Amino acids in the GHRH sequence that tesamorelin copies. It keeps the full GHRH(1-44) sequence. This is an identity fact, not a product claim.
Published tesamorelin researchPlain-English research guideTH9507
Tesamorelin research guide
Everything worth knowing, without the jargon.
Tesamorelin (research code TH9507) is a lab-made peptide - a stabilised analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), keeping the full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence with a small chemical cap added so it breaks down more slowly. It's studied in research for its role in the growth-hormone axis and in visceral (abdominal) fat. The same molecule is an approved prescription medicine in some countries (Egrifta) - what's sold here is research-use-only reference material of the molecule, not the medicine, and not for human use.
Form Labs materials are research reference materials, not the approved medicines; no Form Labs product is approved for human or veterinary use.
REV 2026-10 · 1 Oct 20265 peer-reviewed studiesResearch-use-only context
What the papers reportThird-party literature - not product claims
Average visceral fat change after 26 weeks in the key HIV-lipodystrophy trial, versus +5.0% on placebo. This is a published trial result, not a product claim.
Falutz et al., NEJM, 2007Average visceral fat change after 6 months in the second key HIV-lipodystrophy trial (Falutz 2010), versus -0.6% on placebo. This is a published trial result for the molecule, not a Form Labs product claim.
Falutz et al., JAIDS, 2010The year the US FDA approved the same molecule as the prescription medicine Egrifta, for a specific HIV-related condition. This is a regulatory fact about the molecule, not a product claim.
US FDA / TheratechnologiesWhy it matters
Why is Tesamorelin studied?
Falutz et al. (2007) studied Tesamorelin in HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat. They measured visceral fat against placebo (a dummy pill). Falutz et al. (2010) also measured IGF-1 and glucose in that group. These are clinical findings about the molecule. They are separate from the Form Labs research reference material.
A GHRH analog with two real human trials - in a specific patient group.
Falutz et al. (2007) measured visceral fat in HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat. Falutz et al. (2010) also reported IGF-1 and glucose measures in that clinical group.
The Falutz trials studied HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat. They were published in 2007 and 2010. The results belong to that clinical group. The same molecule has a history as an approved medicine, Egrifta. Form Labs supplies lab reference material, not that medicine.
Study observations
What laboratory observations have Tesamorelin studies reported?
Two Tesamorelin trials measured visceral fat and IGF-1. The adults in them were HIV-positive and had extra belly fat (Falutz et al., 2007; 2010). IGF-1 rose in the later trial. Glucose did not change in a significant way. These findings come from one clinical group. They are separate from Form Labs reference material.
Tesamorelin study measurements Findings stay tied to the cited study and its model.
Visceral-fat measurements
Falutz et al. (2007) measured belly fat in HIV-positive adults. The findings concern that patient group.
IGF-1 measurements
Falutz et al. (2010) reported higher IGF-1 in HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat.
Glucose measurements
Falutz et al. (2010) reported no significant glucose change in that clinical group.
Pharmacology at a glance
- Research code
- TH9507
- Class
- A GHRH-receptor agonist. It is a lab-made analog (a stabilised copy) of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH).
- Molecule
- A lab-made, stabilised analog of GHRH(1-44). This is the full 44-amino-acid growth hormone releasing hormone sequence. A chemical cap on one end helps it resist breakdown. The cap is trans-3-hexenoic acid ('hexenoyl').
- Reported half-life
- Ferdinandi et al. (2007) described resistance to DPP-4 breakdown. This guide records no specific half-life figure.
- Originator
- Developed by Theratechnologies, the sponsor of the approved medicine.
- Approval status
- The FDA approved it as Egrifta in 2010. It is approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The TGA has not registered it in Australia. The EMA application was withdrawn. It is supplied here as research reference material only.
What it has been studied for
What has Tesamorelin been studied for?
Tesamorelin has been studied in five areas. The first is the growth hormone axis, through the GHRH receptor. The second is visceral fat and body composition in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The third is IGF-1 and growth hormone markers. The fourth is development and regulatory history. The fifth is gene message context. The human trials studied one specific medical condition. The results belong to that group, not to this research material.
Study areas from the published literature.
Growth-hormone axis (GHRH receptor)
How tesamorelin acts on the GHRH receptor as a stabilised GHRH analog. This is identity and mechanism work.
