Sermorelin vs Tesamorelin
Two GHRH analogs, compared fact by fact. No ranking.
Sermorelin and tesamorelin both act on the pituitary’s growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor, but they are different drugs. Tesamorelin is the active ingredient of Egrifta®, FDA-approved to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The sermorelin prescribed today is compounded. They are not interchangeable, and a licensed provider decides what fits.
Compounded sermorelin is not FDA-approved; sermorelin was approved as Geref in 1997 and discontinued in 2008.
Opens the Sermorelin application on OpenLoop, in English. Our care team can help in English or Spanish.
Sermorelin vs tesamorelin at a glance
| Sermorelin | Tesamorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A 29-amino-acid GHRH analog (the active part of the body’s own GHRH) | A synthetic analog of human GHRH: the 44-amino-acid sequence with an added hexenoyl group |
| FDA status | Compounded sermorelin is not FDA-approved. Sermorelin acetate was approved as Geref in 1997 for children with growth hormone deficiency and is no longer marketed. | Egrifta® (tesamorelin) is FDA-approved for one use: reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. Its label says it is not indicated for weight management. |
| Route | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous) | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous), into the abdomen |
| Published dosing convention | Geref in children: 30 µg/kg once daily at bedtime. Adult research studies used 0.5 to 2 mg once or twice daily. | Egrifta SV® label: 1.4 mg once daily |
| Cost category | Compounded prescription. At REMEVi: $229 every 4 weeks (28 days), month-to-month | Brand-name prescription drug; out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance coverage |
| Usually discussed for | Adults asking a licensed provider about the growth-hormone axis; historically, children with growth hormone deficiency | Adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, its labeled use |
Doses are shown as published, for orientation, not as a dosing guide. A licensed provider sets any dose. Egrifta® and Egrifta SV® are registered trademarks of Theratechnologies Inc. REMEVi is not affiliated with Theratechnologies and does not offer tesamorelin.
Opens the Sermorelin application on OpenLoop, in English. Our care team can help in English or Spanish.
What is the difference between sermorelin and tesamorelin?
Both are GHRH analogs that signal the pituitary to release growth hormone, but they are different molecules. Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid fragment; tesamorelin is the full 44-amino-acid sequence with an added chemical group. Egrifta® (tesamorelin) has one FDA-approved use, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Compounded sermorelin is not FDA-approved. They are not interchangeable.
Is tesamorelin stronger than sermorelin?
This page does not rank them. A PubMed search found no published human trial comparing sermorelin and tesamorelin head to head. They were studied in different people for different purposes, at different doses, so their results cannot be lined up against each other. A licensed provider decides whether either one fits a specific person’s health history.
FDA status, explained
Tesamorelin is sold as Egrifta® under FDA application BLA 022505; the label lists its initial U.S. approval as 2010. The label limits its use to reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy and notes that long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established.
Sermorelin acetate received FDA marketing approval as Geref in 1997, for growth hormone deficiency in children. Geref is no longer marketed. Sermorelin prescribed today is compounded by a state-licensed pharmacy on a patient-specific prescription, and compounded drugs are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold.
More comparisons
Ipamorelin is often mentioned with these two. It works through a different receptor and has a different regulatory status. Our older guide covers all three at once.
Sermorelin vs ipamorelin · Sermorelin vs ipamorelin vs tesamorelin compared · Sermorelin cost
More questions
Does REMEVi prescribe tesamorelin?
No. REMEVi offers sermorelin, prescribed by a licensed provider after an individual evaluation. Tesamorelin is a brand-name drug with a specific labeled use; ask the clinician who manages your HIV care about it.
Can tesamorelin be compounded instead of Egrifta®?
This page does not cover compounded tesamorelin. The tesamorelin information here comes from the FDA-approved Egrifta SV® label. A licensed provider and pharmacist can explain what is available for a specific prescription.
Opens the Sermorelin application on OpenLoop, in English. Our care team can help in English or Spanish.
Sources
- FDA prescribing information via DailyMed — EGRIFTA SV (tesamorelin) for injection (read November 2, 2026)
- FDA — Drugs@FDA: EGRIFTA (tesamorelin acetate), BLA 022505 (read November 2, 2026)
- FDA — Orphan Drug Designations and Approvals: sermorelin acetate (Geref) (read November 2, 2026)
- Prakash & Goa, BioDrugs 1999 — Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (read November 2, 2026)
- Corpas et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992 — Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men (read November 2, 2026)
- Vittone et al., Metabolism 1997 — Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men (read November 2, 2026)
Medically reviewed by Linda West-Conforti, RN · CA RN #389453 ·