Sermorelin vs Tesamorelin (Egrifta)
Every row cites its source. Where a cell reflects our own reading of the evidence rather than an external source, the row says so.
| Dimension | Sermorelin | Tesamorelin (Egrifta) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molecule | GRF(1-29) amide, the minimal active GHRH fragment | Full-length GHRH(1-44) stabilized with a trans-3-hexenoyl group | source |
| FDA status | Formerly approved (Geref); compounded only since 2008 | FDA-approved and marketed (Egrifta SV) | source |
| Approved indication | None today; historic label covered pediatric GH deficiency and diagnostic testing | Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy | source |
| Label contraindications | No current label; class cautions borrowed from tesamorelin | Active malignancy, pituitary axis disruption, pregnancy, hypersensitivity | source |
| IGF-1 behavior | Raised inconsistently in adult trials; faded by week 16 in the longest study | Label reports IGF-1 elevation in a large share of treated patients and directs monitoring during therapy | source |
| Evidence depth | Small adult trials, pediatric program from the 1990s | Phase 3 program sufficient for approval and ongoing marketed use | source |
Tesamorelin is what sermorelin would need to become to re-enter medicine: a stabilized GHRH analog that carried its trials through to an FDA approval, for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Same receptor, same class, one label between them. Its label is also the best available proxy for class cautions that compounded sermorelin never had written down.