- What it is: A stabilized analog of GHRH, the growth hormone releasing hormone the brain makes.
- Research areas: Deep belly (visceral) fat, liver fat, and related blood markers in people with HIV-associated fat changes.
- Evidence level: Human clinical trials exist, mostly in people with HIV-associated fat changes.
- The short version: Tesamorelin is one of the more heavily studied growth hormone signaling compounds, with real human trial data behind it. Researchers measured drops in visceral and liver fat over a matter of months, almost all in people with HIV-related fat changes. Those trials also logged side effects, and none of this is a safety conclusion.
What it is
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), a hormone made in the hypothalamus. It carries the full 44-amino-acid sequence of human GHRH, with a small hexenoyl group attached to the first amino acid. It is a GHRH analog, not a GLP-1 compound.
Specs at a glance. Reference values for the compound named on the label, from PubChem or KEGG. They describe the compound, not a measurement of the vial you receive. Molecular weight is the free base (the peptide alone, without a salt). Synthetic peptides are usually supplied as a salt such as acetate or TFA, and the salt in this vial has not been confirmed.
| Compound | Tesamorelin |
|---|---|
| Sequence | trans-3-hexenoyl-YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDIMSRQQGESNQERGARARL-NH2 (44 aa) |
| Molecular formula | C221H366N72O67S |
| Molecular weight | 5135.8 g/mol (average, free base) |
| CAS number | 218949-48-5 |
| Reference record | PubChem CID 16137828. KEGG D06655 |
| Form | Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in one sealed vial |
| Vial size | 10 mg per vial |
| Storage (dry powder) | -20°C or colder, long term. Keep the vial sealed and away from light. |
| Lab report | Janoshik Analytical, November 2025. Ordered by the supplier, not by Etched Research. The report carries no lot number, so it is not matched to the vial you receive. Results on this page ↓ · All lab reports → |
What the evidence is
Tesamorelin has human trial data, including a 412-person phase 3 trial. Every study below ran in adults with HIV who had extra abdominal fat, not in healthy adults.
| Study | Type | Who | What was given | What it measured | What it found |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falutz et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2007 | Human, phase 3, placebo-controlled | 412 adults with HIV and abdominal fat buildup | 2 mg daily by injection, 26 weeks | Visceral fat on CT, blood lipids, IGF-1, glucose | Visceral fat fell 15.2%, against a 5.0% rise on placebo. IGF-1 rose 81% and triglycerides fell. No difference in glucose measures. More people on tesamorelin left the study over side effects |
| Stanley et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2012 | Human, follow-up analysis of two phase 3 trials | 402 people with HIV who received tesamorelin | Daily by injection, 26 to 52 weeks | Whether blood markers tracked visceral fat change | People whose visceral fat fell 8% or more had lower triglycerides and steadier glucose than those whose did not. An association found after the fact, not proof of cause |
| Stanley et al., JAMA, 2014 | Human, randomized, placebo-controlled | 50 adults with HIV and abdominal fat (48 treated) | 2 mg daily by injection, 6 months | Visceral fat and liver fat | Visceral fat fell (about 34 cm², against an 8 cm² rise on placebo) and liver fat fell modestly. Fasting glucose rose at 2 weeks, with no significant difference by 6 months |
| Badran et al., Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 2026 | Meta-analysis of 5 randomized trials | Adults with HIV-associated fat changes | Tesamorelin against placebo | Body composition, liver fat, side effects | Less visceral, trunk and liver fat, and about 1.4 kg more lean mass. No significant change in fat under the skin or in BMI. Side effects included joint pain, muscle pain, tingling and injection-site redness |
Last reviewed 2026-09-23. How it works, and what none of this establishes, is on the full research summary →
Lab reference
Janoshik Analytical tested Tesamorelin 10mg from supplier stock in November 2025. The published result shows 99.043% purity and 10.38 mg of peptide against the 10 mg label. See it on the lab reference page →
What that report does not cover: it is a reference test of the compound from supplier stock, not a test of the vial in your order. No endotoxin, sterility or heavy-metal result is published for it.
Storage and shipping
Ships as lyophilized powder in a sealed vial. Store the powder frozen at -20°C, away from light. US addresses only. Shipping costs and cutoff times →
Questions about Tesamorelin
What is Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin (development code TH9507) is a stabilized synthetic analog of GHRH, the growth hormone releasing hormone the brain makes. Its human trials ran in adults with HIV-associated abdominal fat changes, the largest with 412 people (Falutz et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2007).
Has Tesamorelin been tested in humans, and is it FDA approved?
Yes, tesamorelin has human trials, and a prescription drug containing it, Egrifta, was first approved by the FDA in 2010. Those trials enrolled adults with HIV and extra abdominal fat, not healthy adults (Falutz et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2007). Etched Research sells tesamorelin as a research compound and does not sell Egrifta.
Where can I buy Tesamorelin for research?
Etched Research lists tesamorelin on this page as a 10mg vial of lyophilized powder, for laboratory research use only, shipped to US addresses. Stock status shows next to the add-to-cart button. Janoshik Analytical tested Tesamorelin 10mg from supplier stock in November 2025, and the result is on the lab reference page.
What is TH9507?
TH9507 is the development code for tesamorelin, which is the generic name. It is a GHRH analog, so it belongs with growth hormone axis compounds like sermorelin, not with GLP-1 compounds.
Shipping, eligibility and what comes in the box: store FAQ →
For research use only. Not for human consumption.
