Growth
A medicine for excess belly fat in HIV lipodystrophy
FDA-approved · by prescriptionTesamorelin (Egrifta, Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR) is FDA-approved to reduce excess abdominal visceral fat in adults with HIV who have lipodystrophy; it is not approved for general weight loss.
Consultations are opening state by state.
Important safety information. Tesamorelin is not for people with a disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary axis (for example, a pituitary tumor, surgery or radiation), active cancer or pregnancy; it can raise blood sugar and diabetes risk and cause fluid retention, joint pain and allergic or injection-site reactions. See safety
Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved synthetic GHRH analog marketed as Egrifta to reduce excess abdominal (visceral) fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It is not approved for general weight loss or anti-aging use. A new, more concentrated formulation (Egrifta WR) was approved in 2025.
Also known as TH9507 · Egrifta · Egrifta SV · Egrifta WR
N-[(3E)-hex-3-enoyl]-YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDIMSRQQGESNQERGARARL-NH2 (human GHRH 1-44; UniProt P01286)
An N-terminal trans-3-hexenoyl modification of human GHRH(1-44) resists DPP-4 enzymatic degradation, stabilizing the peptide. It binds the pituitary GHRH receptor to stimulate endogenous pulsatile GH release, raising IGF-1 and preferentially reducing visceral (rather than subcutaneous) adipose tissue.
Evidence · FDA-approved · regulatory-grade trials
Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials in 816 HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy (Study 1, n=412; Study 2, n=404) found 26-week VAT changes of -18% vs +2% with placebo (Study 1) and -14% vs -2% (Study 2) with tesamorelin 2 mg daily.
816 HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy-associated excess abdominal fat
FDA approved Egrifta (tesamorelin for injection) on November 10, 2010, as the first treatment for reduction of excess abdominal visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy
Tesamorelin treatment was associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes (HbA1c >=6.5%) relative to placebo (hazard/odds ratio ~3.3) in the pivotal trial program.
HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy
FDA approved a more concentrated F8 formulation (EGRIFTA WR) on March 25, 2025, requiring only weekly reconstitution and less than half the injection volume of the prior EGRIFTA SV (F4) formulation.
HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy
Egrifta labeling requires monitoring for recurrence of malignancy and periodic IGF-1 monitoring given the drug's mechanism of raising growth-hormone-axis activity, and states that the effects of prolonged IGF-1 elevation are unknown.
HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy
Based on: the FDA-approved label and its Phase 3 trials.
Checked 2026-09
Approved use. Tesamorelin (Egrifta, Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR) is FDA-approved to reduce excess abdominal visceral fat in adults with HIV who have lipodystrophy; it is not approved for general weight loss.
When consultations open, a licensed clinician in your state will review your health history and prescribe Tesamorelin only if it’s appropriate for you. A licensed U.S. pharmacy will dispense it.