Skip to content
yes i take peptides.
Library/For Energy/Tesamorelin
FDA-approved (Egrifta)⚠ WADA-banned+2 more★ Popular

Tesamorelin

FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. We read all 60 studies. The protocol is below.

Updated 19 May 2026Read 9 minEvidence ●●●●●Citations 60
+ Add to Stack
⚖ Compare side-by-side⎙ Print companion card

Free — puts Tesamorelin on your decision board.

The Tesamorelin Report · $19

Everything you need to start: dose, sourcing, safety, our verdict.

One purchase · yours forever

Built from 60 cited studies.

Status
FDA
Class
WADA-banned
Evidence
5/ 5●●●●●
FDA approval
2010 — Egrifta SV (HIV lipodystrophy ONLY)
Phase 3 trials (pivotal)
$19 ↓
Visceral fat reduction
$19 ↓
⚠ WADA-banned
Read this if
  • you're HIV-positive with lipodystrophy and your ID doc mentioned Egrifta
  • you're a 45-60 man with **CT-confirmed visceral adipose** (fat around the organs) and you're already on TRT
  • you have NAFLD/MASH and you've been tracking the visceral-fat / liver-fat data
Skip this if
  • you want it for **subcutaneous belly fat** (the pinch-an-inch, the love handles, the bottom-of-the-stomach pooch) — tesamorelin reduces *visceral* fat around the organs, not the kind you can see in the mirror; the trial endpoint is CT-measured, not waist size
  • you have active or recent malignancy
  • you have severe diabetic retinopathy or active pituitary disease
  • you compete in a tested sport — WADA-banned
The 4 ways you can buy Tesamorelin
Brand
✓
FDA-approved Rx
$2,400–$3,100/mo cash
The trial drug; often covered by HIV-specific insurance pathways.
Compounded 503A
✓
Rx
$200–$500/mo
The off-label visceral-fat path at hormone clinics (Marek, Hone, Defy).
RUO (research-only)
✓
Sold 'for research only'
$300–$450/mo
Unstable post-reconstitution; the bodybuilder fallback when clinic is too high.
Gray market
✓
Unregulated overseas import
$110–$120/mo
Same upstream molecule as RUO. Crypto/Wise pay; identity-uncertain vials priced below the per-mg f…
Click any lane for the full Sourcing breakdown.
First 90 days · Tesamorelin
Weeks 1–2
Sleep depth shifts within days for the GH-secretagogue class (CJC, ipamorelin, sermorelin, hexarelin). If sleep hasn't deepened by week 2, the rest of the protocol probably won't move either.
Weeks 4–8
Subjective recovery and energy improvements. Body composition shifts modestly — slight muscle gain, slight fat loss if diet allows.
Week 12 — decide
Bloodwork: IGF-1 is the objective check. If IGF-1 hasn't moved, the protocol isn't working at this dose. Side effect bookkeeping: water retention, joint stiffness, any glucose changes.
Quit if
  • IGF-1 climbs above ~300 ng/mL (cancer-risk territory at the upper end).
  • Significant water retention or new carpal-tunnel-style symptoms.
  • New or worsening insulin resistance (fasting glucose creep).
  • 12 weeks with no IGF-1 movement and no subjective change.
Identity

What it is.

Tesamorelin is a stabilized analog of GHRH — same receptor as sermorelin, but engineered with an N-terminal modification that resists enzymatic breakdown and gives a longer, cleaner GH pulse.

It was approved by the FDA in 2010 as Egrifta, by Theratechnologies, for one specific indication: HIV-associated lipodystrophy — the visceral fat accumulation that some people on long-term antiretroviral therapy develop. That's the only approved use, and the trials behind it are real.

It's prescription-only in the US. Off-label, it's used by clinicians for visceral-fat reduction in non-HIV patients and for general GH-axis tuning. versions exist through 503A pharmacies. WADA-banned in and out of competition.

Unlike most peptides on this site, tesamorelin has the unusual distinction of having directly produced brain-imaging data in humans — small trials in HIV patients with cognitive complaints showed measurable changes.

