Scientific context only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use.
At a glance
Stabilised GHRH analog (growth-hormone-releasing hormone). FDA-approved in 2010 as Egrifta for reduction of abdominal lipohypertrophy in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Not approved for the general population.
FDA-approved in 2010 as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. In 2019 Egrifta SV (new formulation) was approved. Off-label use outside this indication is not covered by registration trials.
Tesamorelin is an N-terminally modified 44-amino-acid version of human GHRH(1-44). A 3-hexenoyl modification protects against rapid dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV cleavage. Binding to the pituitary GHRH receptor stimulates endogenous pulsatile growth-hormone secretion and consequently hepatic IGF-1 production.
02
Evidence at a glance
Reading note. The distribution shows on which evidence tier each observation sits. Strong colours mark stronger evidence — weaker tiers are deliberately visible, not hidden.
3 observations · single evidence tier
Human RCT
3
03
What the studies show
Human RCT
Mensch
Falutz J. et al. 2007
Reduction in visceral adipose tissue (VAT, measured by CT) in HIV patients with lipodystrophy over 26 weeks
What does NOT follow: Effect was limited to VAT; subcutaneous fat did not decrease significantly. Re-accumulation after discontinuation was documented.
Human RCT
Mensch
Stanley TL. et al. 2019
Reduction of liver fat (intrahepatic triglyceride) in HIV patients with NAFLD over 12 months reported
What does NOT follow: Study population narrowly defined; generalisation to NAFLD without HIV has not been studied.
Human RCT
Mensch
Increase in IGF-1 levels documented across all clinical studies
What does NOT follow: In some patients IGF-1 levels above the reference range were reached — FDA label recommends regular monitoring.
05
Pharmacokinetics
Theoretical concentration curve at a half-life of 0.4 h. Pure pharmacokinetic model — not a dosing recommendation.
Which routes of administration the available studies describe — neutral reporting, not a usage guide.
Subcutaneous
In all registration trials administered once daily subcutaneously (abdomen).
07
Known adverse events from studies
Factual reporting of what studies observed. Not a safety statement for individual use.
Human RCT
Local injection-site reactions
Most common documented adverse event in the registration trial.
häufig
Human RCT
Glucose intolerance
Class effect of GH-stimulating substances; therefore glucose monitoring recommended in the FDA label.
gelegentlich
07b
Interactions & combinations
Documented interactions and contraindications from studies, prescribing information and guidelines. Where no data exists, this is stated.
Reporting of risks, NOT a combination guide. The absence of an entry does not mean „safe to combine“ but „not sufficiently studied“.
No documented interactions recorded
We have not yet found robustly documented interactions for this peptide. This does NOT mean none exist — the data is limited.
08
Risks & hygiene aspects in the literature
What regulatory and scientific literature reports on risks, sterility and identity in non-pharmaceutical sources — descriptive, not a hygiene guide.
Contraindication in active malignancy
FDA prescribing information lists active malignancy as a contraindication due to the mitogenic effect of the IGF-1 axis.
11
Legal status by country
Country
Status
Note
Checked
United States
Prescription
FDA-approved in 2010 as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. In 2019 Egrifta SV (new formulation) was approved. Off-label use outside this indication is not covered by registration trials.
2026-05-22
Germany
Unapproved
No EMA approval. Single-patient import via §73 AMG only in individual cases.
2026-05-22
Canada
Prescription
Health Canada has approved Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
2026-05-22
12
Reconstitution calculator
Pure mg/mL maths — works like a calculator. Not a usage recommendation.
Peptides ship as a dry powder. Once dissolved in a liquid (reconstitution), this calculator answers a single question: how much substance is in one millilitre of solution afterwards?
1Enter the vial's substance amount (printed on the label).
2Enter how much solvent you add.
3Result = concentration in mg per mL.
Printed on the label
/
Liquid you add
=
2.50
mg / mL
5 mg in 2 mL gives 2.50 mg/mL — each millilitre contains 2.50 mg of substance.