Metabolic & Body Composition

Tesamorelin

FDA-approved GHRH analog for the reduction of visceral abdominal fat in clinical populations with HIV. Potent and effective for central fat reduction.

Also known as: Egrifta · TH9507

Specifications

Research areaMetabolic & Body Composition
Half-life~30 min
Molecular weight5136.0 Da
Amino acid residues44
CAS number218949-48-9
FormulaC₂₂₁H₃₆₆N₇₂O₆₇S
Sequencetrans-3-hexenoyl-GHRH(1-44)NH₂ (Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe...44 aa)
Designationtrans-3-hexenoyl-Tyr¹-hGRF(1-44)NH₂

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life~30 min
T-max~15 min
C-max2.9–3.5 ng/mL (2 mg SC)
Bioavailability~4% SC (peptide)
RouteSubcutaneous (research use)

Receptor targets

GHRH receptorPituitary agonist
Anterior pituitary somatotrophsEndogenous GH release

Signalling cascade

  1. GHRH-R binding
  2. Gαs activation
  3. cAMP ↑
  4. GH secretion
  5. Hepatic IGF-1 production
  6. Lipolysis (visceral fat)

Research areas

Visceral fatBody compositionGrowth hormoneIGF-1
Mechanism of action
Synthetic analogue of endogenous GHRH(1-44) stabilized with trans-3-hexenoic acid at the N-terminus. Binds pituitary GHRH receptors to stimulate endogenous GH secretion and downstream IGF-1 production while preserving natural feedback regulation via somatostatin.
Reported research ranges
2 mg subcutaneously once daily in the abdomen.
Reported adverse effects
Peripheral edema, arthralgia, myalgia, water retention, hyperglycemia in predisposed individuals.
Storage and handling
Refrigerate at 2–8 °C after reconstitution. Do not freeze.

Research focus

  • Visceral adipose tissue metabolism and lipolysis
  • IGF-1 axis activation and growth factor cascade
  • Endocrine feedback regulation via somatostatin
  • Lipodystrophy and metabolic dysfunction models
  • Sustained GHRH receptor binding pharmacokinetics

Overview

Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that has been specifically designed to provide clean and repetitive pulses of growth hormone in cellular and rodent models. Its ability to induce controlled secretions of growth hormone allows researchers to examine various metabolic processes, particularly those related to fat metabolism.

Research on Tesamorelin focuses on its role in activating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and in endocrine feedback mechanisms. These studies are crucial for understanding how growth hormone is regulated in the body and how it influences metabolism, which may have significant implications in the research of metabolic disorders.

This material is published for scientific and educational reference. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, and not an offer to sell. Compounds discussed are for research and laboratory use only.

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