Synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, FDA-approved as Egrifta® for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Researched for visceral fat reduction.
Last Updated: May 2026
Tesamorelin is a synthetic 44-amino-acid GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) analog FDA-approved as Egrifta for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. It was approved by the FDA in 2010 and is the only GHRH analog with an active FDA-approved obesity-adjacent indication. Research-grade tesamorelin is also sold by third-party laboratories for laboratory use only — that material is not the FDA-approved prescription product.
Tesamorelin is human GHRH(1-44) with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid modification that resists DPP-4 degradation, stimulating pituitary GH release through binding to the GHRH receptor. Unlike GHRP/ghrelin-receptor agonists like ipamorelin, tesamorelin acts upstream on the GHRH axis, preserving pulsatile GH secretion patterns. Half-life is approximately 26 minutes — short enough that daily subcutaneous dosing maintains physiological GH pulses without saturating receptors. Evidence level: Human RCT (Phase 3 for HIV-associated lipodystrophy).
In FDA pivotal trials for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, tesamorelin 2 mg daily produced approximately 15% reduction in visceral adipose tissue at 26 weeks versus placebo, with sustained reductions through 52 weeks. IGF-1 levels increased modestly, with monitoring required to keep them within physiological range. Outside the FDA indication, tesamorelin has been studied in NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and HIV-associated cognitive impairment with promising but not yet pivotal data. Evidence level: Human RCT (Phase 3 for HIV lipodystrophy; Phase 2 for other indications).
Tesamorelin, sermorelin, and the CJC-1295 family are all GHRH analogs but differ on half-life, FDA status, and target indication. Tesamorelin's modification provides extended half-life via DPP-4 resistance; sermorelin uses the unmodified GHRH(1-29) sequence with shorter activity; CJC-1295 with DAC dramatically extends half-life via albumin binding for weekly dosing.
| GHRH analog | Sequence basis | Half-life | FDA status | Dosing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesamorelin | GHRH(1-44) + hexenoic acid | ~26 min | FDA-approved (Egrifta) | Daily SC |
| Sermorelin | GHRH(1-29) unmodified | ~10–20 min | FDA-approved (Geref, discontinued) | Daily SC |
| CJC-1295 without DAC | GHRH(1-29) + 4 substitutions | ~30 min | Research-use only | Multiple daily SC |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | GHRH(1-29) + DAC tether | ~6–8 days | Research-use only | Weekly SC |
The most common tesamorelin side effects in Egrifta pivotal trials were injection-site reactions (24%), arthralgia (13%), peripheral edema, and elevated IGF-1. Glucose intolerance and new-onset diabetes are monitored signals; tesamorelin can reduce insulin sensitivity in some patients, particularly those with pre-existing risk factors. Discontinuation rates in trials were low. The full safety dataset is in the Egrifta prescribing information. Evidence level: Human RCT (Phase 3); FDA prescribing information.
Tesamorelin is FDA-approved as Egrifta (2010) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, with the Egrifta SV reformulation approved in 2019. It is available by prescription through specialty pharmacies. Research-grade tesamorelin sold by third-party laboratories is not the FDA-approved prescription product — that material is supplied for research use only and does not carry pharmacy-grade quality controls. For prescription-vs-research-grade context, see peptide regulatory status by country.
Because the FDA approval applies to the prescription Egrifta product — not to research-grade tesamorelin sold by third-party labs, which is a separate supply chain with its own quality risks. Research-grade material is subject to wider purity variance, occasional underdosing, and inconsistent endotoxin control. Independent HPLC purity testing and mass spectrometry identity confirmation are the only meaningful purity signals a research-grade vendor can provide. Guidance in how-to-test-peptides hub.
Peptigrity purchases tesamorelin vials anonymously at standard customer pricing, sends them to ISO-accredited third-party labs for HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis, and publishes the unedited certificate of analysis. The lab test table above this section shows the cross-shop dataset. Tests come from labs including Janoshik Analytical, Freedom Diagnostics, and Chromate. Methodology in how we calculate trust scores.
The only reliable purity signal is an independent third-party HPLC certificate of analysis from a lab the vendor does not own or pay. Peptigrity publishes independent tesamorelin test results from ISO-accredited labs in the table above. For COA interpretation, see red flags in peptide certificates of analysis.
Research-grade tesamorelin is legal to purchase as a research chemical for laboratory use in most jurisdictions, but it is not approved for human consumption and is not the FDA-approved prescription product Egrifta. Country breakdown in peptide legal status guide.
Tesamorelin's FDA approval is specifically for visceral adipose tissue (VAT) reduction in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, where excess abdominal fat is a documented complication. GH and IGF-1 elevation preferentially mobilize visceral fat over subcutaneous, which is why GHRH-analog approaches have been studied for VAT-specific reduction outside the HIV indication as well.
Tesamorelin produces visceral-fat-specific reduction through GH/IGF-1 axis elevation; GLP-1 compounds like semaglutide or tirzepatide produce broader weight loss through appetite suppression and metabolic modulation. They are not mechanistically interchangeable; tesamorelin's effects on overall body weight are modest, while GLP-1 compounds drive larger total weight reductions.
No. Peptigrity is an independent review platform, not a medical authority — and research-grade tesamorelin is not approved for human consumption. The FDA-approved Egrifta dose for HIV-associated lipodystrophy is 2 mg subcutaneous daily, administered under physician supervision with IGF-1 monitoring. Anyone considering tesamorelin should consult a licensed physician.
Tesamorelin and other GHRH analogs are on the WADA Prohibited List (Section S2 — Peptide Hormones) and competitive athletes face sanctions for use. Detection methods for GHRH analogs in anti-doping testing have improved substantially. For broader drug-testing context, see do peptides show up on drug tests.
This section is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Research-grade tesamorelin sold for laboratory use is not the FDA-approved prescription product (Egrifta). Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any peptide or research compound. Peptigrity is an independent review platform and does not sell, endorse, or recommend specific products or vendors.
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