The short version of Tesamorelin fits in a sentence. The long version — which is the one that helps — is below.
This page was last updated on 2026-02-23 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, a peptide hormone produced by the hypothalamus. The molecule retains the 44-amino-acid sequence of human GHRH and carries a trans-3-hexenoyl modification at its N-terminus. This modification increases resistance to enzymatic degradation and extends the peptide's functional stability relative to native GHRH. The compound is supplied as a lyophilized powder for reconstitution and subcutaneous administration in clinical settings. Its development code was TH9507, and it belongs to the GHRH analog class. It is not a growth hormone product; instead, it acts upstream to stimulate endogenous growth hormone release.
Clinical interest in tesamorelin arose from the need to address visceral adiposity in people living with HIV. Antiretroviral therapy improved survival but was associated in some patients with central fat accumulation, altered lipid profiles, and metabolic complications. This condition, often called HIV-associated lipodystrophy, involves excess visceral adipose tissue that is difficult to manage through diet and exercise alone. Investigators evaluated tesamorelin because GHRH analogs can stimulate growth hormone secretion and influence fat distribution without direct liposuction or invasive procedures.
A Phase 3 program led to regulatory approval in the United States in 2010 for reduction of excess visceral abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. Subsequent studies examined effects on liver fat, muscle area, and metabolic markers, with mixed findings for some endpoints. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes and effects on mortality remain uncertain because most trials were relatively short and focused on imaging-based fat measurements. Use in populations without HIV has been studied experimentally but is not part of the approved indication.
Tesamorelin is a synthetic peptide analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, built from 44 amino acids. Its sequence follows the natural human GHRH(1-44) backbone, with a trans-3-hexenoyl group attached to the N-terminal tyrosine. This modification blocks recognition by dipeptidyl peptidase IV, the enzyme that rapidly truncates the native hormone in circulation. The result is a molecule with a substantially longer plasma residence time than unmodified GHRH, which makes it practical for clinical and laboratory study.
Receptor-level activity begins when the peptide binds the GHRH receptor, a class B G-protein-coupled receptor found on pituitary somatotroph cells. Occupancy triggers Gs-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase and a rise in intracellular cyclic AMP, which in turn promotes synthesis and pulsatile release of growth hormone. Because the compound acts upstream of the growth hormone axis rather than supplying hormone directly, its effect depends on intact pituitary function. Binding studies in cell culture and animal models have established this pathway; the detailed kinetics of receptor recycling in humans remain less well characterized.
Physicochemical behavior is dominated by the peptide backbone. The molecule is hydrophilic and carries a net positive charge near neutral pH, owing to several arginine and lysine residues. In solution it adopts a largely unstructured conformation, and aggregation is a known concern for peptide products of this size. Oxidation of methionine and deamidation of asparagine or glutamine residues are the principal chemical degradation routes. These liabilities shape how the material is formulated, handled, and analyzed, and they explain why lyophilized presentations are common in research settings.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weight | Approximately 5,136 Da | Based on the 44-amino-acid peptide backbone and N-terminal modification. |
| Appearance | White to off-white lyophilized powder | Usually supplied in single-use vials for reconstitution. |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water; slightly soluble in some organic solvents | Peptide nature supports aqueous reconstitution. |
| Typical storage | 2–8 °C, protected from light | Refrigeration reduces degradation; avoid freezing unless specified. |
| Common analytical method | Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography | Used for identity, purity, and quantification. |
| Synonyms | Tesamorelin, TH9507, GHRH(1-44) analog | Generic descriptors; avoid proprietary names. |
== Taxonomy == Amanita virosa was first described in 1838 by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries as Agaricus virosus, but this name is illegitimate since it had already been used for an earlier and different species. Amanita virosa was legitimately published by French mycologist Louis-Adolphe Bertillon in 1866.
== External links == "Amphetamine". European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). CID 5826 from PubChem – Dextroamphetamine CID 32893 from PubChem – Levoamphetamine Comparative Toxicogenomics Database entry: Amphetamine Comparative Toxicogenomics Database entry: CARTPT
The predicted half-lives for these nuclides often greatly exceed the estimated age of the universe, and in fact, there are also 31 known radionuclides (see primordial nuclide) with half-lives longer than the age of the universe. The total of all known nuclides, of which most have been created only artificially, is several thousand, of which 987 are stable or have a half-life longer than one hour; see List of nuclides.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Education == California Labor School, San Francisco, US 1942–57 City of London School, UK Covington Latin School, Kentucky, US Crystal Lake South High School, Illinois, US Chicago Law School at The University of Chicago, US Columbia Law School at Columbia University, US Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Alberta, Canada Cornell Law School at Cornell University, US Critical Language Scholarship Program of the US State Department
. Aston's early model of nuclear structure (prior to the discovery of the neutron) postulated that the electromagnetic fields of closely packed protons and electrons in the nucleus would interfere and a fraction of the mass would be destroyed. A low packing fraction is indicative of a stable nucleus.
