For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption. For Research Use Only. Not for Human Consumption. Not for diagnostic, therapeutic or medical use. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Tesamorelin: One Approved Product, One Narrow Use
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Key points
- A 44-amino-acid stabilized GHRH analog, distinct from the 29-amino-acid sermorelin.
- The FDA-approved product Egrifta is approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only.
- Wellness or body-composition use in people without HIV is not an established indication.
What it is
Tesamorelin is a stabilized analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone with 44 amino acids and a weight of about 5,136 daltons. It is longer and chemically modified compared with sermorelin's 29-amino-acid fragment, so the two should not be treated as interchangeable.
How researchers study it
In research settings it is used to study the pituitary growth-hormone axis and GHRH-receptor signaling. It is also a useful point of comparison with other GHRH analogs.
What the evidence shows
The best evidence is attached to one approved indication, which gives tesamorelin a moderate evidence rating. That evidence does not extend to other uses, and nothing in this article is a claim about any effect in people.
Regulatory status
The FDA has approved a tesamorelin product, Egrifta, for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only. This research-use-only material is not that product and is not prescribing information. WADA prohibits tesamorelin.
