amino-acid peptide. It copies human GHRH and adds a hexenoyl group to the first amino acid[1,3].
  • Target: the GHRH receptor on growth hormone-producing cells of the pituitary[1].
  • Measured effect on hormones: increased growth hormone secretion, followed by higher IGF-1 and IGFBP-3[1].
  • Regulatory status: approved in 2010 to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy[4,1].
  • Development code: TH9507, the name used in the trial registrations[7].

Is tesamorelin a peptide?

Yes. Tesamorelin is a 44-residue peptide with the sequence of human GHRH(1–44) and a leucine amide at its C-terminus. It is modified at the N-terminus with a (3E)-hex-3-enoyl group[3,2,1]. The drug substance is formulated as an acetate salt[1]. Full identifiers are on the molecular data page.

How it works, in brief

Tesamorelin binds GHRH receptors with potency similar to the natural hormone. The pituitary then makes and releases its own growth hormone in pulses[1]. The mechanism explorer walks through each step.

What it has been studied for

The pivotal trials studied visceral fat in adults with HIV[8]. Smaller trials have looked at liver fat[9], obesity without HIV[10] and cognition[11]. Only the HIV abdominal-fat use is approved. See the trial explorer for each study's design and limitations.

References

  1. 1.EGRIFTA WR (tesamorelin) for injection, Prescribing Information. Revised 03/2025; DailyMed SPL version 2 (published 2026-08-03). DailyMed · accessed 2026-11-11
  2. 2.PubChem Compound Summary for CID 16137828, Tesamorelin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem · accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3.UniProtKB P01286. Somatoliberin (GHRH), Homo sapiens. UniProt · accessed 2026-11-11
  4. 4.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Approval letter, NDA 022505, EGRIFTA (tesamorelin for injection). November 10, 2010. FDA approval letter (PDF) · accessed 2026-11-11
  5. 5.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Drugs@FDA: application 022505 (EGRIFTA), approval history and supplements. Drugs@FDA · accessed 2026-11-11
  6. 6.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Supplement approval letter, BLA 022505/S-020 (EGRIFTA WR). March 25, 2025. FDA letter (PDF) · accessed 2026-11-11
  7. 7.ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT00123253. Phase 3 placebo-controlled study of TH9507 in HIV patients with excess abdominal fat accumulation (label Study 1). ClinicalTrials.gov · accessed 2026-11-11
  8. 8.Falutz J, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:2359-70. PubMed · PMID 18057338 · doi:10.1056/NEJMoa072375 · accessed 2026-11-11
  9. 9.Stanley TL, et al. Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial. Lancet HIV. 2019;6:e821-e830. PubMed · PMID 31611038 · doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(19)30338-8 · accessed 2026-11-11
  10. 10.Makimura H, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in obese subjects with reduced growth hormone secretion: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97:4769-79. PubMed · PMID 23015655 · doi:10.1210/jc.2012-2794 · accessed 2026-11-11
  11. 11.Baker LD, et al. Effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone on cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults: results of a controlled trial. Arch Neurol. 2012;69:1420-9. PubMed · PMID 22869065 · doi:10.1001/archneurol.2012.1970 · accessed 2026-11-11