Tesamorelin

Growth hormone axis

Also known as Egrifta, TH9507

A stabilised GHRH analogue. The only FDA-approved compound in this category.

How it works

A synthetic analogue of growth hormone releasing hormone that binds pituitary GHRH receptors and stimulates the body's own pulsatile growth hormone release, rather than supplying growth hormone directly.

Subcutaneous

In the body

Half-life

24 minutes

Time to peak

15 min

90% gone after

1.3 h

Builds up to

1×

Steady state after about 2 h at once daily.

Shape of a single dose, modelled as one compartment with first-order absorption. The peak is normalised to 100% because bioavailability and volume of distribution are not published for most of these compounds.

Roughly 26 to 38 minutes after subcutaneous dosing in people with HIV lipodystrophy.

What happens, and when

0 min, 30 minPeak plasma levels within about 15 minutes, triggering a growth hormone pulse.
30 min, 3 hPeptide cleared. The growth hormone pulse it triggered outlasts it.
3 h, 24 hDownstream IGF-1 effects, which build over weeks of daily dosing.

Doses

2 mgonce dailyApproved label

2 mg subcutaneously into the abdomen once daily, rotating the site. Approved for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Vial sizes

1 mg2 mg

Side effects

Injection site reactions, joint pain, muscle pain, swelling in the limbs
Raised IGF-1, which is the intended pharmacology and also the monitoring parameter
Glucose intolerance, growth hormone is counter-regulatory to insulin

Cautions

Active malignancy.
Disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis from surgery, radiation or tumour.
Pregnancy.
Known hypersensitivity to tesamorelin or mannitol.

Status

FDA approved as Egrifta. Prohibited in sport at all times under WADA category S2.

Sources

Egrifta prescribing information

Reference information for personal record-keeping. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to use any of these compounds.