Tesamorelin

Body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic, and safety outcomes of Tesamorelin, a GHRH analogue, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Badran AS et al. · Obesity research & clinical practice · 2026

Population: People with HIV-associated lipodystrophy

Pools the randomised evidence for tesamorelin across body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic and safety outcomes.

Context: Conducted entirely in an HIV-associated lipodystrophy population; it does not describe use for general body composition.

Effects of Tesamorelin on Neurocognitive Impairment in Persons With HIV and Abdominal Obesity

Ellis RJ et al. · The Journal of infectious diseases · 2025

The study reportedWhile tesamorelin reduced WC, the cognitive benefits did not significantly differ between groups. Recognizing the limitations of insufficient power and no placebo arm, this study suggests no clear benefit of short-term AO reduction with tesamorelin on NCI.

Efficacy and safety of tesamorelin in people with HIV on integrase inhibitors

Russo SC et al. · AIDS (London, England) · 2024

Population: People with HIV receiving integrase inhibitors

A randomised trial of tesamorelin in people with HIV taking integrase inhibitor regimens.

Context: A single population defined by its antiretroviral regimen.

Effects of tesamorelin on hepatic transcriptomic signatures in HIV-associated NAFLD

Fourman LT et al. · JCI insight · 2020

The study reportedNotably, among tesamorelin-treated participants, these changes in hepatic expression correlated with improved fibrosis-related gene score. Our findings inform our knowledge of the biology of pulsatile growth hormone action and provide a mechanistic basis for the observed clinical effects of tesamorelin on the liver.

Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial

Stanley TL et al. · The lancet. HIV · 2019

The study reportedTesamorelin might be beneficial in people with HIV and NAFLD. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of tesamorelin on liver histology.

Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tesamorelin in HIV-infected patients and healthy subjects

González-Sales M et al. · Clinical pharmacokinetics · 2015

The study reportedAn open one-compartment model with first and zero order absorption processes and linear elimination is suitable to characterize the pharmacokinetics of tesamorelin. The fraction of tesamorelin absorbed by a first-order process evolves with time.

Predictors of Treatment Response to Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Analog, in HIV-Infected Patients with Excess Abdominal Fat

Mangili A et al. · PloS one · 2015

The study reportedIndividuals with baseline MetS-NCEP, elevated triglyceride levels, or white race were most likely to experience reductions in VAT after 6 months of tesamorelin treatment. The odds of response of VAT <140 cm2 was 3.9 times greater for tesamorelin-treated patients than that of patients receiving placebo.

The effects of tesamorelin on phosphocreatine recovery in obese subjects with reduced GH

Makimura H et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2014

The study reportedIncreases in IGF-I from 12 months of treatment with tesamorelin were significantly associated with improvements in PCr recovery parameters in obese men and women with reduced GH secretion, suggestive of improvements in mitochondrial function.

Effects of tesamorelin on inflammatory markers in HIV patients with excess abdominal fat: relationship with visceral adipose reduction

Stanley TL et al. · AIDS (London, England) · 2011

The study reportedIn HIV patients with abdominal adiposity, tesamorelin may have a modest beneficial effect on adiponectin and fibrinolytic markers in association with changes in VAT. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of these changes.

Efficacy and Safety of Tesamorelin in People Living With HIV (PLWH) With Lipodystrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ditta AM et al. · Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care · 2026

The study reportedHowever, some side effects related to growth hormone were reported, and more people stopped treatment compared to those not receiving the drug. Overall, tesamorelin appeared quite useful as long as it is continued, but more research is needed to understand its long-term safety and benefits.