Ferdinandi et al., Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, 2007Visceral fat / body composition
Visceral (abdominal) fat measured by CT scan in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. These are the key human trials.
Falutz et al., NEJM, 2007; JAIDS, 2010IGF-1 and GH markers
IGF-1 and growth-hormone markers tracked as study signals. They are measured endpoints, not product claims.
Falutz et al., JAIDS, 2010Development & regulatory history
The molecule's development path and approved medicine history (Egrifta). This is background only.
Dhillon, Drugs, 2011Gene-message (transcriptomic) context
Gene-message measures in the research map. They are study records, not a product result.
Fourman et al., JCI Insight, 2020The studies
What did the Tesamorelin studies find?
The five Tesamorelin studies include two key Phase 3 trials. Both were in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Falutz et al. (2007) reported that visceral fat fell by about 15.2% in the tesamorelin group. It rose by about 5.0% on placebo. Falutz et al. (2010) reported a fall of about 10.9% versus about 0.6% on placebo at 6 months. These are findings about the molecule in one patient group.
Open any study for a plain summary, what it measured, the finding, and a link to the paper.
Falutz et al. (2007) studied tesamorelin against placebo. The trial ran 26 weeks. It had 412 HIV-positive patients with extra belly fat.
- Studied in
- Adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy (a specific medical condition).
- Design
- A randomised, placebo controlled trial. It was one of the two that supported the medicine's approval.
- Measured
- Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) by CT scan at the L4-L5 level, plus other body composition measures.
Visceral fat fell by about 15.2% in the tesamorelin group. It rose by about 5.0% on placebo (p<0.001) (Falutz and colleagues, 2007). The finding concerns HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat.
DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa072375The second key trial ran 6 months. It again studied tesamorelin in the same patient group. It measured visceral fat by CT scan.
- Studied in
- Adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
- Design
- A randomised, placebo controlled trial.
- Measured
- Change in visceral adipose tissue, IGF-1 and metabolic markers.
Visceral fat fell by about 10.9% with tesamorelin at 6 months. It fell by about 0.6% on placebo (p<0.0001). IGF-1 rose significantly. Glucose did not change significantly (Falutz and colleagues, 2010). Again this is a published finding about the molecule in one patient group. It is not a product claim.
DOI 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181cbdaffThis paper describes the molecule itself. It is a stabilised analog of the full GHRH(1-44) sequence. A chemical cap helps it resist the DPP-4 enzyme. This enzyme normally breaks GHRH down within minutes.
- Studied in
- Lab chemistry and pharmacology work.
- Design
- A study of the molecule's make-up and how it acts.
- Measured
- The molecule's structure, GHRH-receptor activity, and resistance to breakdown.
Ferdinandi et al. (2007) described the capped GHRH analog. They also described its resistance to DPP-4 breakdown in pharmacology research. This is background on the molecule.
DOI 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2007.00008.xA review paper on the development path of tesamorelin. It also covers its use as the approved medicine Egrifta. The use is to reduce extra belly fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
- Studied in
- A narrative review of the trials and regulatory record.
- Design
- A literature review, not a new experiment.
- Measured
- What the development programme reported.
It sums up the approved medicine history of the molecule (Dhillon, 2011). The history is in a specific medical condition. It is background context about the molecule. It is not a claim about this research material.
DOI 10.2165/11202240-000000000-00000This work gives gene-message (transcriptomic) context for tesamorelin. Gene messages are copies of gene instructions that cells use to make proteins. The study measures which gene messages change. It does not measure body composition.
- Studied in
- Lab gene-message measurement work.
- Design
- A transcriptomic study, not a clinical trial.
- Measured
- Gene-message patterns in the relevant research map.
It adds gene-message context to the tesamorelin literature (Fourman and colleagues, 2020). The observations concern the study group.
DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.140134Compare
How does Tesamorelin compare with similar compounds?
Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are both analogs of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). They are different molecules. The comparison table shows that Tesamorelin keeps the full GHRH(1-44) sequence with a chemical cap. CJC-1295 uses a shorter fragment, modified GRF(1-29). The table also lists the approval history of each compound. Form Labs supplies both only as research reference material.
