Overview
In plain English
Tesamorelin is a stabilised version of the brain signal that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone. It is the only compound in this category with regulatory approval anywhere — approved in the US for a specific HIV-related condition.
It is used for visceral fat: the deep abdominal fat that sits around the organs, as distinct from the fat you can pinch. That distinction is the whole reason people choose it.
- What it isA stabilised analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone
- Mainly used forReducing visceral (deep abdominal) fat
- Typical protocol2mg once daily in the evening, 8–12 weeks
How it works
What it actually does
It works on your pituitary, prompting it to release more of your own growth hormone — rather than injecting growth hormone directly.
That matters. Because the release is still your body's own pulsing system, your natural feedback brakes stay in place instead of being overridden.
The growth hormone then raises fat-breakdown activity. Visceral fat carries more growth hormone receptors than fat under the skin and responds more strongly, which is why the effect shows up there first.
The science in detail
Tesamorelin is a stabilised analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone. The native molecule, GHRH(1-44), is rapidly inactivated in circulation by dipeptidyl peptidase-4, which cleaves the N-terminal dipeptide and abolishes receptor activity. Tesamorelin carries a trans-3-hexenoyl group attached to the N-terminal tyrosine, which sterically obstructs that cleavage and materially extends the functional half-life while preserving affinity for the receptor.
The target is the GHRH receptor, a class B G-protein-coupled receptor expressed on pituitary somatotrophs. Agonism raises intracellular cAMP, activates protein kinase A, and increases both the synthesis and the pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone. This is the mechanistically important distinction from exogenous recombinant growth hormone: tesamorelin amplifies the animal's own secretory pulses rather than imposing a continuous exogenous concentration, so the pituitary's negative feedback loops — somatostatin tone and IGF-1 feedback — remain intact and continue to constrain the response.
Downstream, elevated growth hormone acts on hepatic and peripheral GH receptors, raising IGF-1 and increasing hormone-sensitive lipase activity in adipose tissue. Visceral adipose tissue is comparatively rich in GH receptors and lipolytically responsive, which is the mechanistic basis for the tissue-selective findings reported in the clinical literature.
That literature is unusually solid for this compound class. Falutz et al. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2007) reported reductions in visceral adipose tissue in a randomised placebo-controlled trial in patients with HIV-associated excess abdominal fat, findings extended in a pooled analysis of two phase 3 trials. Stanley et al. (Lancet HIV, 2019) subsequently reported effects on hepatic fat in a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV.
Tesamorelin differs from growth hormone secretagogues such as ipamorelin, which act at the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) rather than the GHRH receptor. The two pathways are distinct and, in research models, additive; CJC-1295 is the closer comparator, being a GHRH analogue of different design.
Evidence
What the research shows
Targets deep abdominal fat
Visceral fat is richer in growth hormone receptors and more responsive, which is why results concentrate there.
Uses your own hormone release
It amplifies the pituitary's natural pulses rather than replacing them with a flat exogenous dose.
Backed by a NEJM trial
Visceral fat reduction was reported in a New England Journal of Medicine randomised trial.
Also studied for liver fat
A randomised trial published in Lancet HIV examined its effect on fat in the liver.
Mixing & dosage
How to mix and dose it
These are the mixing and dosage instructions supplied by Purist Peptides and the manufacturer for this product.
A 3ml vial of bacteriostatic water is included free with every peptide vial you order, so you have what you need to mix this on arrival.
Tesamorelin 20mg
Step 1 — mix your vial
- Draw up 2ml of bacteriostatic water into a syringe
- Wipe the rubber top of your vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Insert the needle then slowly and carefully push the water down the inside wall of the vial — do not inject water straight onto the peptide powder
- Gently roll the vial between your palms until the powder dissolves completely
- Do not shake
- Allow to settle in the fridge for 5–10 minutes. The liquid should look clear
Step 2 — draw & inject your dose
Use a 1ml insulin syringe to draw and inject your dose. A 1ml syringe = 100 units.
With 2ml of water added, each 0.1ml (10 units) you draw = 1mg of Tesamorelin.
| Stage | Dose | On the syringe |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | 1mg daily | 10 units (0.1ml) |
| Standard | 2mg daily | 20 units (0.2ml) |
Vial duration at standard dose: 10 days
When to inject: Evening preferred, at least 2 hours after your last meal. This aligns with the body's natural growth hormone release during sleep.
Cycle length: 8 to 12 weeks, then reassess.
How to inject
- Wipe your injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Pinch a small fold of skin on your abdomen
- Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle into the pinched skin
- Slowly push the plunger down until empty
- Pull the needle out and apply gentle pressure with the swab
- Dispose of the needle safely in a sharps container — never recap or reuse
Storage
Keep refrigerated at 2 to 6 degrees Celsius at all times after mixing. Do not freeze. Protect from light and label the vial with the date you reconstituted it. Discard any solution that is hazy, discoloured or contains particles.
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before starting any compound.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How does tesamorelin differ from exogenous growth hormone?
Recombinant growth hormone supplies the hormone directly, overriding pituitary regulation. Tesamorelin acts one step upstream at the GHRH receptor, amplifying the pituitary's own pulsatile secretion. Somatostatin tone and IGF-1 negative feedback remain intact, so the physiological pattern of release is preserved in research models.
How does it differ from ipamorelin or CJC-1295?
Ipamorelin is a ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist — a different receptor and a different pathway. CJC-1295 is the closer comparator, being a GHRH analogue, though of different structural design. Tesamorelin is the GHRH analogue with the most substantial randomised controlled trial literature behind it.
What has tesamorelin been studied for?
Its principal published trials examined visceral adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (Falutz et al., NEJM, 2007, and a pooled phase 3 analysis) and hepatic fat in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV (Stanley et al., Lancet HIV, 2019). Purist supplies the compound for laboratory research only.
Why is visceral fat a distinct research target?
Visceral adipose tissue differs from subcutaneous fat in receptor density, lipolytic responsiveness and metabolic activity. It is comparatively rich in growth hormone receptors, which is the mechanistic basis for the tissue-selective effects reported in the tesamorelin trials.
How is purity verified?
Every batch is assayed by independent HPLC at Bioindustrial Services in Boksburg. We do not rely on the manufacturer's own certificate alone. The assay report for the batch you receive is available on request, and our full testing protocol is set out at Quality Standards.
How long does delivery take?
Orders are dispatched from South Africa, with timelines varying by region and courier. Current dispatch and transit windows are set out at Delivery Process.
Can I return an order?
Because these are laboratory compounds, returns are not accepted once an order has shipped. If your parcel arrives damaged, contact us within 48 hours with photographs of the packaging and product and we will arrange a replacement. The full terms are set out in our Refund Policy.
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