Amino acids in the GHRH sequence tesamorelin copies - it keeps the full GHRH(1-44) sequence. 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 pivotal HIV-lipodystrophy trial, versus +5.0% on placebo. A published trial result, not a product claim.
Falutz et al., NEJM, 2007Average visceral-fat change after 6 months in the second pivotal HIV-lipodystrophy trial (Falutz 2010), versus -0.6% on placebo. 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 - a regulatory fact about the molecule, not a product claim.
US FDA / TheratechnologiesWhy it matters
Why is Tesamorelin studied?
Falutz et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) studied Tesamorelin in HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat and measured visceral fat against placebo. Falutz et al. (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) also measured IGF-1 and glucose in that population. These are clinical findings about the molecule, which is distinct from the Form Labs research reference material.
A GHRH analog with two real human trials - in a specific patient group.
Falutz et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) measured visceral fat in HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat. Falutz et al. (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) also reported IGF-1 and glucose measurements in that clinical population.
The Falutz trials (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007; Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) studied HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat. The results belong to that clinical population. The same molecule has an approved-medicine history as Egrifta; Form Labs supplies laboratory reference material rather than that medicine.
Study observations
What laboratory observations have Tesamorelin studies reported?
The Tesamorelin trials measured visceral fat and IGF-1 in HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat (Falutz et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2007; Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010). IGF-1 increased in the latter trial without a significant glucose change. These are findings in a defined clinical population, 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. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) measured abdominal fat in HIV-positive adults; the findings concern that patient population.
IGF-1 measurements
Falutz et al. (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) reported increased IGF-1 in HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat.
Glucose measurements
Falutz et al. (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) reported no significant glucose change in that clinical population.
Pharmacology at a glance
- Research code
- TH9507
- Class
- A GHRH-receptor agonist - a lab-made analog (a stabilised copy) of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).
- Molecule
- A lab-made, stabilised analog of GHRH(1-44) - the full 44-amino-acid growth-hormone-releasing hormone sequence - with a trans-3-hexenoic acid ('hexenoyl') chemical cap on one end that helps it resist breakdown.
- Reported half-life
- Ferdinandi et al. (Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 2007) described resistance to DPP-4 breakdown; this guide records no specific half-life figure.
- Originator
- Developed by Theratechnologies, the approved-medicine sponsor.
- Approval status
- FDA-approved as Egrifta (2010) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy; not TGA-registered in Australia; EMA application withdrawn. 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 growth-hormone axis through the GHRH receptor, visceral fat and body composition in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, IGF-1 and growth-hormone markers, development and regulatory history, and gene-message context. The human trials studied a specific medical condition, and the results belong to that population, 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 - 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 - the pivotal human trials.
Falutz et al., NEJM, 2007; JAIDS, 2010IGF-1 and GH markers
IGF-1 and growth-hormone markers tracked as study signals - measured endpoints, not product claims.
Falutz et al., JAIDS, 2010Development & regulatory history
The molecule's development path and approved-medicine history (Egrifta) - background context only.
Dhillon, Drugs, 2011Gene-message (transcriptomic) context
Gene-message measurements in the research map - 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 pivotal Phase 3 trials in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Falutz et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) reported visceral fat fell by about 15.2% in the tesamorelin group versus a rise of about 5.0% on placebo. Falutz et al. (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) reported a fall of about 10.9% versus about 0.6% on placebo at 6 months. These are findings about the molecule in a specific patient group.
Open any study for a plain summary, what it measured, the finding, and a link to the paper.
Falutz et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) studied tesamorelin against placebo over 26 weeks in 412 HIV-positive patients with excess abdominal fat.
- Studied in
- Adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy (a specific medical condition).
- Design
- A randomised, placebo-controlled trial - 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 versus a rise of about 5.0% on placebo (p<0.001) (Falutz and colleagues - New England Journal of Medicine - 2007). The finding concerns HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat (Falutz and colleagues - New England Journal of Medicine - 2007).
DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa072375The second pivotal trial again studied tesamorelin in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy over 6 months, measuring 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 versus about 0.6% on placebo at 6 months (p<0.0001); IGF-1 rose significantly, with no significant change in glucose (Falutz and colleagues - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes - 2010). Again, a published finding about the molecule in a specific patient group - not a product claim (Falutz and colleagues - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes - 2010).
DOI 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181cbdaffThis paper describes the molecule itself: a stabilised analog of the full GHRH(1-44) sequence, with the chemical cap that makes it resist the DPP-4 enzyme that normally breaks GHRH down within minutes.
- Studied in
- Laboratory chemistry and pharmacology work.
- Design
- A characterisation / pharmacology study of the molecule.
- Measured
- The molecule's structure, GHRH-receptor activity, and resistance to breakdown.
Ferdinandi et al. (Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 2007) described the capped GHRH analog and its resistance to DPP-4 breakdown in pharmacological research; this is molecular background.
DOI 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2007.00008.xA review paper covering tesamorelin's development path and its approved-medicine use (as Egrifta) for reducing excess visceral abdominal 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 summarises the molecule's approved-medicine history in a specific medical condition (Dhillon - Drugs - 2011). It's background context about the molecule - not a claim about this research material (Dhillon - Drugs - 2011).
DOI 10.2165/11202240-000000000-00000This work appears in the tesamorelin literature as gene-message (transcriptomic) context - measuring which gene messages change - rather than a measure of body composition.
- Studied in
- Laboratory 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 - JCI Insight - 2020). The observations concern the study population (Fourman and colleagues - JCI Insight - 2020).
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), but they are different molecules. Tesamorelin keeps the full GHRH(1-44) sequence with a chemical cap, while CJC-1295 uses a shorter fragment, modified GRF(1-29), according to this guide's comparison table. The table also lists approval history for each compound, as recorded in this guide, and 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?
