Tesamorelin
Also known as: Egrifta · Egrifta SV · TH9507
Contents
MW
5135.87 Da
Amino Acids
44 AA
Half-Life
26 minutes (stimulates GH for 2-4 hours)
Route
SubQ
CAS
218949-48-5
Formula
C221H366N72O67S
Amino Acid Sequence
YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDI-NH2
Mechanism of Action
Tesamorelin is a synthetic 44-amino acid GHRH analog — the ONLY GHRH analog currently FDA-approved for any indication. It corresponds to the full GHRH(1-44) sequence with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus for enhanced stability.
MECHANISM: Binds GHRHR on pituitary somatotrophs → cAMP/PKA → GH release. Same fundamental pathway as CJC-1295 and sermorelin but with the full 44-amino acid GHRH sequence (vs 29 for CJC-1295/sermorelin).
FDA APPROVAL: Approved as Egrifta (and Egrifta SV) specifically for HIV-associated lipodystrophy — reducing excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) that accumulates with antiretroviral therapy. Phase III trial showed 15–18% VAT reduction.
COGNITIVE: Stanley et al. 2016 showed tesamorelin improved verbal memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment — GH/IGF-1 elevation supporting hippocampal neuroplasticity. This cognitive application is under active investigation.
The only currently available FDA-approved option for practitioners who want GHRH-based GH optimization within the regulatory framework.
Dosing Protocol
Low Dose
███ – ███ mcg/day
Standard Dose
███ mcg/day
High Dose
███ – ███ mcg/day
Dosing protocols are for paid members
Get exact dosing ranges, injection frequency, timing rationale, and reconstitution math.
Get Clinical Access — $79/moFrequency
Once daily SubQ.
Half-Life
26 minutes (stimulates GH for 2-4 hours)
Reconstitution Guide
Full reconstitution protocol with BAC water volumes, concentration math, and units-to-draw per dose is available on the Clinical plan.
Unlock reconstitution guide →Clinical Warnings
FDA warnings: fluid retention, arthralgia, injection site reactions.
May worsen glucose intolerance.
IGF-1 monitoring required.
Cancer contraindication.
Hypersensitivity reactions.
Expensive (branded).
Contraindications
Absolute
Active malignancy
Pregnancy
Pituitary surgery/disease
Hypersensitivity
Relative Cautions
Diabetes
History of cancer
Fluid retention disorders
Side Effect Profile
Mild
- ●Injection site reactions
- ●Mild edema
- ●Arthralgia
Moderate
- ●Peripheral edema
- ●Myalgia
- ●Paresthesia
- ●Increased blood glucose
Severe (Rare)
- ●Fluid retention
- ●Hypersensitivity reactions
Synergistic Peptides
Common Stacks
CJC-1295
Ipamorelin
Research Status
FDA APPROVED. PMID 20357177 (Falutz 2010 NEJM): Phase III HIV lipodystrophy — 15–18% VAT reduction. PMID 29912869 (Stanley 2016): Cognitive improvement in MCI — verbal memory enhancement. One of only two FDA-approved GH secretagogues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Tesamorelin work?
Tesamorelin is a synthetic 44-amino acid GHRH analog — the ONLY GHRH analog currently FDA-approved for any indication. It corresponds to the full GHRH(1-44) sequence with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus for enhanced stability. MECHANISM: Binds GHRHR on pituitary somatotrophs → cAMP/PKA → GH release. Same fundamental pathway as CJC-1295 and sermorelin but with the full 44-amino acid GHRH sequence (vs 29 for CJC-1295/sermorelin). FDA APPROVAL: Approved as Egrifta (and Egri
What is the standard dose of Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin dosing protocols are available with a ClinPep Clinical subscription. Dosing varies by indication and patient factors — consult a licensed healthcare provider. General frequency: Once daily SubQ.
What is the half-life of Tesamorelin?
