- Also known as
- Tesamorelin acetate · Egrifta · stabilised GHRH(1-44)
- Class
- GHRH analogue (stabilised GHRH 1-44)
- Form
- Lyophilised powder
- Sizes
- 5 mg · 10 mg
- Storage, dry
- −20 °C, dry and dark
- Storage, mixed
- 2–8 °C, use within 28 days of mixing (as generally reported for reconstituted peptides)
- BAC water per size
- 5 mg: 2 mL · 10 mg: 2 mL
What is Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analogue of the full 44-amino-acid human growth hormone-releasing hormone, GHRH(1-44), modified to make it more stable. It acts on the GHRH receptor in the pituitary, increasing the body's own basal and pulsatile growth hormone release, which in turn raises IGF-1. Unlike ipamorelin, it does not act on the ghrelin receptor. Tesamorelin is the most clinically studied peptide in this family: large phase 3 trials tested 2 mg once daily by subcutaneous injection in people with HIV who had excess abdominal fat, and it is the only FDA-approved therapy for that condition in the United States. Later trials measured liver fat, muscle, blood glucose in type 2 diabetes and cognition. Almost all of the evidence comes from people with HIV.
What the research shows
| Study | Model | Dose used | Duration | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falutz J et al.2010 · J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr · PMID 20101189 | Human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension, people with HIV and excess abdominal fat (n=404) | 2 mg s.c. once daily | 6 months, then a 6-month rerandomised extension | Visceral fat fell by 10.9% with tesamorelin vs 0.6% with placebo over 6 months (P < 0.0001), and by about 18% in those continuing for 12 months. IGF-I rose with no change in glucose parameters; the gains were rapidly lost in those switched to placebo. |
| Falutz J et al.2008 · AIDS · PMID 18690162 | Human, randomised, placebo-controlled trial and extension, people with HIV and central fat accumulation (n=410) | 2 mg s.c. once daily | 26 weeks, then a 26-week extension (52 weeks total) | The drop in visceral fat was sustained at 18% over 52 weeks, with triglycerides down 51 mg/dl (both P < 0.001 vs baseline). Adverse events were comparable between phases and glucose changes were not clinically significant; visceral fat reaccumulated after stopping. |
| Stanley TL et al.2014 · JAMA · PMID 25038357 | Human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, people with HIV and abdominal fat accumulation (n=50) | 2 mg s.c. once daily | 6 months | Visceral fat changed by −34 cm² with tesamorelin vs +8 cm² with placebo (P = .005), and liver fat fell by a median 2.0% vs a rise of 0.9% (P = .003). Fasting glucose rose at 2 weeks, but glucose changes over 6 months were not significant. |
| Stanley TL et al.2019 · Lancet HIV · PMID 31611038 | Human, randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial, people with HIV and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (n=61) | 2 mg once daily | 12 months, then a 6-month open-label phase | Hepatic fat fraction fell by an absolute 4.1% more than with placebo (p = 0.018), a 37% relative reduction. After 12 months 35% on tesamorelin and 4% on placebo had a fat fraction under 5%; fasting glucose and HbA1c did not differ between groups. |
| Clemmons DR et al.2017 · PLoS One · PMID 28617838 | Human, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, patients with type 2 diabetes (n=53) | 1 or 2 mg | 12 weeks | There were no significant differences between groups in relative insulin response, fasting glucose, HbA1c or overall diabetes control. Total and non-HDL cholesterol fell significantly in the 2 mg group. |
| Makimura H et al.2014 · J Clin Endocrinol Metab · PMID 24178787 | Human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, obese adults with reduced GH secretion (n=39) | Not stated in the abstract | 12 months | IGF-I rose by 102.9 μg/L with tesamorelin vs 22.8 μg/L with placebo (P = .02). Increases in IGF-I correlated with faster phosphocreatine recovery after exercise, a marker the authors link to mitochondrial function. |
| Adrian S et al.2019 · J Frailty Aging · PMID 31237318 | Human, secondary analysis of two randomised trials, people with HIV and abdominal obesity (193 tesamorelin responders, 148 placebo) | Not stated in the abstract | 26 weeks | Among responders, tesamorelin was associated with significantly greater increases in the density of four trunk muscle groups and in lean muscle area (all p < 0.005) compared with placebo. |
| Ellis RJ et al.2025 · J Infect Dis · PMID 39813152 | Human, randomised, open-label phase 2 trial vs standard of care, people with HIV, abdominal obesity and neurocognitive impairment (n=73) | 2 mg s.c. daily | 6 months | Waist circumference fell more with tesamorelin (median difference −2.7 cm; P = .015), but the change in neurocognitive performance did not differ between groups (P = .673). |
What these studies don't show: Nearly all of these trials enrolled people with HIV, so the results may not apply to other groups; only two small trials looked at people without HIV. The body-composition effects reversed when treatment stopped, and the longest controlled data here run to about 12 months. The muscle findings come from a secondary analysis restricted to responders, and the cognition trial found no benefit over standard care.