TL;DR

TL;DR. 30-second version.

The compressed verdict — what Tesamorelin actually is, what the human evidence shows, and the watch-for in three bullets. Locked.

Get the report · $19 ↓
Mechanism

Mechanism.

Mechanism · in the Tesamorelin report

How the molecule actually works — receptor profile, downstream signaling, what to expect mechanistically.

Get the report · $19 ↓
Evidence

Evidence. What we actually know in humans.

Evidence · in the Tesamorelin report

The trial breakdown — phase, n, primary endpoint, who funded, what hit, what didn't.

Get the report · $19 ↓
Human-Evidence Factbox
FDA approval
2010 — Egrifta SV (HIV lipodystrophy ONLY)
Phase 3 trials (pivotal)
$19 ↓
Visceral fat reduction
$19 ↓
Subcutaneous fat reduction
$19 ↓
IGF-1 rise
$19 ↓
Compounded vs brand
$19 ↓
WADA status
$19 ↓
Brand cost (Egrifta SV)
$19 ↓
Dose

Dose. The actual protocol.

Dose · in the Tesamorelin report

The specific protocol — dose, titration schedule, cycle pattern, frequency, route.

We read 60 studies to write this report.
Get the report · $19 ↓
Sourcing

Sourcing. Where the cohort actually buys.

Sourcing · in the Tesamorelin report

Sourcing breakdown — vendor methodology, red flags, our published test results, COA checklist.

We read 60 studies to write this report.
Get the report · $19 ↓
Safety

Safety. Side effects.

Safety · in the Tesamorelin report

The watch-for list — contraindications, drug interactions, monitoring labs, when to stop.

Get the report · $19 ↓
Editorial Position

Editorial position.

Editorial Position · in the Tesamorelin report

Our editorial position — explicit yes / no / depends, with the reasoning behind it.

Get the report · $19 ↓
Citations

Citations.