== External links == Images of fruit development from flowers at bioimages.Vanderbilt.edu (archived 18 February 2007) Fruit and seed dispersal images at bioimages.Vanderbilt.edu (archived 25 April 2017) Fruit Facts (Archived 2020-07-12 at the Wayback Machine from California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.) Photo ID of Fruits (Archived 2021-01-09 at the Wayback Machine by Capt. Pawanexh Kohli) "Fruit" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Mechanism of action == Chemically, naloxegol is a pegylated (polyethylene glycol-modified) derivative of α-naloxol. Specifically, the 6-α-hydroxyl group of α-naloxol is connected via an ether linkage to the free hydroxyl group of a monomethoxy-terminated n=7 oligomer of PEG, shown extending at the lower left of the molecule image at right. The "n=7" defines the number of two-carbon ethylenes, and so the chain length, of the attached PEG chain, and the "monomethoxy" indicates that the terminal hydroxyl group of the PEG is "capped" with a methyl group. The pegylation of the 6-α-hydroxyl side chain of naloxol prevents the drug from crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB).
=== Glucocorticoid activity === Progesterone is a partial agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). It has about 35% of the affinity of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, for the human GR, and about 3 to 11% of the affinity of dexamethasone for the rat GR. However, progesterone appears to show weak or no glucocorticoid activity and no antiglucocorticoid activity in vitro and in animals. Nonetheless, progesterone has been found to upregulate the thrombin receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro, a glucocorticoid effect, and this could have clinical relevance in relation to risk of blood clots.
The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (a.k.a. Essential Medicines List or EML), published by the World Health Organization (WHO), contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe to meet the most important needs in a health system. The list is frequently used by countries to help develop their own local lists of essential medicines. As of 2016, more than 155 countries have created national lists of essential medicines based on the World Health Organization's model list. This includes both developed and developing countries. The list is divided into core items and complementary items. The core items are deemed to be the most cost-effective options for key health problems and are usable with little additional health care resources. The complementary items either require additional infrastructure such as specially trained health care providers or diagnostic equipment or have a lower benefit–cost ratio. About 25% of items are in the complementary list. Some medications are listed as both core and complementary. While most medications on the list are available as generic products, being under patent does not prevent inclusion. The first list was published in 1977 and included 208 medications. The WHO updates the list every two years. There are 306 medications in the 14th list in 2005, 410 in the 19th list in 2015, 433 in the 20th list in 2017, 460 in the 21st list in 2019, and 479 in the 22nd list in 2021. Various national lists contain between 334 and 580 medications. The Essential Medicines List (EML) was updated in September 2025 to its 24th edition.
=== Organization of complexes === The original model for how the respiratory chain complexes are organized was that they diffuse freely and independently in the mitochondrial membrane. However, recent data suggest that the complexes might form higher-order structures called supercomplexes or "respirasomes". In this model, the various complexes exist as organized sets of interacting enzymes. These associations might allow channeling of substrates between the various enzyme complexes, increasing the rate and efficiency of electron transfer. Within such mammalian supercomplexes, some components would be present in higher amounts than others, with some data suggesting a ratio between complexes I/II/III/IV and the ATP synthase of approximately 1:1:3:7:4. However, the debate over this supercomplex hypothesis is not completely resolved, as some data do not appear to fit with this model.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is a synthetic peptide analog of human growth hormone-releasing hormone. It is used clinically to reduce excess visceral abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It works by stimulating pituitary growth hormone release.
Pivotal trials enrolled adults with HIV and excess visceral abdominal fat, often in the context of antiretroviral therapy. Participants were assessed mainly by computed tomography for visceral adipose tissue. The approved indication remains specific to that population.
Long-term effects on cardiovascular events, mortality, and sustained fat distribution are not well established. Most trials measured changes over months rather than years. Open questions also include whether benefits persist after treatment stops.
The principal difference is a chemical cap on the N-terminal tyrosine that prevents rapid enzymatic cleavage. Native GHRH is degraded within minutes in plasma, whereas the modified peptide persists considerably longer. The amino acid backbone otherwise mirrors the natural hormone.