Tesamorelin
Egrifta · TH9507
A medicine that raises growth hormone, approved in the US for excess belly fat in adults with HIV. The EU application was withdrawn.
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- Type
- Growth hormone signal
- Stage
- Approved medicine
- Safety
- Well known
- Risk of fakes
- Medium
- Checked
- Not yet
Safety. A US drug label for one use. It warns of cancer risk and raised IGF-1. Studies were in people with HIV. Sources: US drug label, study 1.
Risk of fakes. A 2026 review lists it among peptides advertised directly to patients. We found no tests of these products. Sources: study 1.
Is it legal
| Where | Status | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL | No approval | The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. Source | Not yet |
| EU | No approval | The application for Egrifta was withdrawn. Source | Not yet |
| US | Prescription only | Prescription medicine (Egrifta). Source | Not yet |
How much research exists
Scientific papers per year 2015–2025
These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.
What studies show
- BFat loss
Effect in studies. Fat around the organs in the belly fell about 18% in people with HIV, the approved use. The effect faded after stopping. There are no data on ordinary weight loss.
Reported side effects
What doctors, patients and companies reported to the US medicines agency (FDA), and single cases described in medical journals. A report says what happened to someone after taking the substance. It does not prove the substance caused it, and it does not say how often it happens. Reports do not change any grade.
Reports to the FDA (USA)
- Reports
- 3,625
- Of these, serious
- 840
| Most often reported | Reports |
|---|---|
| Joint pain | 286 |
| Pain where the needle went in | 274 |
| Weight gain | 191 |
| Bruise where the needle went in | 163 |
| Pain in an arm or leg | 163 |
| Itching where the needle went in | 150 |
| Swollen hands, feet or legs | 139 |
| Tiredness | 122 |
Serious means the person went to hospital, their life was in danger, they were left with lasting harm, or they died. One report can list several side effects. Most of these reports come from medical treatment, often of people who are ill, not from use outside medicine.
Cases described in medical journals
We found no published case of harm.
FDA reports come from openFDA, cases from a PubMed search. The editors have not read these cases yet. Titles stay in the original language. As of 3 Nov 2026.
Studies we have read
| Studies | Kind of study | Who was studied | People | Duration | Dose as studied | Who paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial. | Random groups | HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation | 50 | 26 wk | 2 mg daily | Unknown |
| 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. | Random groups | HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat | 404 | 52 wk | 2 mg daily | Unknown |
More papers we found
We found these papers automatically in PubMed. The editors have not read them yet, and they do not affect any grade. Titles stay in the original language.
Short answers
- Does tesamorelin work?
- A medicine that raises growth hormone, approved in the US for excess belly fat in adults with HIV. The EU application was withdrawn. Fat loss: grade B, effect in studies. Fat around the organs in the belly fell about 18% in people with HIV, the approved use. The effect faded after stopping. There are no data on ordinary weight loss.
- Is Tesamorelin legal?
- PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no such medicine in Poland (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down, so we could not check it directly. EU: No approval. The application for Egrifta was withdrawn. US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine (Egrifta).
- Is tesamorelin banned in sport?
- Banned in sport, WADA 2026.
- Is Tesamorelin safe?
- Well known. A US drug label for one use. It warns of cancer risk and raised IGF-1. Studies were in people with HIV.