Tesamorelin

What tesamorelin is

Tesamorelin is a synthetic 44-amino-acid analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). The N-terminal tyrosine carries a trans-3-hexenoyl modification that blocks dipeptidyl peptidase-IV degradation — the primary clearance mechanism for native GHRH — extending plasma half-life in research models from ~10 minutes (native) to ~26-38 minutes (tesamorelin). Artemis Labs supplies tesamorelin acetate as a lyophilized research reference compound at ≥99% HPLC purity with batch-specific Certificate of Analysis.

Regulatory context — important disambiguation

The finished pharmaceutical Egrifta SV / Egrifta WR (Theratechnologies) is FDA-approved (since 2010) for reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy — making tesamorelin the only GHRH analog with active US FDA approval. Artemis Labs does not market, substitute for, or offer the FDA-approved Egrifta product. The Artemis SKU is a research reagent only and is not intended for human use. Tesamorelin is also on the WADA Prohibited List, Section S2, prohibited at all times in competitive sport.

Research applications (mechanism-only)

Tesamorelin is studied in laboratory contexts examining GHRH-receptor pharmacology (Class-B GPCR; Gαs / cAMP / PKA signalling on anterior-pituitary somatotrophs), pulsatile GH-secretion dynamics, IGF-1-axis modelling, and visceral-adipose-tissue lipolysis pathways. Recent 2025-2026 reviews position tesamorelin in metabolic-dysfunction-associated-steatotic-liver-disease (MASLD) research (Gattu 2025, PMID 40397552) and in lean-mass-preservation research (Arora 2026, PMID 41598480).

2026 meta-analytic confirmation

A 2026 meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (Badran et al. 2026, Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, PMID 41545261) reported significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue, hepatic fat, and waist circumference with increases in lean body mass; adverse events were limited to mild arthralgia, myalgia, paresthesia, and injection-site reactions. The published trial dataset cited above refers to the Egrifta pharmaceutical product, not to Artemis Labs reagent.

Emerging combination research

Beach et al. (2026, PMID 42139091) document distinct therapeutic pathway research using tesamorelin and GLP-1 receptor agonists in HIV-positive populations with different body-composition presentations — leveraging GHRH-axis (tesamorelin) and incretin-axis (GLP-1 RA) mechanisms as complementary rather than redundant in research-design rationale.

Specifications

• ≥99% purity by RP-HPLC; identity confirmed by mass spectrometry
• Lyophilized white powder; 10 mg per vial (acetate salt)
• Molecular weight: ~5,196 g/mol (full molecule with trans-3-hexenoyl modification) · Molecular formula: C₂₂₁H₃₆₆N₇₂O₆₇S
• CAS: 218949-48-5 · acetate-salt CAS: 901758-09-6
• Storage: ≤ −20 °C lyophilized, desiccated, protected from light · 2-8 °C reconstituted (refer to lot COA)
• Endotoxin: ≤ 0.5 EU/mg (LAL assay; lot-specific)
• Third-party Certificate of Analysis on request

For research use only. Not for human consumption. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Tesamorelin is prohibited under WADA Section S2 at all times in competitive sport.

Science & Research

Mechanism of Action

Tesamorelin is a synthetic 44-amino-acid GHRH analog carrying a trans-3-hexenoyl group on the N-terminal tyrosine. This N-acyl modification confers resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) degradation, the primary clearance mechanism for native GHRH. The intact peptide binds the GHRH receptor (GHRH-R), a Class-B GPCR expressed on anterior-pituitary somatotrophs; receptor activation drives Gαs / cAMP / PKA signalling, increasing pulsatile GH secretion and subsequent hepatic IGF-1 production (Mendias 2026, PMID 41966639; Renke 2026, PMID 42123471).

Pharmacokinetic Profile (Published Research, Egrifta)

• Plasma half-life ~26-38 minutes subcutaneous (vs ~10 min native GHRH)
• Time-to-peak ~15-30 minutes post-injection
• Renal clearance of intact peptide; enzymatic degradation by serum peptidases
• DPP-IV resistance is the basis for extended half-life vs native GHRH

Note: these figures characterize the published Egrifta clinical pharmacokinetics, not Artemis Labs reagent handling. Artemis supplies tesamorelin as a research-grade reference compound.

2026 Meta-Analysis (Badran 2026)

Badran et al. 2026 (Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, PMID 41545261) synthesized five randomized controlled trials of tesamorelin in HIV-associated lipodystrophy:

• Significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue, trunk fat, hepatic fat percentage, and waist circumference
• Statistically significant increases in lean body mass
• Adverse events limited to mild arthralgia, myalgia, paresthesia, and injection-site erythema
• No serious glucose perturbations across analyzed cohorts

Class positioning (GHRH analog comparator snapshot)

Verified PubMed references (Builder 1 / Scout 3 2026-05-20 set)

1. Badran AS et al. 2026 — meta-analysis 5 RCTs — PMID 41545261
2. Beach R et al. 2026 — case-series tesamorelin + GLP-1 RA — PMID 42139091
3. Parienti JJ 2026 — IDWeek 2025 industry roundup — PMID 42139090
4. Chege BM 2026 — ART rodent model cardioprotection — PMID 42018810
5. Gattu AK 2025 — MASLD in HIV — PMID 40397552
6. Renke G 2026 — therapeutic peptides aesthetic/metabolic/endocrine — PMID 42123471
7. Mendias CL 2026 — peptide therapies MSK/athletic — PMID 41966639
8. Arora G 2026 — lean body mass preservation — PMID 41598480
9. Rahman OF 2026 — orthopaedic peptides — PMID 41490200
10. Coutinho LFD 2026 — peptide-drugs in sport (WADA) — PMID 41880199
11. Villegas Meza AD 2026 — injectable peptides in sports medicine — PMID 42160466

Research Stacks (Mechanism-Only)

Stacking rationale below is mechanistic only, drawn from peer-reviewed pre-clinical and clinical literature. No dosing, scheduling, or protocol guidance is provided. All references are for in-vitro / laboratory research framing.

• Tesamorelin × CJC-1295 — Two GHRH-axis comparators: long-acting modified GRF(1-29) (CJC-1295) versus DPP-IV-resistant GHRH(1-44) (tesamorelin). Useful for kinetic-comparator research designs studying GHRH-R desensitization vs sustained signalling.
• Tesamorelin × Sermorelin — Native GHRH(1-29) reference comparator versus N-acyl-stabilized full-length GHRH(1-44). Half-life × receptor-engagement comparison.
• Tesamorelin × Ipamorelin — Orthogonal-receptor pairing (GHRH-R + GHS-R1a). Beach et al. 2026 (PMID 42139091) describes complementary mechanism research in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
• Tesamorelin × MOTS-c — Co-studied for metabolic effects downstream of GH/IGF-1 (tesamorelin) versus mitochondrial AMPK-mediated metabolism (MOTS-c).
• Tesamorelin × GLP-1 RAs (tirzepatide, retatrutide) — Distinct receptor pathways (GHRH-R vs incretin axis) — Beach et al. 2026 explicitly examines these as complementary in research-design contexts.