  1. 01— Tesamorelin. 2018. PMID: 31644039.
  2. 02Russo SC, et al. Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors. AIDS (London, England). 2024;38(12):1758-1764. PMID: 38905488.
  3. 03Grunfeld C, et al. Tesamorelin. Nature reviews. Drug discovery. 2011;10(2):95-6. PMID: 21283099.
  4. 04O'Neal R. Tesamorelin update. BETA : bulletin of experimental treatments for AIDS : a publication of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. 2010;22(4):16-9. PMID: 21591600.
  5. 05Dhillon S. Tesamorelin: a review of its use in the management of HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Drugs. 2011;71(8):1071-91. PMID: 21668043.
+Show all 60 citations
  1. 06Spooner LM, et al. Tesamorelin: a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The Annals of pharmacotherapy. 2012;46(2):240-7. PMID: 22298602.
  2. 07Wang Y, et al. Tesamorelin, a human growth hormone releasing factor analogue. Expert opinion on investigational drugs. 2009;18(3):303-10. PMID: 19243281.
  3. 08Fourman LT, et al. Effects of tesamorelin on hepatic transcriptomic signatures in HIV-associated NAFLD. JCI insight. 2020;5(16). PMID: 32701508.
  4. 09Lake JE, et al. Tesamorelin improves fat quality independent of changes in fat quantity. AIDS (London, England). 2021;35(9):1395-1402. PMID: 33756511.
  5. 10Dhillon S. Spotlight on tesamorelin in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy. 2011;25(6):405-8. PMID: 22050344.
  6. 11Ellis RJ, et al. Effects of Tesamorelin on Neurocognitive Impairment in Persons With HIV and Abdominal Obesity. The Journal of infectious diseases. 2025;231(5):1230-1238. PMID: 39813152.
  7. 12Fourman LT, et al. Delineating tesamorelin response pathways in HIV-associated NAFLD using a targeted proteomic and transcriptomic approach. Scientific reports. 2021;11(1):10485. PMID: 34006921.
  8. 13Rahman F, et al. Effect 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. 2022;7(1):e40. PMID: 36845310.
  9. 14Tomlinson B. Drug evaluation: tesamorelin, a synthetic human growth hormone releasing factor. Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000). 2006;7(10):936-45. PMID: 17086939.
  10. 15Rahman OF, et al. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews. 2026;10(1). PMID: 41490200.
  11. 16Audsley J, et al. Tesamorelin, liver fat, and NAFLD in the setting of HIV. The lancet. HIV. 2019;6(12):e808-e809. PMID: 31611037.
  12. 17González-Sales M, et al. Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tesamorelin in HIV-infected patients and healthy subjects. Clinical pharmacokinetics. 2015;54(3):285-94. PMID: 25358450.
  13. 18Mayfield CK, et al. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians. The American journal of sports medicine. 2026;54(1):223-229. PMID: 41476424.
  14. 19Stanley TL, et al. Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial. The lancet. HIV. 2019;6(12):e821-e830. PMID: 31611038.
  15. 20Fourman LT, et al. Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV. AIDS (London, England). 2017;31(16):2253-2259. PMID: 28832410.
  16. 21Falutz J, et al. Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2010;95(9):4291-304. PMID: 20554713.
  17. 22Adrian S, et al. The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV. The Journal of frailty & aging. 2019;8(3):154-159. PMID: 31237318.
  18. 23Stanley TL, et al. Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312(4):380-9. PMID: 25038357.
  19. 24Stanley TL, et al. Effects of tesamorelin on inflammatory markers in HIV patients with excess abdominal fat: relationship with visceral adipose reduction. AIDS (London, England). 2011;25(10):1281-8. PMID: 21516030.
  20. 25Makimura H, et al. The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2014;99(1):338-43. PMID: 24178787.
  21. 26McLarnon A. Neuroendocrinology: Tesamorelin can improve cognitive function. Nature reviews. Endocrinology. 2012;8(10):568. PMID: 22926095.
  22. 27Badran AS, et al. Body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic, and safety outcomes of Tesamorelin, a GHRH analogue, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obesity research & clinical practice. 2026;20(1):2-12. PMID: 41545261.
  23. 28Stanley TL, et al. Reduction in visceral adiposity is associated with an improved metabolic profile in HIV-infected patients receiving tesamorelin. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2012;54(11):1642-51. PMID: 22495074.
  24. 29González-Sales M, et al. Population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of tesamorelin in HIV-infected patients and healthy subjects. Journal of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. 2015;42(3):287-99. PMID: 25895899.
  25. 30Mangili A, et al. Predictors of Treatment Response to Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Analog, in HIV-Infected Patients with Excess Abdominal Fat. PloS one. 2015;10(10):e0140358. PMID: 26457580.
  26. 31Falutz J, et al. Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999). 2010;53(3):311-22. PMID: 20101189.
  27. 32Bedimo R. Growth hormone and tesamorelin in the management of HIV-associated lipodystrophy. HIV/AIDS (Auckland, N.Z.). 2011;3:69-79. PMID: 22096409.