Tesamorelin's first pivotal human trial is recorded in this guide's timeline for 2007 (Falutz et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) and its second for 2010 (Falutz et al., Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010). It also lists regulatory entries for the medicine Egrifta; check the regulator for current status. The material Form Labs supplies is research-use-only reference material, not that medicine.
The first pivotal human trial of tesamorelin is published (Falutz et al., NEJM) - visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
The US FDA approves the same molecule as Egrifta, and the second pivotal trial is published (Falutz et al., JAIDS).
The European application for Egrifta is withdrawn after a negative CHMP assessment - never approved in the EU.
Approval status: FDA-approved as Egrifta (2010) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy; not TGA-registered in Australia; EMA application withdrawn. 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 visceral-fat evidence is specific to HIV-associated lipodystrophy: both pivotal trials cited in this guide studied that condition (Falutz et al., 2007; Falutz et al., 2010), and the results cannot be generalised to weight loss, body composition in the general population or athletic use. This guide describes the same molecule as the medicine Egrifta, but Form Labs supplies research-use-only reference material of the molecule, not Egrifta and not for human use.
The visceral-fat evidence is HIV-lipodystrophy-specific
Both pivotal trials studied a specific medical condition - excess visceral fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The results belong to that population and can't be generalised to weight loss, body composition in the general population, or 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. What Form Labs supplies is research-use-only reference material of the molecule - not Egrifta, not a pharmacy product, and not for human use. We don't imply the buyer can obtain or use the medicine.
Not for weight loss, muscle, or anti-aging use
The Falutz trials (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007; Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) enrolled HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat. Their findings do not establish outcomes outside that clinical population.
Where Form Labs fits
This guide is a plain-English summary of published research Form Labs did not run. It's not medical advice, not a product claim, and not use guidance. We supply tesamorelin strictly as reference material of the molecule, with a catalog lot record. Matching current certification is unverified.
Lab handling
How is Tesamorelin handled as reference material?
Tesamorelin is laboratory reference material, not for human consumption or veterinary use. Storage and lot checks follow the product label and any verified matching certificate of analysis (COA). This guide's catalogue record notes storage at 2-8 C and protection from light. Historical sample reports do not verify current lot identity, purity or release status.
Research-use boundary
Tesamorelin is supplied strictly for laboratory research. It is not for human consumption, veterinary, medical, or cosmetic use.
Storage
Supplied freeze-dried. Keep it at 2-8 C (fridge-cold) and out of light, following the vial label, any verified matching lab report for the batch, and 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 - the natural hormone 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 - a hormone named in the cited literature as a study signal in this pathway.
- Glucose measurements
- Insulin-like growth factor 1 - a downstream marker researchers track after GHRH-receptor activity.
- Visceral fat (VAT)
- Fat stored deep around the organs; measured by CT scan in the trials.
- HIV-associated lipodystrophy
- A specific medical condition involving changes in body-fat distribution, seen in some people living with HIV.
- Half-life
- The time for the amount in the blood to fall by half.
- Research use only
- Supplied for laboratory research - 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) with a chemical cap that slows its breakdown. The most common questions about Tesamorelin cover how it relates to Egrifta, growth hormone and IGF-1 in the research, how it differs from CJC-1295, and what the human trials measured. Form Labs supplies research-use-only reference material.
Tesamorelin is a lab-made peptide - a short chain of amino acids - known in research by its code name TH9507. It's a stabilised analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH): the full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence with a chemical cap added so it breaks down more slowly. We supply it freeze-dried, as reference material for laboratory research.
Tesamorelin is the active molecule in Egrifta, a prescription medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Egrifta is a pharmacy product a doctor prescribes and monitors for a specific medical condition; Form Labs does not sell Egrifta or any medicine. What we supply is research-use-only reference material of the tesamorelin molecule - not the approved drug, not a pharmacy product, and not for human use.
Tesamorelin is approved by the US FDA under the brand name Egrifta (2010) to reduce excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy - a specific medical condition. It is not registered with Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and its European approval application was withdrawn. The material sold here is not that approved medicine: it is research-use-only reference material of the molecule, with no approval for any human use.
The approved medicine Egrifta (tesamorelin) is not registered with Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA); where it's used in Australia at all, that's only through a doctor's Special Access Scheme application. Form Labs supplies tesamorelin strictly as research-use-only reference material - for laboratory research only, not for human use, and not as a medicine.
Falutz et al. (Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) reported an increase in IGF-1 without a significant glucose change in HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat. These are clinical measurements in that population rather than findings about Form Labs reference material.
Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are both lab-made analogs of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), but they're 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, sometimes attached to a carrier that greatly extends how long it lasts. Tesamorelin also has an approved-medicine history (Egrifta) that CJC-1295 doesn't; both are supplied here only as research reference material.
No. Tesamorelin from Form Labs is supplied strictly as reference material for laboratory research - not a medicine, supplement, or food, and not for people or animals to take. The same molecule is an approved prescription medicine in some countries (Egrifta), but what's sold here is not that medicine and is not for human use.
Ferdinandi et al. (Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 2007) described tesamorelin as a capped GHRH analog with resistance to DPP-4 breakdown. This is molecular and pharmacological background, separate from the Falutz clinical findings.
Falutz et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007; Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010) measured visceral fat by CT scan in HIV-positive adults with excess abdominal fat and reported reductions against placebo. These are observations in that defined patient population.
'For research use only' means Form Labs supplies tesamorelin strictly as reference material for laboratory research - not as a medicine, supplement, or food, and not for people or animals to take. Even though the same molecule is an approved medicine elsewhere (Egrifta), this material is not that product and carries no approval for human use. It is intended for in-vitro laboratory 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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