Tesamorelin

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"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 (2010) GHRH analog — a stabilized 44-amino-acid synthetic of human GHRH. Marketed as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy; reduces visceral abdominal fat by stimulating endogenous growth hormone and IGF-1. Daily subcutaneous 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

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.

Mechanism of action

Stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone, lowering visceral (deep abdominal) fat and triglycerides. FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Daily subcutaneous injection; effect reverses when stopped.

Reported effects

Effects reported in the literature and from preclinical models include:

  • Reduces visceral abdominal fat by approximately 15-18% over 26-52 weeks in HIV-infected patients with antiretroviral-associated abdominal fat accumulation [1][2][3][4] FDA approved
  • Lowers triglyceride levels by approximately 50 mg/dL and improves the total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio in HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation [1][3] Phase III
  • Reduces hepatic fat fraction by approximately 37% relative to baseline in HIV patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [5][4] Phase III
  • Visceral fat reduction is sustained over 52 weeks of continuous treatment but reaccumulates rapidly upon discontinuation [2][3] Phase III
  • Elevates IGF-1 levels by approximately 81% without clinically significant changes in fasting glucose or glycated haemoglobin [5][1][2] Phase III
  • Remains investigational for performance enhancement and tissue repair, with uncertain safety, product-quality concerns, and antidoping restrictions outside its approved indication [6] Anecdotal

Evidence grades: FDA approved Phase III Phase II Phase I Preclinical Anecdotal

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.[7] 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 Jun 15, 2026

The peptide has been the subject of 8 studies and reference works collected on this site. The full 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 while preserving normal feedback control. FDA-approved for diagnosing and treating GH deficiency; used off-label for anti-aging. Nightly subcutaneous injection.
CJC-1295/Ipamorelin Stack Not natty
Boosts growth hormone 3-5x higher than individual peptides. Improves sleep quality, muscle mass, fat loss, and recovery. Minimal side effects.
CJC-1295 Not natty
Increases growth hormone and IGF-1 for 6+ days per injection. Improves body composition, muscle recovery, and fat metabolism. Weekly dosing.
IGF-1 LR3 Not natty
Powerfully increases muscle growth, protein synthesis, and fat burning. Accelerates tissue repair and recovery. Risk of hypoglycemia.

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 c 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. a b Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients (RCT, JAMA 2014)
  5. a b 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. 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 June 15, 2026, at 07:18 (UTC).

Research last reviewed on June 15, 2026.

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