2010
In this combined analysis of over 800 HIV patients, tesamorelin reduced visceral fat (deep belly fat) by an average of 15.4% compared to placebo at 26 weeks. The reduction was maintained at 52 weeks in those who continued treatment. It also improved triglycerides (blood fats) by 12% and significantly improved how patients felt about their belly appearance.
Falutz J, Mamputu JC, Potvin D, et al.
2012
Patients who achieved at least 8% reduction in visceral fat (called 'responders') experienced significantly greater improvements in triglycerides, glucose control, and adiponectin levels (adiponectin is a hormone linked to better blood sugar handling) compared to non-responders. This shows that the metabolic benefits match how much visceral fat you lose.
Stanley TL, Falutz J, Marsolais C, et al.
2012
In a 20-week trial with 152 adults (some with mild cognitive impairment, early memory and thinking problems), tesamorelin improved executive function (planning and decision-making skills) and showed a trend toward better verbal memory. IGF-1 levels (a growth signal) increased 117% and body fat decreased 7.4%. This suggests tesamorelin may have brain health benefits beyond just fat reduction.
Baker LD, Barsness SM, Borson S, et al.
2019
In people with HIV and fatty liver disease, tesamorelin reduced liver fat by 37% relative to placebo over 12 months. Remarkably, 35% of tesamorelin patients reached liver fat levels below 5% (essentially normal) compared to only 4% on placebo. This opens up possible new uses for liver health.
Stanley TL, Fourman LT, Feldpausch MN, et al.
2011
This comprehensive review confirmed tesamorelin's effectiveness and safety profile. It noted that while visceral fat falls significantly, subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) stays stable. This is an important difference because subcutaneous fat is metabolically healthier. Side effects were manageable and serious events occurred in less than 4% of patients.
Dhillon S
2019
Theratechnologies Inc. / U.S. FDA
2010
In this 12-month trial of 404 HIV-infected patients, visceral fat fell 10.9% on tesamorelin versus 0.6% on placebo over the first 6 months. It was about 18% below baseline in patients who continued the drug for 12 months. Patients switched (re-randomized) from tesamorelin to placebo quickly lost the visceral fat reduction they had gained. No change in glucose measures was observed.
Falutz J, Potvin D, Mamputu JC, et al.
2007
Adding a trans-3-hexenoyl group (a small chemical attachment) to the first amino acid of GHRH(1-44) made the peptide resistant to breakdown by dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-IV (an enzyme that chops up peptides). This slowed its breakdown in rat, dog and human plasma (the liquid part of blood) and kept it in circulation longer. The modified peptide still raised growth hormone and IGF-1 in pigs, rats and dogs. The apparent elimination half-life (the time for half of it to leave the body) in dogs was 21 to 45 minutes.
Ferdinandi ES, Brazeau P, High K, Procter B, Fennell S, Dubreuil P
2025
This review describes how GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) attaches to the GHRH receptor on the pituitary gland. This receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor (a type of cell-surface receptor) found mainly on somatotroph cells (growth-hormone-making cells). Activating the receptor raises intracellular cAMP (a chemical messenger inside the cell). The resulting signals add phosphate groups to CREB (a protein that switches genes on), which together with its helper proteins p300 and CREB-binding protein increases growth hormone gene activity (transcription).
Halmos G, Szabo Z, Dobos N, Juhasz E, Schally AV