The half-life of Tesamorelin is 26 minutes (stimulates GH for 2-4 hours). This determines optimal dosing frequency and timing.
Who should not use Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is absolutely contraindicated in: Active malignancy; Pregnancy; Pituitary surgery/disease; Hypersensitivity. Use with caution in: Diabetes; History of cancer; Fluid retention disorders.
What are the side effects of Tesamorelin?
Common mild side effects include: Injection site reactions, Mild edema, Arthralgia. Moderate effects: Peripheral edema, Myalgia, Paresthesia, Increased blood glucose.
What peptides stack well with Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is commonly stacked with: CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin.
How do you reconstitute Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is reconstituted with bacteriostatic water. Exact volumes, concentrations, and units-to-draw calculations are available in the ClinPep Clinical plan. Always follow your compounding pharmacy's instructions.
How long should you cycle Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin cycle protocols vary by indication. Detailed cycle length, on/off schedules, and monitoring guidelines are available with ClinPep Clinical access. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized cycling guidance.
References & Citations
10 PubMed studies · 3 clinical trials
Analysis of growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogs in urine using nano liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/orbitrap mass spectrometry.
Uçaktürk Ebru, Nemutlu Emirhan. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. 2026
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its synthetic analogs are considered performance-enhancing substances and are therefore prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The analysis of G
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Attributed to Medication Use: A Pharmacovigilance Study.
Mihalache Andrew, Volfson Emily, Huang Ryan, Zuo Kevin et al.. Cureus. 2025
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent compression neuropathy with multiple well-documented mechanical and systemic risk factors. However, the role of pharmacological agents in the development of
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in people with HIV.
Gattu Arijeet K, Fourman Lindsay T. Current opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2025
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is highly prevalent among people with HIV (PWH) and increasingly recognized as a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. The fiel
Effects of Tesamorelin on Neurocognitive Impairment in Persons With HIV and Abdominal Obesity.
Ellis Ronald J, Vaida Florin, Hu Keren, Dube Michael et al.. The Journal of infectious diseases. 2025
In people with HIV who are virally suppressed with antiretroviral therapy, abdominal obesity (AO) is linked to neurocognitive impairment (NCI), potentially due to visceral adiposity, inflammation, and
CROI 2024: Neuropsychiatric Complications in People With HIV.
Corley Michael J, Letendre Scott L, Nightingale Sam. Topics in antiviral medicine. 2024
The 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections featured new and impactful findings about neuropsychiatric complications in people with HIV and other infections. Reports included new
Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors.
Russo Samuel C, Ockene Mollie W, Arpante Allison K, Johnson Julia E et al.. AIDS (London, England). 2024
Tesamorelin is the only FDA-approved therapy to treat abdominal fat accumulation in people with HIV (PWH). Phase III clinical trials were conducted prior to the introduction of integrase inhibitors (I
Dietary regimens appear to possess significant effects on the development of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-associated metabolic syndrome.
Chege Boniface M, Mwangi Peter W, Githinji Charles G, Bukachi Frederick. PloS one. 2024
This study investigated the interactions between a low protein high calorie (LPHC) diet and an integrase inhibitor-containing antiretroviral drug regimen (INI-CR)in light of evidence suggesting that t
Chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of peptidic analytes (2-10 kDa) in doping control urine samples.
Thomas Andreas, Walpurgis Katja, Thevis Mario. Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS. 2024
Peptides with a molecular mass between 2 and 10 kDa that are prohibited in elite sports usually require dedicated sample preparation and mass spectrometric detection that commonly cannot be combi
Registered Clinical Trials
Egrifta Replacement and Sleep Disordered Breathing
Growth Hormone Dynamics and Cardiac Steatosis in HIV
Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIV
Symptom Indications
Full Clinical Access
Complete Tesamorelin Protocol
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This information is for educational and research reference purposes only. ClinPep does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. All protocols should be reviewed by a licensed healthcare provider.