What is Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin (also known as “tesamorelin acetate”) is a stabilized synthetic peptide analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that was developed by the Canadian company Theratechnologies [1]. It’s commonly sold under the trade name “Egrifta” and is primarily used to stimulate the production and release of growth hormone (GH) in HIV-infected patients.
In 2010, Egrifta was approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with lipodystrophy (excess abdominal fat) caused by long-term antiretroviral therapy. As a peptide, Egrifta contains short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins [2]. It’s also a hormone, which means that it has an effect on the human endocrine system and sends chemical signals that help to regulate the level of GH in the body.
Human Growth Hormone
Tesamorelin is chemically identical to GHRH, which is made naturally in the body. This hormone’s job is to work as part of the system that regulates the amount of human growth hormone (HGH) that gets produced and secreted. HGH is essential for the body to grow and repair itself. It plays a role in all kinds of cellular synthesis and repair functions. While HGH is particularly important to children as they’re growing, it’s also important for adults, as the level of HGH in the body naturally declines with age.
Egrifta’s only currently approved use in the United States is to treat lipodystrophy in patients with HIV. However, researchers are increasingly interested about the effects of tesamorelin on healthy subjects, including its ability to improve physical appearance, increase athletic performance, and recover from injury. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has banned the use of all growth hormone-releasing hormones (GHRHs) including tesamorelin in sports, which indicates that GHRHs can in fact enhance athletic performance [3].
Tesamorelin Increases HGH
Fortunately, it’s possible to increase HGH levels indirectly by administering peptides, known as growth hormone secretagogues, to upregulate the production of HGH. These can be just as effective as taking HGH directly and can result in fewer adverse effects.
Tesamorelin is one such GH secretagogue. Because it’s chemically similar to GHRH and binds to the same receptors as GHRH, tesamorelin induces the same effect of higher growth hormone levels in the bloodstream [4].
Benefits of Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin has been widely researched and is an FDA-approved drug that is used to treat HIV patients with lipodystrophy. Its research-backed benefits include:
- Increased muscle area and decreased muscle fat in HIV-infected adults [5].
- Decreased abdominal fat in patients with HIV-related lipodystrophy [6].
- Ability to trigger lipolysis (fat burning) in patients with lipohypertrophy, especially visceral adipose tissue (VAT) around the midsection [7].
- Ability to increase levels of NAAG (N-acetylaspartylglutamate) and GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid), and decrease levels of MI (myo-inositol), an osmolyte linked to Alzheimer disease, after 20 weeks in adults with mild cognitive impairment [8].
Researchers interested in working with tesamorelin should note that its only approved use is to treat HIV patients. To date, there have been no scientific studies on the effects of tesamorelin in healthy subjects.
Tesamorelin Side Effects
Tesamorelin has been well researched and is generally considered to be well-tolerated by most HIV patients. However, studies have indicated that some patients, typically fewer than five percent, may experience side effects. The most common ones include irritation around the injection site, increased sweating, muscle aches, and diarrhea [5].
According to a registry analysis of safety data from growth hormone manufacturers’ registries published between 1988 and 2016, there is no evidence of an increased risk of mortality, stroke, leukemia, type 2 diabetes, or new malignancy in healthy adult patients treated with GH [9]. The only patients with an increased risk of developing one of these conditions were those with preexisting risk factors. The study’s authors concluded that patients with risk factors for these conditions “should be treated with caution” and closely “monitored during follow-up.”
Despite the intense interest around the use of growth hormone as a physical performance enhancement agent, little is known about the long-term side effects of GH supplementation in healthy subjects. In a recent systematic review of available data about renal (kidney) safety of GH and steroids, researchers found that “GH’s exact effect on the kidney at doses used by athletes and bodybuilders has not yet been clarified.” This indicates that long-term clinical studies into the effects of GH on the liver may be warranted [10].
How Much Does Tesamorelin Cost?
Curious about how much tesamorelin costs?
Researchers interested in conducting research with tesamorelin should note that the price of this peptide depends on a number of factors.
Tesamorelin for Sale Online
Researchers seeking to acquire tesamorelin for tests or experiments can expect to pay $75-150 for 10mg of Tesamorelin on average.
Research Peptides currently lists a single 10mg vial of Tesamorelin.
For qualified researchers looking to buy tesamorelin to conduct experiments, purchasing online is the best (and only) way to go.
