Tesamorelin is the rare growth-hormone peptide with an actual FDA approval. It is sold as Egrifta for one specific use: reducing belly fat in adults with HIV-related lipodystrophy. That approval gives it real human trial data, which most peptides on this site lack. It also gets sold online as a “research peptide” for body recomposition, which is a very different thing.
Strong for its approved use, thin beyond it. Large randomized trials showed it reduces deep abdominal fat in people with HIV-related fat changes. Smaller trials have looked at liver fat in HIV and memory in older adults, with interesting but early results. There is no trial evidence for the body recomposition and anti-aging uses it is marketed for online. And the fat comes back when you stop.
Tesamorelin is a lab-made version of growth-hormone-releasing hormone, the 44-amino-acid signal your hypothalamus uses to tell your pituitary to release growth hormone. It has one small chemical addition at the front end that helps it last longer in the body.
It was developed by Theratechnologies in Montreal. The FDA approved the original Egrifta in November 2010. A smaller-volume version, Egrifta SV, followed in 2018, and a newer formulation, Egrifta WR, was approved in March 2025 and reached pharmacies that September. Theratechnologies was acquired by Future Pak in September 2025.
Tesamorelin binds the growth-hormone-releasing receptor on the pituitary. The pituitary then releases more of your own growth hormone, in its normal pulses. That raises IGF-1. Growth hormone breaks down fat, and deep visceral fat around the organs seems especially responsive.
Because it works upstream, the body’s normal feedback controls stay in place. That is a key difference from injecting growth hormone directly. It also means it only works if your hypothalamus and pituitary are intact.
Visceral fat in HIV. The pivotal 2007 trial in the New England Journal of Medicine gave 412 people with HIV 2 mg a day or placebo for 26 weeks. Visceral fat fell about 15% on tesamorelin and rose about 5% on placebo. The FDA label reports two Phase 3 studies, with visceral fat changes of minus 18% versus plus 2%, and minus 14% versus minus 2%.
The fat came back. People switched to placebo at 26 weeks regained their visceral fat by week 52. Those who stayed on the drug held steady.
Liver fat in HIV. A 2019 trial in 61 people with HIV and fatty liver found liver fat dropped by about 4 percentage points over a year, with less fibrosis progression. That use is off-label.
Memory. A 2012 trial in 152 older adults found 20 weeks of tesamorelin modestly improved executive function. Verbal memory showed only a non-significant trend. Also off-label and experimental.
Online, it is pitched for belly fat loss, body recomposition, “growth hormone optimization” and anti-aging. It is often sold blended with ipamorelin. None of those uses has been tested in healthy people. The label states plainly that it is not for weight loss.
The label is detailed, which is one advantage of an approved drug.
It is not for people with active cancer, a damaged pituitary or hypothalamus, or during pregnancy. Past cancers should be treated and inactive. Growth hormone and IGF-1 can feed cell growth, so the label asks doctors to monitor IGF-1 and consider stopping if it stays high.
Blood sugar is a real concern. In the trials, 5% of people on tesamorelin developed diabetes-range A1c versus 1% on placebo, so glucose should be checked before and during treatment. Other effects include fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel symptoms, rash, and injection-site reactions in about 17% of people. Most patients develop antibodies to the drug.
From the label, not a recommendation. Egrifta WR is 1.28 mg injected under the skin of the abdomen once a day. Older formulations used 2 mg daily. Community doses vary widely and have no controlled evidence in healthy people. We do not give mixing or injection steps.
Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved prescription drug for one use. In March 2020 it was transitioned to be regulated as a biologic. Under that transition, the FDA said these products are not eligible for the 503A and 503B compounding exemptions. In plain terms, there is no lawful compounded version.
It was not part of the July 2026 compounding vote. But it was named in the FDA’s August 24, 2026 warning letters to peptide sellers, which called the “research” versions unapproved new drugs. We break those letters down in our FDA warning letters post.
For athletes, WADA bans it at all times as a growth-hormone-releasing factor.
Is tesamorelin FDA-approved? Yes, as Egrifta, for abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy only.
Is it growth hormone? No. It signals your pituitary to release your own growth hormone.
Does the fat stay off? No. In the trials it came back within about six months of stopping.
Can a compounding pharmacy make it? Not legally. It has been regulated as a biologic since 2020.
Are “research peptide” versions legal? No. The FDA warned sellers in August 2026 that they are unapproved new drugs.
Does it affect blood sugar? It can. The label requires glucose checks.
Does it help memory? One 20-week trial showed a modest benefit. Unproven and not approved for that.
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