Tesamorelin
GHRH(1-44) analogue with N-terminal fatty acid · 44-residue peptide
Identifier graph
Cross-references to canonical chemistry knowledge graphs. Each binding is the same identity used in PubMed-indexed literature.
- CAS Registry Number
- 218949-48-5 · CAS Common Chemistry
- InChIKey
-
QBEPNUQJQWDYKU-BMGKTWPMSA-N - PubChem CID
- CID 16137828
- Wikidata
- Q7705415
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL1237026
- Molecular formula
C221H366N72O67S- Molecular weight
- 5135.78 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (4S)-4-[[2-[[(2S)-5-amino-2-[[(2S)-5-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-5-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-5-amino-2-[[2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-4-amino-2-[[(2S,3R)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-3-carboxy-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(E)-hex-3-enoyl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxybutanoyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]acetyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoyl]amino]-3-carboxypropanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]-4-methylsulfanylbutanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoyl]amino]acetyl]amino]-5-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-4-amino-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[2-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-amino-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-4-carboxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1,4-dioxobutan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-5-oxopentanoic acid
What is Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin (research code TH9507) is a 44-residue synthetic analogue of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-44) with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic-acid acyl group that confers protease resistance and extends plasma half-life. It is the only GHRH-analogue family member with a licensed clinical indication: in the United States it is approved as Egrifta® for the treatment of HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
CAS 218949-48-5, molecular formula C₂₂₁H₃₆₆N₇₂O₆₇S, molecular weight 5135.78 g/mol. Wikidata QID Q7705415, PubChem CID 16137828, ChEMBL ID CHEMBL1237026.
Mechanism of action
Tesamorelin binds the growth-hormone-releasing-hormone receptor (GHRHR) on pituitary somatotrophs with affinity comparable to native GHRH (1-44), stimulating endogenous pulsatile growth-hormone secretion. The trans-3-hexenoic-acid N-terminal modification protects against DPP-IV cleavage and produces a published terminal half-life of approximately 26 minutes.
Unlike the longer-acting CJC-1295 (with DAC), Tesamorelin preserves physiological pulsatile GH-release dynamics while providing sufficient protease resistance for once-daily subcutaneous administration in clinical protocols.
Research context
Tesamorelin's research footprint is broader than its narrow FDA-approved clinical indication. Investigated in preclinical and clinical models of visceral adiposity, lipodystrophy syndromes, cognitive function in HIV-related cognitive impairment, and metabolic dysregulation in ageing.
Analytical specifications
Every batch of Tesamorelin supplied by NMChem is characterised by reversed-phase HPLC for purity determination and by mass spectrometry for identity confirmation. Certificate of Analysis (COA) documents are issued per batch and made available on request.
Identity is confirmed by electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS); the observed mass falls within ±2 Da of the theoretical monoisotopic mass calculated from the residue sequence. Purity is determined by reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column with a trifluoroacetic-acid-modified water/acetonitrile gradient and reported as the area-under-curve percentage of the main peak at 214 nm. NMChem specification is ≥99% main peak. Material ships as lyophilised powder and must be reconstituted in sterile water or bacteriostatic water immediately before use.
UK regulatory status
Supplied as a research-grade reference standard for laboratory use only. Not a licensed medicinal product in the United Kingdom and not approved by the MHRA for human or veterinary administration. Sale is restricted to researchers, institutions and laboratory professionals; the compound must be retained within research premises. End-user compliance with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (where applicable) and local institutional biosafety policy is the responsibility of the buyer.
Research literature
Selected peer-reviewed publications from PubMed referencing this compound.
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Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors.
Russo SC et al. · AIDS (London, England) · 2024
PubMed PMID 38905488 -
Tesamorelin.
Grunfeld C et al. · Nature reviews. Drug discovery · 2011
PubMed PMID 21283099
Related compounds
Other research compounds in adjacent mechanism classes or commonly used alongside Tesamorelin.
Frequently asked questions about Tesamorelin
What is Tesamorelin used for clinically?
How does Tesamorelin differ from CJC-1295?
Get research-grade Tesamorelin from NMChem
UK supplier · HPLC and MS verified · Per-batch Certificate of Analysis · Tracked Royal Mail dispatch.