Growth Hormone
Visceral fat, targeted
A GHRH analog that raises growth hormone and specifically reduces visceral belly fat.
Ships as a freeze-dried powder. Need water to mix it? Add Reconstitution Solution.
The science
Evidence level
5/5
FDA-approved compound
Tesamorelin has a branded FDA approval for HIV-associated abdominal lipodystrophy; this compounded product is not EGRIFTA.
15.4%1
placebo-adjusted visceral-fat reduction at 26 weeks, phase 3
35% vs 4%3
reached liver fat below 5% at 12 months, tesamorelin versus placebo
18%2
visceral-fat reduction at 12 months on continued treatment
Mechanism of action
Targets & pathways
What the research shows
Pooled phase 3 trials in 806 adults with HIV-associated abdominal fat found a 15.4% placebo-adjusted visceral-fat reduction at 26 weeks.
Patients who continued treatment for 12 months maintained an approximately 18% reduction in visceral fat.
After 12 months, 35% of participants on tesamorelin reached liver fat below 5%, versus 4% on placebo.
Tesamorelin is approved as Egrifta to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Pooled trials in 806 adults found a -15.4% placebo-adjusted visceral-fat treatment effect at 26 weeks.
Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data.
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2010
PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)An efficacy and safety-extension trial found visceral-fat reduction and loss of improvement after withdrawal.
Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension.
Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) · 2010
PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)In HIV-associated fatty liver, the absolute liver-fat treatment effect was -4.1 percentage points, corresponding to -37% relative change.
Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial.
The lancet. HIV · 2019
PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)Questions
Tesamorelin’s branded indication concerns HIV-associated abdominal lipodystrophy and visceral fat. Tirzepatide’s branded programs include body-weight outcomes in obesity.
No. It is an imaging-derived visceral-fat treatment effect relative to placebo.
The pivotal pooled trials did not show a significant effect on abdominal subcutaneous fat.
Withdrawal findings showed return of visceral fat after stopping; durability requires assessment.
No. Branded formulations themselves have different reconstitution and storage requirements, and this compounded product needs its own instructions.
Growth Hormone
Growth Hormone
Growth Hormone