This table describes literature and approval status only.
| Tesamorelin (TH9507) | CJC-1295 | |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship to GHRH | An analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) | An analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) |
| GHRH sequence length | Full 44-amino-acid GHRH(1-44) | Short 29-amino-acid fragment (modified GRF 1-29) |
| How it's made to last | A chemical cap (trans-3-hexenoic acid) on one end | Amino-acid substitutions, sometimes a 'DAC' carrier group |
| Approved-medicine history | Yes - same molecule is Egrifta (FDA, 2010) | No approved medicine |
| Supplied by Form Labs as | Research reference material only | Research reference material only |
Comparison is for context from published records. It is not product-use guidance.
Development and status
Is Tesamorelin approved, and where does the research stand?
The timeline records the first key human trial of Tesamorelin in 2007 (Falutz et al., 2007). It records the second in 2010 (Falutz et al., 2010). It also lists regulatory entries for the medicine Egrifta. Check the regulator for current status. Form Labs supplies reference material for research use only. It is not that medicine.
The first key human trial of tesamorelin is published (Falutz et al., NEJM). It looks at visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
The US FDA approves the same molecule as Egrifta. The second key trial is published (Falutz et al., JAIDS).
The European application for Egrifta is withdrawn after a negative CHMP assessment. It was never approved in the EU.
Approval status: The FDA approved it as Egrifta in 2010. It is approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The TGA has not registered it in Australia. The EMA application was withdrawn. It is supplied here as research reference material only.Whatever the molecule’s status elsewhere, what Form Labs supplies is research-use-only reference material - for laboratory work, not for people or animals.
Evidence and limitations
What does the Tesamorelin research mean, and what does it not?
The Tesamorelin evidence on visceral fat is specific to HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Both key trials studied that condition (Falutz et al., 2007; 2010). The results do not carry over to weight loss. They do not carry over to body composition in the general population. They do not carry over to athletic use. The molecule is the same as the medicine Egrifta. But Form Labs supplies reference material for research use only. It is not Egrifta and not for human use.
The visceral-fat evidence is HIV-lipodystrophy-specific
Both key trials studied a specific medical condition. It was extra visceral fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The results belong to that group. They do not carry over to weight loss. They do not carry over to body composition in the general population. They do not carry over to athletic or bodybuilding use.
It's an approved medicine elsewhere - but not what's sold here
The same molecule is the prescription medicine Egrifta in some countries. Form Labs supplies reference material of the molecule for research use only. It is not Egrifta. It is not a pharmacy product. It is not for human use. We do not suggest that a buyer can obtain or use the medicine.
Not for weight loss, muscle, or anti-aging use
The Falutz trials enrolled HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat. They were published in 2007 and 2010. Their findings do not show outcomes outside that clinical group.
Where Form Labs fits
This guide is a plain-English summary of published research. Form Labs did not run that research. It is not medical advice, not a product claim and not use guidance. We supply the molecule strictly as reference material, with a catalog lot record.
Lab handling
How is Tesamorelin handled as reference material?
Tesamorelin is lab reference material. It is not for human consumption or veterinary use. Storage and lot checks follow the product label. They also follow any verified matching certificate of analysis (COA). The catalogue record notes storage at 2-8 C and protection from light.
Research-use boundary
Tesamorelin is supplied strictly for lab research. It is not for human consumption, or for veterinary, medical or cosmetic use.
Storage
Supplied freeze-dried. Keep it at 2-8 C (fridge-cold) and out of light. Follow the vial label. Follow any verified matching lab report for the batch. Follow your lab's own written procedures. This is a storage fact, not a cold-chain shipping claim.
Glossary
Plain-English definitions.
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
- GHRH
- Growth-hormone-releasing hormone. It is the natural hormone that tesamorelin is modelled on.
- Analog
- A lab-made molecule designed to resemble another molecule in a defined way.
- GHRH(1-44)
- The full 44-amino-acid sequence of human growth hormone releasing hormone, which tesamorelin copies.
- Hexenoyl cap
- A small chemical group (trans-3-hexenoic acid) added to one end of tesamorelin to block the DPP-4 enzyme.
- DPP-4
- An enzyme that normally breaks down GHRH within minutes. Tesamorelin is made to resist it.
- GH
- Growth hormone. The cited literature names it as a study signal in this pathway.
- Glucose measurements
- Insulin-like growth factor 1. It is a downstream marker that researchers track after GHRH-receptor activity.
- Visceral fat (VAT)
- Fat stored deep around the organs. The trials measured it by CT scan.
