Key facts

Class

Synthetic GHRH analog (44 aa)

Brand

Egrifta SV (Theratechnologies)

FDA indication

HIV-associated lipodystrophy

Half-life

~26-38 minutes

Off-label use

Adult GH deficiency, body composition

Common dose

1-2 mg SC nightly

Evidence grade

A (FDA approval for HIV-associated lipodystrophy)

FDA status

FDA-approved (Egrifta); off-label compounded use

Mechanism of action

GHRH analog (44-aa) FDA-approved as Egrifta for the reduction of HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Used off-label for general body-composition support in adults. Stimulates endogenous GH release.

Standard dosing

Typical clinical use: 1-2 mg SC nightly. Dosing varies by indication and provider protocol; this is reference-only and not a prescribing recommendation. Tesamorelin requires a prescription from a licensed clinician.

Regulatory status & pharmacy pathway

FDA-approved (Egrifta); off-label compounded use. Compounded peptides are dispensed via 503A licensed compounding pharmacies (USP <797> sterile compounding) or 503B FDA-registered outsourcing facilities (cGMP). Patients should request the pharmacy of record and certificates of analysis (USP <71> sterility, USP <85> endotoxin, HPLC potency) for every shipment.

U.S. telehealth providers prescribing Tesamorelin

The most commonly cited U.S. telehealth providers for Tesamorelin are Defy Medical, Marek Health, Hone Health, Maximus, and PeterMD — all of which offer prescriber-supervised access with lab integration and 503A pharmacy partnerships. See the full provider directory for complete profiles.

Trade-offs to know

Tesamorelin carries the trade-offs common to all compounded peptide therapeutics: not FDA-approved (when applicable), cash-pay only, no in-network insurance coverage, and pharmacy-quality variation between providers. Choose a prescriber that publishes pharmacy of record, per-vial CoAs, and lab-integrated follow-up.

Related peptides in the growth hormone category

All growth hormone peptides & providers

Editorial team

Authored by Dr. Sam Saberian, medically reviewed by Alen A. Schwartz, MD, edited by Julliana Edwards. About our team →

References

Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(23):2359-2370. PMID: 18057338
Stanley TL, Falutz J, Marsolais C, et al. Reduction in visceral adiposity is associated with an improved metabolic profile in HIV-infected patients receiving tesamorelin. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(11):1642-1651. PMID: 22495074
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Egrifta (tesamorelin for injection) Prescribing Information. FDA Drug Approval. 2010. View source

Sources are peer-reviewed where available. PubMed (PMID) links resolve to NCBI's PubMed database. FDA links resolve to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Citations were last verified 2026-05-11.