Skip to content
Peptigraph home

Hexarelin vs Tesamorelin: What the Research Shows

Hexarelin and Tesamorelin side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
Growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP)Not FDA approved · research chemicalHexarelinSynthetic analog of ghrelin that binds the growth hormone secretagogue receptor; reviews describe strong growth hormone-releasing effects for this drug class.[10]
GHRH analogFDA approved (Egrifta)TesamorelinFDA-approved GHRH analog (Egrifta) for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy; visceral fat fell 15.2% versus a 5.0% rise with placebo in a randomized trial.[11]Growth hormone+188% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider Hexarelin if…

  • you want a human GH-release study: hexarelin stimulated GH secretion in patients with idiopathic GH deficiency[12]
  • you are tested in sport and want to avoid a WADA-prohibited substance: WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin (check hexarelin's own status separately)[2]

Consider Tesamorelin if…

  • you want a product with an FDA label: Egrifta is indicated to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy and is not indicated for weight loss management[5]
  • you want randomized data in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: Visceral adipose tissue fell 15.2% with tesamorelin and rose 5.0% with placebo by the end of treatment.[11]
Tesamorelin is prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 10 of 11 fields where the two differ. PCAC vote, Jul 2026 are the same or both unknown.

FieldHexarelinTesamorelin
ClassGrowth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP)GHRH analog
Also called—tesa, Egrifta
FDA statusNot FDA approved · research chemicalFDA approved (Egrifta)
WADANo WADA record in our dataProhibited by WADA (S2.2.4)Tesamorelin is named as a GHRH analogue in S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors), prohibited at all times. Tesamorelin is also an FDA-approved medicine; an athlete would need a therapeutic use exemption.
Anti-doping detectionNone reportedanti-doping literature, as of 2 Oct 2026
  • A urine assay detects CJC-1295 and other GHRH analogues at very low concentrations.PMID 35298973
  • Labs expect GHRH analogues like CJC-1295 to be hard to find because of tiny urine concentrations; the study reports no detections in routine anti-doping samples.PMID 34665524
Half-life[half-life by route]11 minutessubcutaneous (EGRIFTA WR 1.28 mg) · FDA label (Egrifta WR)
Evidence strength[evidence grade]Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: eNeurologicalSci 2026, PMID 42382101
Human studies we summarised[n]11 human (11 randomized or controlled) of 12 summarised
Typical study doses[dose range]
Named in FDA warning letters, 2026Not in the letters we trackYes (24 Aug 2026)

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Sources

  1. 1FDA warning letters to five research-peptide sellersFDA warning letter (NuScience Peptides; 1 of 5) · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3An antibody-free, ultrafiltration-based assay for the detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations using nanoLC-HRMS/MS.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022PMID 35298973Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs.Drug testing and analysis · 2021PMID 34665524Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5EGRIFTA WR (TESAMORELIN) KIT [THERATECHNOLOGIES INC.]FDA label (Egrifta WR), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6The effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone on cognition and brain connectivity in adults with cognition ranging from normal to mild cognitive impairment.eNeurologicalSci · 2026PMID 42382101Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial.The lancet. HIV · 2019PMID 31611038Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV.The Journal of frailty & aging · 2019PMID 31237318Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9PubMed search: (hexarelin[tiab]) AND (tesamorelin[tiab] OR Egrifta[tiab] OR TH9507[tiab] OR "TH-9507"[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Implications of ghrelin and hexarelin in diabetes and diabetes-associated heart diseases.Endocrine · 2015PMID 25645463Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV.The New England journal of medicine · 2007PMID 18057338Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12The effect of hexarelin on growth hormone (GH) secretion in patients with GH deficiency.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1995PMID 7673411Accessed 2 Oct 2026

Found an error? Report a correction.