Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is a stabilized synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone that is FDA-approved (brand name Egrifta/Egrifta SV) specifically for the reduction of excess visceral adipose tissue in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, based on randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 trials.
This page is a research-orientation summary, not a dosing guide. For anything beyond general background, read the primary literature or talk to a qualified clinician — specifics like amount, frequency, or administration aren't something we publish here.
What it does & how it works
Tesamorelin is a GHRH(1-44) analog with an added trans-3-hexenoic acid group at the N-terminus, which increases its resistance to enzymatic degradation relative to native GHRH. It binds the pituitary GHRH receptor, activating the Gs/adenylate cyclase/cAMP/PKA signaling cascade to stimulate endogenous, pulsatile growth hormone secretion, which subsequently raises hepatic IGF-1 production. The resulting increase in GH/IGF-1 signaling promotes lipolysis preferentially in visceral fat depots, thought to relate to the higher density of GH receptors and greater lipolytic sensitivity of visceral versus subcutaneous adipocytes.
Typical results seen in research
In pooled phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, tesamorelin produced statistically significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue (on the order of 15-18% versus placebo) along with improvements in triglycerides and other markers, without significant loss of subcutaneous fat or worsening of limb fat; effects on visceral fat were shown to reverse after treatment discontinuation. It has also been studied for other indications, including NAFLD/NASH-associated liver fat and cognitive outcomes, but its FDA approval is specific to HIV-associated lipodystrophy and this remains its only approved use.
How it’s commonly used
Tesamorelin is administered by subcutaneous injection, typically self-administered by patients in the abdominal area as part of an ongoing regimen for as long as clinical benefit in reducing visceral fat is desired. Outside its approved indication, it is studied off-label/in research contexts for other conditions involving GH axis or visceral adiposity.
- New England Journal of Medicine · 2007 Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV
- Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes · 2010 Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data
- BioDrugs · 2011 Spotlight on tesamorelin in HIV-associated lipodystrophy
Curated from published literature for research orientation. Not an exhaustive review, and not a substitute for reading primary sources.
- Theratechnologies Receives FDA Approval for EGRIFTA WR (Tesamorelin F8) to Treat Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat —
- Tesamorelin's Second Phase 3 Trial Hits Its Primary Endpoint —