Tesamorelin as a Research Reference: What an FDA-Approved GHRH Analog Tells Us About the Class

• ·Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH): the full 44-amino-acid human sequence with a trans-3-hexenoyl group added to the N-terminus.
• ·The FDA approved it in November 2010 as Egrifta, for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy.[1][2]
• ·The approval was supported by phase 3 work including Falutz et al. in the New England Journal of Medicine (2007).[3]
• ·Because its pharmacology is well documented, tesamorelin is a useful reference agonist for GHRH receptor research. Research-grade material is not the approved drug product.

Native GHRH is quickly inactivated in circulation, mainly by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) cleavage at the N-terminus. Tesamorelin's N-terminal trans-3-hexenoyl modification protects against that cleavage while keeping the full GHRH(1-44) sequence and its receptor activity.

• ·Parent. Human GHRH(1-44)-NH₂.
• ·Modification. N-terminal trans-3-hexenoyl group.
• ·Length. 44 residues.
• ·Molecular weight. 5135.9 g/mol, C₂₂₁H₃₆₆N₇₂O₆₇S.
• ·Target. The GHRH receptor, a class B GPCR, on pituitary somatotrophs.

Research Material

Amino Acid Sequence

Chemical Structure

GHRH binds its receptor on somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, activating Gαs, raising cAMP, and stimulating both growth hormone (GH) synthesis and pulsatile release. GH then drives hepatic production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).

Because tesamorelin acts upstream, GH release stays subject to the normal feedback controls of somatostatin and IGF-1. That distinguishes the GHRH-analog class from direct GH administration in experimental designs.

Falutz and colleagues reported a 26-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 412 HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation, with visceral adipose tissue measured by computed tomography as the primary endpoint.[3] Visceral fat fell by 15.2% in the tesamorelin group and rose by 5.0% in the placebo group, and IGF-1 rose alongside the visceral-fat reduction.[3] FDA approval followed on 10 November 2010 under NDA 022505.[1][2]

The pooled phase 3 analysis and the later hepatic-fat trial are summarized in tesamorelin in the US.

Approved molecules make good benchmarks because their pharmacology has been examined in depth. In GHRH receptor research, tesamorelin can serve as:

• ·A positive control in cAMP assays using GHRH receptor-expressing cells.
• ·A comparator for other GHRH analogs, such as sermorelin (GHRH 1-29) or modified GHRH(1-29) analogs like CJC-1295.
• ·A stability benchmark for DPP-4 resistance studies, compared against native GHRH.
• ·A contrast with ghrelin mimetics. Ghrelin-receptor agonists such as ipamorelin act through a different receptor, GHSR-1a. Studies combining both mechanisms should include each agonist alone as a control.

Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved active ingredient in a branded drug product. Research-grade tesamorelin sold as a chemical reagent is not that product, is not manufactured to drug CGMP, and is for laboratory research only.

Each tesamorelin lot is tested by Janoshik Analytical before sale, and the certificate is published as the laboratory reported it, verifiable on Janoshik's own site. The current certificates are below, with a switch for each strength stocked. At 44 residues, purity and measured content deserve separate attention: purity speaks to synthesis quality, measured content to what is actually in the vial. Every lot is listed on the certificates of analysis page.

Published Certificate

Select strength

10mg20mg

Batch

TESA-CA-26A-01

Purity (HPLC)

98.763%

Measured content

11.68 mglabeled 10 mg

Laboratory

Janoshik

Verify on the lab’s own databaseAll published certificates

Available at Eppix Labs

Tesamorelin

10mg · 20mg

Every batch tested by an independent laboratory, with the certificate published before sale.

From $59.99 USDIn stock