Tesamorelin

From Retapedia, the free peptide encyclopedia
"TH9507" redirects here. For other uses, see Tesamorelin (disambiguation).
Medical disclaimer. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before considering any compound discussed below. See Retapedia : Medical disclaimer.

Tesamorelin (also known as TH9507) is a performance-enhancing peptide studied for its effects on growth hormone, GHRH, fat loss. FDA-approved synthetic GHRH analog that reduces visceral abdominal fat in HIV lipodystrophy via GH/IGF-1 stimulation. Daily injection. Banned by WADA.

Tesamorelin is a synthetic form of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) which is used in the treatment of HIV-associated lipodystrophy, approved initially in 2010. It is produced and developed by Theratechnologies, Inc. of Canada. The drug is a synthetic peptide consisting of all 44 amino acids of human GHRH with the addition of a trans-3-hexenoic acid group.

Natty status
Tesamorelin is classified as not natty. It is prohibited by WADA and most natural bodybuilding federations. Use places the athlete in the enhanced category. See § Natty status.
Contents [hide]
  1. 1 Overview
  2. 2 Mechanism of action
  3. 3 Reported effects
  4. 4 Dosage and administration
  5. 5 Natty status
  6. 6 Research
  7. 7 Related compounds
  8. 8 References
  9. 9 External links

Overview

As a growth-hormone-releasing hormone analog, it is prohibited by WADA under category S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances), banned both in and out of competition.

Mechanism of action

Stimulates growth hormone release, lowering visceral abdominal fat and triglycerides. FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Daily subcutaneous injection; fat reaccumulates when stopped.

Reported effects

Effects reported in the literature and from preclinical models include:

  • Daily 2 mg subcutaneous dosing reduced visceral adipose tissue by roughly 11-18% in HIV patients with antiretroviral-associated abdominal fat accumulation, an effect sustained across 52 weeks of continuous treatment but reversed after dosing stopped. [1][2][3] Phase III
  • Pooled analysis of four randomised trials in 909 patients showed reduced waist circumference and trunk fat plus increased lean body mass. [8] Phase III
  • Treatment lowered triglycerides by about 50 mg/dL and improved total cholesterol and the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in HIV patients with central fat accumulation. [1][3][8] Phase III
  • Treatment reduced hepatic fat fraction by about 37% relative to baseline in people with HIV and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with modest additional liver-fat reduction in patients with abdominal fat accumulation. [5][4] Phase II
  • Treatment raised IGF-1 levels by approximately 81% without clinically significant changes in fasting glucose or glycated haemoglobin. [1][2][3] Phase III
  • Use for performance enhancement and tissue repair outside approved metabolic indications remains investigational, with uncertain safety, product-quality concerns, and antidoping restrictions. [6][7] Anecdotal

Evidence grades: FDA approvedApproved (non-US)Phase IIIPhase IIPhase IPreclinicalAnecdotal

Dosage and administration

⚠
Dosage information is included for encyclopedic purposes only. Retapedia does not provide medical advice. See Retapedia : Medical disclaimer.

General

  • 2 mg subcutaneous injection once daily (FDA-approved dose for HIV-associated lipodystrophy)
  • Egrifta SV / Egrifta WR: reconstituted from single-vial powder, 2 mg administered daily
  • Inject into the abdomen, rotating sites to limit lipoatrophy
  • Contraindicated in pregnancy and in active malignancy

Continued use required to maintain visceral

  • fat reduction; benefits reverse on discontinuation

Natty status

See also: Peptide § Natty status

Tesamorelin is classified as not natty. It appears on the WADA prohibited list and is banned by major natural bodybuilding federations.[9] Use of this compound places the athlete in the enhanced category rather than the natural category in competitive contexts.

Research

3 active clinical trials on record — highest phase: Phase 2
View on ClinicalTrials.gov · fetched Aug 4, 2026

The peptide has been the subject of 10 studies and reference works collected on this site. Additional bibliography is in § External links below.

Other peptides in this catalogue with overlapping mechanisms or status:

Sermorelin Not natty
Stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone and IGF-1 under normal feedback control. FDA-approved for GH deficiency; used off-label for anti-aging via nightly injection.
CJC-1295 Not natty
Raises growth hormone 2-10 fold and IGF-1 for over a week per injection. Weekly subcutaneous dosing. Investigational only; cardiovascular risks and product-quality concerns.
IGF-1 LR3 Not natty
Long-acting IGF-1 analog studied preclinically for muscle growth and tissue repair. No peer-reviewed human evidence of benefit. Risks include hypoglycemia, joint pain, unproven cancer concerns.
Delta-sleep-inducing peptide Not natty
A neuropeptide named for inducing delta EEG sleep activity in animals, though its own link to human sleep is weak and poorly characterized. Shows preclinical antiepileptic activity.

References

  1. a b c Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV (pivotal Phase 3 RCT, N Engl J Med 2007)
  2. a b Effects of tesamorelin in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation (Phase 3 RCT, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010)
  3. a b c Long-term safety and effects of tesamorelin (Phase 3 extension, AIDS 2008)
  4. ^ Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients (RCT, JAMA 2014)
  5. ^ Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV (RCT, Lancet HIV 2019) Recent
  6. ^ Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications. Recent review
  7. ^ The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration. Recent review
  8. a b Efficacy and Safety of Tesamorelin in People Living With HIV (PLWH) With Lipodystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Recent review
  9. a b World Anti-Doping Agency. (2026). Prohibited List 2026.

External links

Categories: Peptides | Performance-enhancing substances | Growth hormone | GHRH | Fat loss | Subcutaneous

This page was last updated on August 4, 2026, at 00:44 (UTC).

Research last reviewed on August 4, 2026.

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