Tesamorelin Dosage
Roughly 10 to 40 percent of HIV patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) will develop a metabolic condition known as lipodystrophy, which is characterized by an accumulation of fat on the midsection and insulin resistance [12]. Patients with this condition may be directed by their doctor to dose tesamorelin in the following way:
- One subcutaneous injection, daily
- Each injection containing a dosage of 2 mg
- Five days a week
- At least 90 minutes after eating
- At night, before bed
While there is no conclusive evidence that growth hormone supplementation improves athletic performance, there remains intense interest surrounding tesamorelin as a potential performance enhancement agent [13]. Based on anecdotal reports, tesamorelin researchers most frequently administer the peptide to their test subjects in the following manner:
- One subcutaneous injection, daily
- Each injection containing a dosage of 1 mg
- Five days a week
- At least 90 minutes following intake of food
- At night, before bed
Studies have shown that Egrifta (tesamorelin) does not interact adversely with food, has no effect on glycemic control or insulin response [14], and does not aggravate glucose levels [15].
Tesamorelin & CJC-1295?
From a research standpoint, tesamorelin and CJC-1295 make for an interesting comparison. The main similarities between these two peptides are that:
- Both are growth hormone-releasing hormones (GHRH) analogues;
- Both are administered by subcutaneous injection;
- Both can enhance GH secretion for prolonged periods;
- Both are prohibited in sporting competitions subject to the rules and regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The primary difference between these two peptides is that while tesamorelin’s research has been restricted primarily to HIV-infected adult patients, CJC-1295 has been tested on healthy adult subjects. The results of two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, ascending dose trials found that CJC-1295 “increases GH and IGF-I levels in healthy adults” and is “safe and relatively well tolerated” [16].
In terms of administering these two peptides simultaneously, scientific data is lacking. While researchers have expressed interest in testing biosynthetic forms of growth hormone (such as tesamorelin and CJC-1295) in the belief that these peptides will increase endogenous GH secretion in subjects, there is no valid evidence for the efficacy of this practice [13].
Where to Buy Tesamorelin Online? | 2024 Edition
Many online vendors sell tesamorelin online, giving researchers plenty of choice on where to shop.
But a word of caution: not all vendors are legitimate. In fact, many vendors are not, and they may sell peptides that are underdosed or contain fillers.
To avoid this issue, our team has reviewed over a dozen of the top peptide vendors online.
At Peptideinfo.net, we trust the following vendor as a source of high-quality tesamorelin.
Research Peptide
Research Peptide is a highly recommended peptide vendor for researchers looking to source high-quality tesamorelin for their studies. They are serious about product quality, but also offer fast and flexible shipping and are dedicated to product safety as well.
Here are a few things that really stand out about Research Peptide:
- Commitment to Product Quality: Research Peptide works closely with three different independent labs to ensure that each batch of product is tested and verified before it’s sold.
- Fast and Flexible Shipping: For domestic orders, Research Peptide offers two-day shipping via FedEx and aims to have all international orders delivered in a swift timeframe of 5 days or less.
- Optional Shipping Insurance: By offering affordable shipping insurance and a flexible, easy-to-use return policy, Research Peptide demonstrates their commitment to satisfaction.
To get instant access to tesamorelin from Research Peptide, make sure to join their VIP club by clicking below:
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Bacteriostatic Water and Tesamorelin
Some researchers make the mistake of handling peptides without the correct supplies. This is both an unsafe and ineffective practice. To successfully prepare and store peptides like Tesamorelin, it is imperative that a researcher has a set of essential tools.
This set of items agreed upon by leading experts includes bacteriostatic water, alcohol wipes, sterile vials, and more.
Getting equipped with all these materials can be a headache, requiring market research to find credible sources for the full range of products.
To prevent this from impeding research, Peptideinfo.net has surveyed the field and elected one leading supplier of all research material essentials — right here.
Tesamorelin Costs | Verdict
How much does tesamorelin cost? It depends, but researchers can find it $79 per 10mg vial when they shop with our recommended vendor.
Overall, tesamorelin is widely available to researchers at reasonable prices and there is a good selection of vendors to source this research peptide from.
Researchers interested in conducting studies with tesamorelin can pay significantly less by ordering in bulk. Low prices coupled with free international shipping make tesamorelin highly attractive to researchers interested in investigating this peptide’s benefits and long-term side effects.
