Tesamorelin Research Evidence
The Tesamorelin evidence base: trials, journals, and what the data does not yet show.
Key Findings at a Glance
• Tesamorelin is the only FDA-approved GHRH analog, specifically indicated for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV patients with lipodystrophy and marketed as Egrifta. • Tesamorelin selectively reduces visceral fat by 15 to 18 percent while preserving subcutaneous fat, a targeted redistribution not achievable through caloric restriction alone. • Beyond fat reduction, Tesamorelin significantly lowers liver fat content and improves NAFLD markers, expanding its research relevance to hepatic steatosis treatment. • Unlike direct growth hormone injection, Tesamorelin stimulates the pituitary to produce GH naturally, maintaining physiological feedback regulation and avoiding supraphysiological hormone levels.
Body Composition Effects
Clinical studies document Tesamorelin's beneficial effects on overall body composition beyond visceral fat reduction, including potential preservation or increase in lean body mass through growth hormone's anabolic actions on skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Research has shown improved trunk fat-to-lean mass ratios and favorable redistribution of body fat from central to peripheral depots in treated patients. Studies indicate the peptide may improve physical function and quality of life measures related to body composition changes, including exercise capacity and self-reported energy levels. The dual action of reducing metabolically harmful visceral fat while supporting lean tissue preservation distinguishes Tesamorelin from caloric restriction-based approaches that often result in muscle loss. These body composition optimization properties have generated interest in Tesamorelin for research into sarcopenic obesity, age-related body composition changes, and metabolic rehabilitation strategies for populations with abnormal fat distribution patterns.
Trials and reviews
- Falutz HIV lipodystrophyNEJM2007
-15% visceral fat @ 26wk · N=412
References
- Effects of tesamorelin on visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy · Falutz J, et al. · 2007
- Falutz J, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;357(23):2359-2370. · Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, Brown S, Richmond G, Fessel J, Turner R, Grinspoon S · 2007
- Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV. · Fourman LT, Czerwonka N, Feldpausch MN et al. · 2017
- FDA prescribing information
- Falutz J, et al. Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2010;95(9):4291-4304. · Raappana A, Koivukangas J, Ebeling T, Pirilä T · 2010
- Predictors of Treatment Response to Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Analog, in HIV-Infected Patients with Excess Abdominal Fat. · Mangili A, Falutz J, Mamputu JC et al. · 2015
- [PDF] Egrifta, 1 mg/vial. - accessdata.fda.gov
- Stanley TL, et al. Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation. JAMA. 2014;312(4):380-389. · Stanley TL, Feldpausch MN, Oh J, Branch KL, Lee H, Torriani M, Grinspoon SK · 2014
- 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. · Falutz J, Mamputu JC, Potvin D et al. · 2010
- [PDF] SUMMARY REVIEW - accessdata.fda.gov
- Makimura H, et al. Effects of tesamorelin on cardiometabolic risk factors in HIV-infected patients. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(9):2831-2838. · Newens KJ, Thompson AK, Jackson KG, Wright J, Williams CM · 2011
- Effects of tesamorelin on inflammatory markers in HIV patients with excess abdominal fat: relationship with visceral adipose reduction. · Stanley TL, Falutz J, Mamputu JC et al. · 2011
- Metabolic Effects of a Growth Hormone–Releasing Factor in Patients with HIV · Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, Brown S, Richmond G, Fessel J, Turner R, Grinspoon S · 2007