Peptide
As an analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone, tesamorelin binds with the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors of the anterior pituitary gland, thus stimulating the secretion of growth hormone.
Egrifta, Tesamorelin Acetate, LGW5H38VE3, TH9507, UNII-LGW5H38VE3
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that is used to stimulate the manufacture and release of growth hormone (GH) in the human body.
Tesamorelin was first developed by Canadian firm Theratechnologies Inc. to treat lipodystrophy, a condition that is common in HIV patients who receive long-term antiretroviral therapy [1]. Lipodystrophy sufferers experience, among other things, increased amounts of abdominal fat—a condition that tesamorelin helps to improve.
In 2010, the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) first approved tesamorelin as a treatment for HIV-related lipodystrophy, and the prescription drug became available for sale under brand name Egrifta [2].
The peptide is now being researched for applications beyond body fat redistribution syndrome, including to facilitate fat loss, aid in recovery following nerve injury, and as a potential treatment of mild cognitive impairment.
Keep reading for more details on how tesamorelin works, as well as our overview of its benefits, side effects, dosage conventions, and where to buy research-grade tesamorelin online.
Tesamorelin is similar to GHRH (also known as growth hormone-releasing factor) in structure and effects, but it is actually a peptide, composed of 44 amino acids as well as a trans-3-hexenoic acid group [3]. The latter helps to make tesamorelin more stable and longer-lasting than natural GHRH.
As an analogue of GHRH, tesamorelin binds to the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors (GHRHr) located in the anterior pituitary gland, thereby prompting the somatotropic cells therein to synthesize and release growth hormone (GH) in the body [4].
Growth hormone is a powerful anabolic hormone, one of the most important chemical signals for the body to build and repair tissue. It is involved in many processes, from creating new muscle to repairing torn tissue and even breaking down fat. GH is plentiful in the body during childhood and adolescence, but decreases with age. This process of decline can affect athletic performance, mobility, and the length of time it takes to recover from an injury [4].
Given the above, a GHRH analogue like tesamorelin can be successfully used to stimulate the production of GH to address a variety of conditions like growth hormone deficiency, fat accumulation, cognitive decline, and nerve injury.