Viewing: 🌐 Global — general regulatory context regulatory framing only · all content visible everywhere · switch anytime
Compounds / Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin

Full name
Tesamorelin (stabilised GHRH analogue)
Mechanism
Synthetic stabilised analogue of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone. Stimulates endogenous GH and IGF-1; clinically reduces visceral adipose tissue.
Half-life
~25-40 min (effect via GH pulse)
Administration
subcutaneous
Typical dosage*
low: 1mg/day · typical: 2mg/day SC (approved dose) · high: 2mg/day
Researched for
HIV-associated lipodystrophy (approved), visceral fat reduction (research/off-label)
Reported side effects
arthralgia, injection-site reactions, fluid retention, glucose intolerance with chronic use
Interactions
may worsen glycaemic control, caution with active malignancy
Commonly combined
clinically used standalone
Scheduling
🇦🇺 AUNot ARTG-registered; prescription if compounded
🇺🇸 USFDA-approved (Egrifta) for HIV lipodystrophy
🇬🇧 UKNot routinely licensed
Regulatory status
FDA-approved (Egrifta) for a specific indication. Off-label/grey-market use is not the approved product.
Recon default
2000 mcg typical · 2 ml BAC · refrigerated per product/compounding

*Doses are commonly-reported figures from public sources, not a recommendation. Educational only.

20studies
9faqs
growth-hormoneapproved-drugbody-composition

Studies (20)

YearTitle / venueSource
2026Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · preclinical
PMID 41490200
2026Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians
The American journal of sports medicine · preclinical
PMID 41476424
2025Effects of Tesamorelin on Neurocognitive Impairment in Persons With HIV and Abdominal Obesity
The Journal of infectious diseases · human
PMID 39813152
2024Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors
AIDS (London, England) · human
PMID 38905488
2023Effect 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 · preclinical
PMID 36845310
2021Delineating tesamorelin response pathways in HIV-associated NAFLD using a targeted proteomic and transcriptomic approach
Scientific reports · preclinical
PMID 34006921
2021Tesamorelin improves fat quality independent of changes in fat quantity
AIDS (London, England) · preclinical
PMID 33756511
2020Effects of tesamorelin on hepatic transcriptomic signatures in HIV-associated NAFLD
JCI insight · human
PMID 32701508
2017Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV
AIDS (London, England) · preclinical
PMID 28832410
2016
· preclinical
PMID 30896905
2016
· preclinical
PMID 30920787
2015Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tesamorelin in HIV-infected patients and healthy subjects
Clinical pharmacokinetics · human
PMID 25358450
2012Tesamorelin
· preclinical
PMID 31644039
2012Tesamorelin: a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue for HIV-associated lipodystrophy
The Annals of pharmacotherapy · preclinical
PMID 22298602
2011Tesamorelin
Nature reviews. Drug discovery · preclinical
PMID 21283099
2011Tesamorelin: a review of its use in the management of HIV-associated lipodystrophy
Drugs · preclinical
PMID 21668043
2011Spotlight on tesamorelin in HIV-associated lipodystrophy
BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy · preclinical
PMID 22050344
2010Tesamorelin update
BETA : bulletin of experimental treatments for AIDS : a publication of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation · preclinical
PMID 21591600
2009Tesamorelin, a human growth hormone releasing factor analogue
Expert opinion on investigational drugs · preclinical
PMID 19243281
2006Drug evaluation: tesamorelin, a synthetic human growth hormone releasing factor
Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000) · preclinical
PMID 17086939

Questions (9)

What is Tesamorelin?

Tesamorelin (Tesamorelin (stabilised GHRH analogue)). Synthetic stabilised analogue of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone. Stimulates endogenous GH and IGF-1; clinically reduces visceral adipose tissue.

What is Tesamorelin used for?

Commonly discussed uses: HIV-associated lipodystrophy (approved), visceral fat reduction (research/off-label). There is both human and animal/preclinical research, though the depth and quality vary by indication. Note: most uses are not approved indications.

How does Tesamorelin work?

Mechanism: Synthetic stabilised analogue of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone. Stimulates endogenous GH and IGF-1; clinically reduces visceral adipose tissue.

Is Tesamorelin safe?

Reported considerations: arthralgia, injection-site reactions, fluid retention, glucose intolerance with chronic use. There is both human and animal/preclinical research, though the depth and quality vary by indication. FDA-approved (Egrifta) for a specific indication. Off-label/grey-market use is not the approved product. This is not a safety endorsement; safety data for unapproved compounds is incomplete.

What is the typical dose of Tesamorelin?

Commonly cited ranges (educational reference, not a recommendation): low 1mg/day, typical 2mg/day SC (approved dose), high 2mg/day. Administration: subcutaneous. Half-life: ~25-40 min (effect via GH pulse).

Is Tesamorelin legal in Australia?

Australian status: Not ARTG-registered; prescription if compounded. FDA-approved (Egrifta) for a specific indication. Off-label/grey-market use is not the approved product. General regulatory context: most active peptides are Schedule 4 and require a prescription; import via the Personal Importation Scheme requires a valid Australian prescription for prescription-only goods.

How do you store Tesamorelin?

Reconstitution/storage reference: approved product reconstituted per label; research vials vary; storage: refrigerated.

What is Tesamorelin commonly stacked with?

Commonly discussed combinations (anecdotal for unapproved compounds): clinically used standalone. Stacking increases interaction/safety uncertainty.