Tesamorelin Chemical

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Tesamorelin references: the cited literature.

The studies behind every quantitative claim on this site — pivotal trials, mechanistic studies, the FDA label, and recent meta-analytic and imaging work.

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About these references

Every quantitative claim in this digest maps to one of the sources below. The record runs from the pivotal Phase 3 visceral-fat trials and the JAMA hepatic-fat study to the non-HIV cognition trial and its imaging substudy, the population-PK analysis, the FDA prescribing label, and recent meta-analytic and review work. Primary sources are linked by PubMed URL or DOI where available; regulatory and drug-safety documents are linked to their official pages.

  1. Tesamorelin structure and DPP-IV-resistance characterization (tesamorelin acetate, GHRH(1-44) analogue with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid modification; CAS 218949-48-5; molecular weight ~5135.9 Da). Compiled from the tesamorelin compound corpus structure block; cross-referenced to the NIH LiverTox tesamorelin monograph. ↗
  2. Mechanism summary: GHRH-R Gs/adenylyl-cyclase/cAMP/PKA cascade; growth-hormone-driven hepatic IGF-1 via JAK2/STAT5; hormone-sensitive-lipase-mediated visceral lipolysis. Compiled from the tesamorelin compound corpus mechanism block; cross-referenced to the NIH LiverTox tesamorelin monograph. ↗
  3. Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(23):2359-2370. ↗
  4. Falutz J, Allas S, Mamputu JC, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, Brown S, Richmond G, Fessel J, Turner R, Grinspoon S. Long-term safety and effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation. AIDS. 2008;22(14):1719-1728. ↗
  5. Stanley TL, Feldpausch MN, Oh J, Branch KL, Lee H, Torriani M, Grinspoon SK. Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312(4):380-389. ↗
  6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Tesamorelin. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. NCBI Bookshelf (NIH); 2018. Notes FDA approval (2010) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy and a likelihood score of E (unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury). ↗
  7. Stanley TL, Chen CY, Branch KL, Makimura H, Grinspoon SK. Effects of a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog on endogenous GH pulsatility and insulin sensitivity in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(1):150-158. ↗
  8. Baker LD, Barsness SM, Borson S, Merriam GR, Friedman SD, Craft S, Vitiello MV. Effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone on cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults: results of a controlled trial. Arch Neurol. 2012;69(11):1420-1429. ↗
  9. Wang Y, Tomlinson B. Tesamorelin, a human growth hormone releasing factor analogue. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2009;18(3):303-310. ↗
  10. Friedman SD, et al. Growth hormone-releasing hormone effects on brain gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in mild cognitive impairment and healthy aging. JAMA Neurol. 2013;70(7):883-890. ↗
  11. Yen DW, Sherman KE. Causes and outcomes of hepatic fibrosis in persons living with HIV. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2022;17(6):359-367. ↗
  12. Gonzalez-Sales M, et al. Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tesamorelin (apparent plasma clearance ~1,060 L/h; ~13% increase in absorbed fraction by day 14 vs day 1). 2015. PMID 25358450. Secondary-source terminal half-life on the order of ~26-38 minutes (FDA label; Mayo Clinic). ↗
  13. Badran AS, et al. Body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic, and safety outcomes of tesamorelin, a GHRH analogue, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2026. Pooled VAT -27.71 cm2; trunk fat -1.18 kg; hepatic fat -4.28%; lean mass +1.42 kg. ↗
  14. Ellis RJ, Vaida F, Hu K, Dube MP, Henry B, Chow F, Heaton RK, Lee D, Sattler F. Effects of tesamorelin on neurocognitive impairment in persons with HIV and abdominal obesity. J Infect Dis. 2025. Significant waist-circumference reduction; no significant between-group neurocognitive benefit. ↗
  15. Theratechnologies Inc. (FDA-approved labeling). Tesamorelin for injection — Full Prescribing Information. U.S. FDA Prescribing Information (NDA 022505); 2025. Contraindications: active malignancy, hypersensitivity, pregnancy (animal organogenesis hydrocephaly); warnings on stimulating endogenous GH and raising serum IGF-1. ↗