Tesamorelin vs sermorelin

Tesamorelin and sermorelin are both synthetic forms of growth hormone-releasing hormone, and both are banned in sport. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is approved in the US to reduce belly fat in adults with HIV-related lipodystrophy, while sermorelin was approved in the US and later withdrawn. This page compares their study results.

Best randomized result by outcome

For each outcome that two or more peptides have results for: the best result of a single randomized trial, on the same measure (the same kind of number, the same unit). When a trial has several dose arms, the cell shows the highest dose arm. The trials differ in people, length and dose, so a gap between two cells is not proof that one peptide works better.

No outcome has a randomized-trial result on the same measure for two or more of these peptides yet.

Outcomes with a randomized result for one peptide only (5 outcomes)

The other peptides have no randomized result on the same measure, so these results cannot be set side by side.

Outcomes with a randomized result for one peptide only: Tesamorelin, Sermorelin
Outcome	Tesamorelin	Sermorelin
Body compositionMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in %	−15.4% Treatment effect on VAT Dose studied: 2 mg26 weeksn = 8062010	No comparable result 3 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
LipidsMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in %	−12.3% Treatment effect on triglycerides Dose studied: 2 mg26 weeksn = 8062010	No comparable result 1 randomized-trial result measure it in another way or another unit.
Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormonesCompared as: difference from placebo, in μg/liter	92 μg/liter Treatment effect on IGF-I Dose studied: 2 mg12 monthsn = 602012	No comparable result 39 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
Body weightMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in cm2	−42 cm2 Treatment effect Dose studied: 2 mg6 monthsn = 482014	No comparable result 1 randomized-trial result measure it in another way or another unit.
Glycemic controlMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in mg/dl	7 mg/dL Treatment effect Dose studied: 2 mg6 monthsn = 482014	No comparable result 4 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.

Body compositionMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in %
- Tesamorelin
  −15.4%
  Treatment effect on VAT
  Dose studied: 2 mg26 weeksn = 8062010
- Sermorelin
  No comparable result
  3 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
LipidsMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in %
- Tesamorelin
  −12.3%
  Treatment effect on triglycerides
  Dose studied: 2 mg26 weeksn = 8062010
- Sermorelin
  No comparable result
  1 randomized-trial result measure it in another way or another unit.
Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormonesCompared as: difference from placebo, in μg/liter
- Tesamorelin
  92 μg/liter
  Treatment effect on IGF-I
  Dose studied: 2 mg12 monthsn = 602012
- Sermorelin
  No comparable result
  39 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
Body weightMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in cm2
- Tesamorelin
  −42 cm2
  Treatment effect
  Dose studied: 2 mg6 monthsn = 482014
- Sermorelin
  No comparable result
  1 randomized-trial result measure it in another way or another unit.
Glycemic controlMetabolic and weightCompared as: difference from placebo, in mg/dl
- Tesamorelin
  7 mg/dL
  Treatment effect
  Dose studied: 2 mg6 monthsn = 482014
- Sermorelin
  No comparable result
  4 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.

Comparing 2 peptides · Data version 308560

Only differences

Swipe sideways to see every peptide.

Comparison of Tesamorelin, Sermorelin
Peptide	Modified form Tesamorelin	Synthetic fragment Sermorelin
Identity
Kind	Modified form	Synthetic fragment
Area	Growth hormone axis	Growth hormone axis
Evidence
Amount of evidence	288	304 (plus 5 on natural levels, listed separately)
Evidence level	Has results from studies in people	Has results from studies in people
Safety
Safety results	43 (34 in people)	30 (30 in people)
Status
Approval
Sport (WADA)
Registered trials	23 · 3 active1 more mentions it but does not test it	None registered2 more mention it but do not test it

Shared outcomes

Growth hormone and IGF-1183
Adverse events46
Body weight42
Glycemic control35
Immune response36
Body composition30
Pharmacokinetics45
Lipids23
Sleep2

Approval and sport status

From the regulatory data of each peptide.

Tesamorelin
The FDA label for Egrifta says: “Reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adult patients with lipodystrophy” No central EU authorisation (EMA).
Sermorelin
The maker told the FDA it stopped selling the product. The FDA later found that the products were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

Amount of evidence by outcome

Outcome groups with study results for at least two of these peptides. Counts include only results from studies that gave the peptide. Bar length is the number of results, on one scale. The bars show how much was studied, not how large an effect was. A peptide with more studies can look stronger here without being stronger. For results, see the randomized results above.

Study results per shared outcome group and evidence class
Outcome group	Tesamorelin	Sermorelin
Growth hormone and IGF-1Endocrine and hormones	22193	161131282
Adverse eventsWhole body	29236	1717
Body weightMetabolic and weight	39354	312
Glycemic controlMetabolic and weight	28253	77
Immune responseImmune and inflammation	55	31247
Body compositionMusculoskeletal	2727	33
PharmacokineticsPharmacology	18792	271665
LipidsMetabolic and weight	22211	11
SleepSleep	11	11

Sequence alignment

Each analog against its native parent, residue by residue. Substitutions, non-standard residues and modifications are marked. Calculated from the two sequences.

Against Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44)Tesamorelin, Sermorelin

Tesamorelin is the same as Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) residues 1 to 44, with 2 added groups.

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: Tesamorelin

ADAIFTNSY

RKVLGQLSAR

KLLQDIMSRQ

QGESNQERGA

RAR

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Modified side chain or end

What is different

1Position 1: Tyr carries an added group: other modification.
2Position 44: Leu carries an added group: C-terminal amide.

Sermorelin is the same as Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) residues 1 to 29, with 1 added group.

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: Sermorelin

YADAIFTNSY

RKVLGQLSAR

KLLQDIMS

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Modified side chain or end
Parent context

What is different

1Position 29: Arg carries an added group: C-terminal amide.

Trials side by side

Registered trials, ranked by phase (late phases first), then posted results and enrollment. Status is the registry status. Study results come from published studies. Results posted at ClinicalTrials.gov are shown on each trial page.

Tesamorelin23 registered trials

Top 3 of 23 trials, ranked by phase, then posted results and enrollment: 2 completed · 1 stopped early · 2 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 3Results postedNCT00608023