Compound Profiles
Tesamorelin: A GHRH Analog in Published Clinical Research
Healthy Aminos Research Team · · 7 min read
Molecular Profile
[Tesamorelin](/peptides/growth-hormone/tesamorelin) is a synthetic GHRH analog consisting of the full 44-amino-acid human GHRH sequence with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus. MW: 5135.9 Da (CAS: 218949-48-5). The N-terminal modification protects against enzymatic degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV).
Tesamorelin is the only GHRH analog to have received FDA approval (under the brand name Egrifta, approved in 2010 for HIV-associated lipodystrophy).
Published Clinical Research
### Phase 3 Trial
[Falutz et al. (2010)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20554713/) published the pivotal phase 3 trial results. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled HIV-infected adults with excess abdominal fat. The primary endpoint — change in trunk fat measured by CT scan — showed a mean reduction of 15.4% in the tesamorelin group versus an increase of 5.0% in the placebo group (p<0.001) over 26 weeks.
### Visceral and Hepatic Fat
[Stanley et al. (2014)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25038357/) conducted a randomized controlled trial examining tesamorelin's effects on visceral adipose tissue and hepatic fat fraction in HIV-infected individuals. The study used MRI-based measurements and reported reductions in both visceral fat and hepatic fat fraction in the treatment group compared to placebo.
### NAFLD Multicentre Trial
[Stanley et al. (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31611038/) published results from a multicentre randomized controlled trial examining tesamorelin in the context of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in HIV-infected patients. MRI-proton density fat fraction was used as the primary outcome measure.
Research Context
Tesamorelin has the most extensive human clinical dataset among growth hormone pathway peptides in the Healthy Aminos catalog. Its FDA-approved status (for a specific indication) provides a larger body of published safety and efficacy data than most research peptides.
Also explore [Ipamorelin](/peptides/growth-hormone/ipamorelin), which targets the complementary GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor) pathway.
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Research Use Only
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Products sold by Healthy Aminos are intended strictly for in-vitro research and laboratory use. Not for human or animal consumption. Not FDA approved. By purchasing from Healthy Aminos, the buyer acknowledges that these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All products are sold as reference standards and research chemicals only.