What Is Tesamorelin?

The short definition

Tesamorelin is a synthetic GHRH analog that stimulates growth hormone release. Its approved U.S. use is reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. (FDA prescribing information)

Three distinctions that matter

Question	Evidence-based answer
Is it a general weight-loss medicine?	No. Weight-loss management is excluded from the label.
Does a visceral-fat result establish every body-composition claim?	No. The pivotal endpoint and studied HIV population define what was demonstrated.
Are Egrifta WR and Egrifta SV interchangeable?	No. The label says they are not substitutable.

Sources: current label and pivotal trial.

Reading the research

Evidence grade: high for the approved visceral-fat endpoint in the studied population. One pivotal study reported a six-month visceral-fat change of -10.9% with tesamorelin versus -0.6% with placebo. The extension showed loss of the initial improvement after switching to placebo. Those findings do not establish a lasting cure or a general anti-aging benefit. (Trial report)

Safety and eligibility are separate questions from whether an endpoint improved. The current label includes contraindications and glucose, IGF-1, fluid-retention and allergy warnings. (FDA label)

Continue to the tesamorelin dossier for individual studies or the safety overview for label limitations.

Educational reference, not medical advice or an administration guide.

Sources & Citations

• 1

  regulatory

  EGRIFTA WR prescribing information, revised March 2025

  fda-egrifta-wr-2025

• 2

  regulatory

  EGRIFTA WR - tesamorelin kit; DailyMed label updated July 29, 2026

  dailymed-egrifta-wr-2026

• 3

  journal

  Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension

  pmid-20101189