Every study links to its PubMed record. See all Tesamorelin studies in the research library →
Tesamorelin price in Australia: 5mg and 10mg vials
Buy Tesamorelin in Australia in 2 vial sizes and a starter kit. Prices are in AUD, you pay by PayID or bank transfer, and orders are dispatched from Australian stock.
| Size | Price | Per mg | BAC water (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | $89.99 | $18.00/mg | 2 mL |
| 10 mg | $145.99 | $14.60/mg | 2 mL |
The BAC water column is an example volume for the maths only. Open the calculator (pre-set for Tesamorelin).
Starter kit
Is Tesamorelin available in Australia?
Tesamorelin is not registered on the ARTG, and there is no TGA-approved product containing it. Tasman Peptides supplies it as a research chemical for laboratory research only. It is not sold for human consumption. How the TGA treats research peptides →
Side effects reported in studies
In the phase 3 trials in people with HIV, tesamorelin was described as generally well tolerated, with adverse events and serious adverse events at similar rates across the study phases. One trial reported more localised injection-site complaints than placebo, none judged serious, and another saw fasting glucose rise at 2 weeks without a significant change over 6 months.
Reconstitution
| Vial | BAC water (example) | Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.50 mg/mL |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL |
Tesamorelin FAQ
Where can I buy tesamorelin in Australia?
Tasman Peptides supplies research-grade tesamorelin in Australia for laboratory research only. It comes as lyophilised powder in 5 mg and 10 mg vials, each batch is tested by HPLC, and orders are dispatched from Australian stock. It is not sold for human consumption and is not a TGA-approved product.
What is tesamorelin studied for?
Tesamorelin is mainly studied for reducing visceral (abdominal) fat in people with HIV, where phase 3 trials found a fall of about 11% at 6 months and 18% at 12 months. Later trials measured liver fat, trunk muscle, glucose control in type 2 diabetes, mitochondrial markers in obese adults and cognition.
Is tesamorelin the same as Egrifta?
Yes, Egrifta is the United States brand name for tesamorelin. It is not registered on the ARTG, so there is no Egrifta or other tesamorelin product approved by the TGA in Australia. Tasman supplies tesamorelin as a research chemical only.
Is tesamorelin legal in Australia?
Tesamorelin is not registered on the ARTG and there is no TGA-approved product containing it, although it is FDA-approved in the United States for abdominal fat accumulation in people with HIV. Tasman Peptides supplies it as a research chemical for laboratory research only.
What dose of tesamorelin was used in the trials?
The trials in these records almost all used 2 mg by subcutaneous injection once daily, for 12 weeks to 12 months. A 12-week trial in type 2 diabetes and two phase 1 pharmacokinetic studies also used 1 mg daily. The dosage table on this page lists each study with its source.
What is the difference between tesamorelin and ipamorelin?
Tesamorelin and ipamorelin act on different receptors. Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid GHRH analogue that acts on the GHRH receptor, while ipamorelin is a five-amino-acid agonist of the ghrelin (growth hormone secretagogue) receptor. Tesamorelin has large human trials behind it, mostly in HIV; ipamorelin's evidence is mostly from rats.
What is the difference between 5 mg and 10 mg tesamorelin?
The only difference is the amount of peptide in the vial: 5 mg or 10 mg of the same lyophilised tesamorelin. As a neutral maths default the site's calculator uses 1 mL of bacteriostatic water per 5 mg, with a 2 mL minimum, so 2 mL for either vial. This is arithmetic only.
How much is tesamorelin per mg?
Tesamorelin comes in 5 mg and 10 mg vials, and the current prices are shown in the size table on this page. Dividing a vial's price by its mg gives the price per mg. The starter kit is priced separately.
How should tesamorelin be stored?
Store the dry powder at −20 °C, sealed, dry and away from light. Once reconstituted, keep it at 2–8 °C and use it within 28 days, as is generally reported for reconstituted peptides. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing of a mixed solution.
Is there a tesamorelin starter kit?
Yes, there is a tesamorelin starter kit. It is built around a single vial, and the kit page lists exactly what it includes. Like the vials, it is supplied for laboratory research only.