- HIV-associated lipodystrophy
- A specific medical condition with changes in where body fat sits. It is seen in some people living with HIV.
- Half-life
- The time it takes for the amount in the blood to fall by half.
- Research use only
- Supplied for lab research. It is not for human or animal use, and not a medicine.
FAQ
What are the most common questions about Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin (research code TH9507) is a lab-made, stabilised analog of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). A chemical cap slows its breakdown. The common questions cover how it relates to Egrifta. They also cover how it relates to growth hormone and IGF-1 in the research. They cover how it differs from CJC-1295. They also cover what the human trials measured. Form Labs supplies reference material for research use only.
Tesamorelin is a lab-made peptide, which is a short chain of amino acids. Its code name in research is TH9507. It is a stabilised analog of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). It is the full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence. A chemical cap is added so it breaks down more slowly. We supply it freeze-dried, as reference material for lab research.
Tesamorelin is the active molecule in Egrifta. Egrifta is a prescription medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A doctor prescribes and monitors it for a specific medical condition. Form Labs does not sell Egrifta or any medicine. We supply reference material of the molecule for research use only. It is not the approved drug. It is not a pharmacy product. It is not for human use.
Tesamorelin is approved by the US FDA under the brand name Egrifta (2010). The approval covers a specific medical condition, HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It is to reduce extra visceral belly fat. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not registered it in Australia. Its European approval application was withdrawn. The material sold here is not that medicine. It is reference material of the molecule for research use only. It has no approval for human use.
The approved medicine Egrifta (tesamorelin) is not registered with Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Where it is used in Australia at all, that is only through a doctor's Special Access Scheme application. Form Labs supplies tesamorelin strictly as reference material for research use only. It is for lab research only. It is not for human use, and not a medicine.
Falutz et al. (2010) reported higher IGF-1 with no significant glucose change in HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat. These are clinical measures in that group. They are not findings about Form Labs reference material.
Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are both lab-made analogs of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). They are different molecules. Tesamorelin keeps the full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence with a chemical cap that slows its breakdown. CJC-1295 uses a shorter 29-amino-acid fragment. A carrier is sometimes attached to it. The carrier makes it last much longer. Tesamorelin also has an approved medicine history (Egrifta) that CJC-1295 does not. Both are supplied here only as research reference material.
No. Tesamorelin from Form Labs is supplied strictly as reference material for lab research. It is not a medicine, supplement or food. It is not for people or animals to take. The same molecule is an approved prescription medicine in some countries (Egrifta). But what is sold here is not that medicine. It is not for human use.
Ferdinandi et al. (2007) described tesamorelin as a capped GHRH analog that resists DPP-4 breakdown. This is background on the molecule and its pharmacology. It is separate from the Falutz clinical findings.
Falutz et al. (2007; 2010) measured visceral fat by CT scan in HIV-positive adults with extra belly fat. They reported falls compared with placebo. These are observations in that patient group.
'For research use only' means Form Labs supplies tesamorelin strictly as reference material for lab research. It is not a medicine, supplement or food. It is not for people or animals to take. The same molecule is an approved medicine elsewhere (Egrifta). But this material is not that product. It has no approval for human use. It is for in-vitro lab work only.
References
Every figure, sourced.
Educational references to third-party literature. Form Labs is unaffiliated with the study authors.
First pivotal trial: tesamorelin for visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (VAT change vs placebo). Falutz, et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 2007; 357(23): 2359-2370.
DOISecond pivotal trial: visceral-fat change and IGF-1 over 6 months vs placebo. Falutz, et al. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010.
DOIChemistry and pharmacology of tesamorelin as a stabilised GHRH analog. Ferdinandi, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 2007.
DOIReview of tesamorelin's development and approved-medicine use. Dhillon. Drugs, 2011.
DOIGene-message (transcriptomic) context in the tesamorelin research map. Fourman, et al. JCI Insight, 2020.
DOICitations are provided for education only. No therapeutic, weight-loss, or efficacy claims are made.
How we produce these guides
These guides are written and maintained in-house by the Form Laboratories research team. They summarise published literature and link to the cited papers. Form Laboratories did not run those studies. They are not authored by a named clinician and are not medical advice.
Findings remain tied to the study population, model and limits. Cell and animal observations remain separate from clinical results. Everything we supply is research-use-only reference material, not for people or animals.
The product
Form Laboratories - Tesamorelin
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