Tesamorelin
Also called Egrifta SV, Egrifta WR, Egrifta, TH9507
Research and education only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor.
In 30 seconds
A lab-made version of GHRH, the brain hormone that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone.[1]
A 2007 phase 3 trial in 412 people with HIV measured its effect on belly fat.[6]
FDA-approved since 2010 for excess belly fat in adults with HIV, and banned in tested sport.[3][4]
How far has the research gotten?
People in its biggest studies
How many people each study enrolled, as reported.Research over time
Papers on PubMed each year that mention Tesamorelin.4 papers in 2025The labels say Egrifta WR and Egrifta SV can't be swapped for each other.[1]
What studies used
What each paper reports. A record of published research, not a recommendation.This phase 3 trial compared tesamorelin with placebo for change in CT-measured visceral fat in 412 people with HIV and abdominal fat accumulation.
N Engl J Med · 2007 · PubMed 18057338What the paper reports
2 mg by daily subcutaneous injection for 26 weeks
Who: humanThis 50-person trial at one hospital compared tesamorelin with placebo for changes in visceral fat and liver fat in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.
JAMA · 2014 · PubMed 25038357What the paper reports
2 mg subcutaneously daily for 6 months
Who: humanThis trial compared tesamorelin with placebo for change in liver fat fraction in 61 people with HIV and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Lancet HIV · 2019 · PubMed 31611038What the paper reports
2 mg once daily for 12 months, followed by a 6-month open-label phase of 2 mg daily
Who: humanWhat the FDA label says
The label’s own dosing, so you can read the source. Not advice for you.Egrifta WR (tesamorelin) for injection, 11.6 mg vial
The label dose is 1.28 mg (0.16 mL of reconstituted solution) injected under the skin of the abdomen once daily, rotating sites and avoiding scars, bruises and the navel; there is no titration schedule. One vial is mixed with 1.3 mL of the supplied bacteriostatic water (8 mg/mL) and provides daily doses for 7 days, after which leftover solution is discarded. The label states Egrifta WR and Egrifta SV are not interchangeable.
Read the label on DailyMed (effective 2026-07-29) ›Egrifta SV (tesamorelin) for injection, 2 mg vial
The label dose is 1.4 mg (0.35 mL of reconstituted solution) injected under the skin of the abdomen once daily, rotating sites and avoiding scars, bruises and the navel; there is no titration schedule. Each 2 mg vial is mixed with 0.5 mL of the supplied sterile water, the dose is given right away, and any leftover solution is discarded.
Read the label on DailyMed (effective 2026-07-29) ›What it is, in full 4
Tesamorelin is a lab-made version of growth hormone-releasing factor (also called GHRH), the brain hormone that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone[1].
It contains the full 44-amino-acid chain of human GHRH with a six-carbon hexenoyl group attached to the tyrosine at the start of the chain, and in lab tests it activates the human GHRH receptor about as strongly as the natural hormone[1].
Theratechnologies sponsored its early trials under the code name TH9507 and is the labeler for the current products Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR[10][1][2].
A phase 3 trial published in 2007 reported on its use to reduce abdominal visceral fat in people with HIV[6].
Regulatory details 3
Tesamorelin products under BLA 022505 (original approval November 2010) are labeled for reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy, and the labels state they are not indicated for weight-loss management (labeled uses per sources[1] and[2]).[3]
Checked 2026-10-06Tesamorelin does not appear in Category 1, 2 or 3 of FDA's list of bulk drug substances nominated for 503A compounding (version updated May 14, 2026).[5]
Checked 2026-10-06The 2026 Prohibited List names tesamorelin as an example of a GHRH analogue under S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors), a class prohibited at all times.[4]
Checked 2026-10-06Human trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
An intervention search for tesamorelin on ClinicalTrials.gov returned 24 registered studies, the most advanced being phase 4 (2 studies tagged phase 4)[9].
All sources 11
- EGRIFTA WR (tesamorelin) for injection labelDailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- EGRIFTA SV (tesamorelin) for injection labelDailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Drugs@FDA record, BLA 022505 (Egrifta)U.S. FDA (openFDA)
- World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A (updated May 14, 2026)U.S. FDA
- Falutz J et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med 2007PubMed
- Stanley TL et al. Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat ... JAMA 2014PubMed
- Stanley TL et al. Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV. Lancet HIV 2019PubMed
- ClinicalTrials.gov intervention search: tesamorelinClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- NCT00123253: TH9507 in Patients With HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy (sponsor Theratechnologies)ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- NCT01263717: Effects of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone in HIV (lists tesamorelin other names: Egrifta, TH9507)ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
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