  28. 33Teng S, et al. Impact of Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor (GRF) Analogue, on the Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin and Ritonavir in Healthy Volunteers. Clinical pharmacology in drug development. 2013;2(3):237-45. PMID: 27121785.
  29. 34Falutz J, et al. Long-term safety and effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation. AIDS (London, England). 2008;22(14):1719-28. PMID: 18690162.
  30. 35Patel A, et al. Tesamorelin: A hope for ART-induced lipodystrophy. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences. 2011;3(2):319-20. PMID: 21687371.
  31. 36Clemmons DR, et al. Safety and metabolic effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. PloS one. 2017;12(6):e0179538. PMID: 28617838.
  32. 37Memdouh S, et al. Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs. Drug testing and analysis. 2021;13(11-12):1871-1887. PMID: 34665524.
  33. 38Mateo MG, et al. Tesamorelin for the treatment of excess abdominal fat in HIV-1-infected patients with lipodystrophy. Expert review of endocrinology & metabolism. 2011;6(1):21-30. PMID: 30764032.
  34. 39— Side effects and complications. Tesamorelin--results from Phase III. TreatmentUpdate. 2007;19(3):6-7. PMID: 17575575.
  35. 40Berger D. Tesamorelin for fat accumulation. 52-week effects and safety of tesamorelin (growth hormone releasing factor) in HIV patients with fat accumulation. Positively aware : the monthly journal of the Test Positive Aware Network. 2008;19(3):31. PMID: 18724445.
  36. 41Grodeck B. The next generation of human growth hormone. How Serostim and tesamorelin measure up. Positively aware : the monthly journal of the Test Positive Aware Network. 2008;19(5):28-32. PMID: 18828236.
  37. 42Sekhar RV. Treatment of dyslipidemia in HIV. Current atherosclerosis reports. 2015;17(4):493. PMID: 25702057.
  38. 43Traynor K. FDA approves tesamorelin for HIV-related lipodystrophy. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 2010;67(24):2082. PMID: 21115997.
  39. 44Falutz J, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. The New England journal of medicine. 2007;357(23):2359-70. PMID: 18057338.
  40. 45Falutz J. Tesamorelin: a novel therapeutic option for HIV/HAART-associated increased visceral adipose tissue. Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998). 2011;47(6):419-30. PMID: 21695284.
  41. 46— Side effects and complications. Clinical trials of tesamorelin in Canada. TreatmentUpdate. 2007;19(3):7. PMID: 17571443.
  42. 47Gattu AK, et al. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in people with HIV. Current opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2025;20(4):350-358. PMID: 40397552.
  43. 48Fourman LT, et al. Approach to the Patient With Lipodystrophy. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2022;107(6):1714-1726. PMID: 35137140.
  44. 49Braun LR, et al. Fibroblast growth factor 21 decreases after liver fat reduction via growth hormone augmentation. Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society. 2017;37:1-6. PMID: 29031905.
  45. 50Hussar DA. New drugs 2012, part 2. Nursing. 2012;42(7):38-44; quiz 44-6. PMID: 22692631.
  46. 51Stanley TL, et al. Effects of a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog on endogenous GH pulsatility and insulin sensitivity in healthy men. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2011;96(1):150-8. PMID: 20943777.
  47. 52Sattler FR. Growth hormone in the aging male. Best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism. 2013;27(4):541-55. PMID: 24054930.
  48. 53Vantyghem MC, et al. How to diagnose a lipodystrophy syndrome. Annales d'endocrinologie. 2012;73(3):170-89. PMID: 22748602.
  49. 54Corley MJ, et al. CROI 2024: Neuropsychiatric Complications in People With HIV. Topics in antiviral medicine. 2024;32(4):513-522. PMID: 39746672.
  50. 55Mihalache A, et al. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Attributed to Medication Use: A Pharmacovigilance Study. Cureus. 2025;17(5):e83972. PMID: 40510111.
  51. 56Rochira V, et al. Growth hormone deficiency and human immunodeficiency virus. Best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism. 2017;31(1):91-111. PMID: 28477736.
  52. 57Yen DW, et al. Causes and outcomes of hepatic fibrosis in persons living with HIV. Current opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2022;17(6):359-367. PMID: 36165079.
  53. 58Beach R, et al. Differing Presentations of Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat in People Living With HIV: Two Clinical Cases Highlighting Distinct Therapeutic Pathways With Tesamorelin and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2026;82(Supplement_4):S87-S91. PMID: 42139091.
  54. 59Arora G, et al. Pharmacologic Treatments for the Preservation of Lean Body Mass During Weight Loss. Journal of clinical medicine. 2026;15(2). PMID: 41598480.
  55. 60Jain S, et al. Pathophysiology of GHRH-growth hormone-IGF1 axis in HIV/AIDS. Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders. 2013;14(2):113-8. PMID: 23657561.
The Tesamorelin Report · $19

Everything you need to start.

Dose, sourcing, safety, our verdict. One purchase. Yours forever.

Built from 60 cited studies.

Or get every report. All reports — $99 once · Pro — $29/mo.
Compare tiers →