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PeptideHormone

Tesamorelin

An FDA-approved GHRH analog that selectively trims visceral fat.

Also known as Egrifta.

AnalogClinicalBased on Growth-hormone-releasing hormoneCompare with GHRH Compare lineage

Proof the axis can be addressed at its top: ask the pituitary properly and the body still does the arithmetic itself.

Identity

Class
Stabilized GHRH(1-44) analog
Source
Synthetic analog of GHRH
Receptor
GHRH receptor (GHRHR), a class B GPCR

Key properties

Evidence floorClinicalREF1CLIN1
Molecular weight
≈ 5,136 Da
REF
Half-life (native)
~26-38 min (subcutaneous)
CLIN
Model dosing

Approximate values for the native hormone; engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting. Each figure carries its own provenance tier, and the floor is the weakest of them - the Standard.

Mechanism

Tesamorelin is a stabilized analog of human GHRH(1-44) that stimulates pituitary GH secretion and raises IGF-1 while retaining the endogenous pulsatile pattern. In randomized trials it selectively reduced visceral adipose tissue, which is the basis of its approval for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Reference notes

  • FDA-approved (2010) — the most clinically established compound in this GH-secretagogue group.
  • Its signature clinical effect is a reduction in visceral, not subcutaneous, fat.
  • Because the GH is released through the pituitary, it stays feedback-regulated rather than overriding the axis.

Common questions

What is Tesamorelin?
An FDA-approved GHRH analog that selectively trims visceral fat. Structurally it is Stabilized GHRH(1-44) analog.
How does Tesamorelin work?
Tesamorelin is a stabilized analog of human GHRH(1-44) that stimulates pituitary GH secretion and raises IGF-1 while retaining the endogenous pulsatile pattern. In randomized trials it selectively reduced visceral adipose tissue, which is the basis of its approval for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
How strong is the evidence for Tesamorelin?
PeptideHormone grades Tesamorelin at the "Clinical" evidence tier — it is supported by human clinical trials, though still maturing or narrower in scope. It is catalogued as an engineered analog built on an endogenous hormone, and the tier is an editorial judgment about the public literature that can change as the science does.
What is the half-life of Tesamorelin?
The reported circulating half-life of Tesamorelin is ~26-38 min (subcutaneous).
Is Tesamorelin the same as Egrifta?
Egrifta is a brand name of Tesamorelin — the same molecule in different approved presentations. This page is the molecule reference, not a prescribing guide.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

  1. 1.Tesamorelin: a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue for HIV-associated lipodystrophy · The Annals of pharmacotherapy, 2012 · PMID 22298602
  2. 2.Tesamorelin: a review of its use in the management of HIV-associated lipodystrophy · Drugs, 2011 · PMID 21668043
  3. 3.Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors · AIDS (London, England), 2024 · PMID 38905488

External references

Tesamorelin in the public knowledge graph — the same entity resolved across the authoritative chemistry and protein databases.