What this comparison tells you
Growth hormone-releasing factor analogue
Tesamorelin
EstablishedAn official agency review or strong, repeated studies in people support one clear use. That evidence applies only to the product, people, and use in the reviewed sources. It does not mean the product is safe or effective for everyone.- Evidence type
- Health results for approved uses
- Approval
- An FDA-approved product exists for a narrow indication
- Approved products
- Egrifta SV · Egrifta WR
- Sports status
- Prohibited
- Sources used
- 4 sources
- Last reviewed
- August 1, 2026
An approved medicine for one specific HIV-related body-composition outcome. It is not a general weight-loss or anti-aging medicine.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue
Sermorelin
EmergingSome studies in people exist. Important questions remain about benefit, safety, who it helps, or how long the effects last. This is not an approval or recommendation.- Evidence type
- Body changes, not proven benefits
- Approval
- This review found no current FDA-approved sermorelin product in the United States. Former Geref products were FDA-approved and are no longer sold. FDA said safety or effectiveness was not the reason for their withdrawal.
- Approved products
- None identified in the United States.
- Sports status
- Prohibited
- Sources used
- 5 sources
- Last reviewed
- July 23, 2026
Studies in people show a growth-hormone response. They do not prove broad anti-aging or muscle-building benefits. Former Geref products are no longer sold.
How the evidence compares
These are separate questions, not one score. A peptide can be well understood in one area and uncertain in another.
Both peptide columns stay aligned. Read across each row to compare the same question. On smaller screens, each question shows both records together.
Each question shows both records together.
| Question checked | TesamorelinEstablished | SermorelinEmerging |
|---|---|---|
| Health benefitsDid people's health improve? | TesamorelinStrong Phase 3 trials support visceral-adipose-tissue reduction in the labeled HIV population. | SermorelinLimited Older studies in children exist. Research does not show that current products slow aging, reduce body fat, or build muscle. |
| Body changes in peopleWhat body changes did studies in people measure? | TesamorelinStrong The approved label characterizes IGF-1 response, exposure, and product-specific use. | SermorelinModerate Studies in people show that sermorelin can trigger growth-hormone release. A body response alone does not prove a health benefit. |
| Known risksWhat do we know about risks in people? | TesamorelinStrong The label describes neoplasm, glucose, fluid-retention, hypersensitivity, and other risks. | SermorelinLimited Past records do not fully show whether modern compounded products are safe. They also do not show the safety of long-term use for wellness. |
| Exact productDo we know what the product contains and how well it was made? | TesamorelinStrong High for authentic Egrifta SV; no automatic transfer to other formulations. | SermorelinLimited FDA records clearly describe the former Geref products. The identity and quality of each current compounded product must be checked separately. |
| Approval statusIs there a reviewed product for a specific use? | Tesamorelin An FDA-approved product exists for a narrow indication | Sermorelin This review found no current FDA-approved sermorelin product in the United States. Former Geref products were FDA-approved and are no longer sold. FDA said safety or effectiveness was not the reason for their withdrawal. |
Questions to ask before you compare
Use these questions to see whether the records match.
- 01
Is there a current FDA-approved product, and for what use?
- 02
Did studies in people measure a health result or only a hormone change?
- 03
Does the evidence apply to the exact product being sold?
- 04
What do current sports rules say?
What sources were used
The number of sources does not prove strength. Different sources answer different questions. A drug label, a trial, a cell study, and an agency review do not mean the same thing.
Tesamorelin
4 sources used
- Drug label2
- Anti-doping1
- Randomized trial1
Controlled trials in adults with HIV-associated abdominal fat accumulation found less visceral fat, which is fat around internal organs. The Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR labels say the products are not indicated for weight-loss management and that long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established. Their formulations are not substitutable.
These results do not establish general fat loss, muscle gain, anti-aging benefit, athletic recovery, or equivalent outcomes from compounded products.
Sermorelin
5 sources used
- Regulatory2
- Anti-doping1
- FDA review1
- Science review1
Studies in people show that sermorelin can trigger growth-hormone release. Older studies in children found limited growth results. A hormone response is not the same as a health benefit. These studies do not prove benefits for current compounded products.
Reliable studies do not show that current compounded sermorelin products slow aging or build muscle. They also do not show less body fat, better sleep, or that people live longer.
Fact checks for each peptide
Each result applies only to the statement shown. Open its record to see the version and sources.
Tesamorelin
“Tesamorelin reduces visceral fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.”
Phase 3 trials and the product label support this outcome in the labeled population.
- Evidence used
- Health results from a study with randomly assigned groups
- What this result covers
- Adults with HIV and excess abdominal fat meeting the trial and label criteria.
“Tesamorelin is an approved general weight-loss drug.”
The label specifically says it is not indicated for weight-loss management.
- Evidence used
- Official record or product label
- What this result covers
- The current Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR labels.
“Tesamorelin is permitted for competitive athletes.”
The 2026 WADA Prohibited List names tesamorelin in the S2 peptide-hormone and growth-factor category, which is prohibited at all times for covered athletes.
- Evidence used
- Official record or product label
- What this result covers
- Sport governed by the World Anti-Doping Code.
Sermorelin
“Sermorelin was once FDA-approved.”
FDA records document the former Geref approvals. FDA later found that safety or effectiveness was not the reason for withdrawal.
- Evidence used
- Official record or product label
- What this result covers
- Historical Geref products, not current compounded sermorelin.
“Sermorelin raises growth hormone, so it is proven to slow aging.”
A hormone response cannot show that people live longer or age more slowly.
- Evidence used
- Studies of body changes in people
- What this result covers
- Hormone-response evidence cannot establish longer life or slower biological aging.
“Compounded sermorelin is an FDA-approved Geref generic.”
A former Geref approval does not make current compounded products FDA-approved. Current compounded products are not automatically the same as the former Geref products.
- Evidence used
- Official record or product label
- What this result covers
- Current products marketed after Geref withdrawal.
Products with the same ingredient can differ
Evidence applies to the exact product used in a study. Check the peptide's amino-acid order, ingredients and form, how it enters the body, and where it came from. A shared ingredient name does not prove that another vial has the same benefits or risks.
Tesamorelin
44 amino acids · stabilized GHRF analogue
The two approved products are not interchangeable. Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR are approved, non-substitutable formulations with product-specific labeling. Tesamorelin sold or compounded outside those products is not automatically equivalent.
Egrifta SV
2024 label- How it enters the body
- Under the skin (subcutaneous)
- Use and people covered
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy; not indicated for weight-loss management.
Egrifta WR
March 2025- How it enters the body
- Under the skin (subcutaneous)
- Use and people covered
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy; not indicated for weight-loss management.
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy
Sermorelin
29 amino acids · GHRH fragment
A former Geref approval does not make a current product FDA-approved. Current compounded sermorelin products are not automatically the same as the former Geref products.
No FDA product label was found for this molecule in the sources reviewed.
- Historical diagnostic and pediatric growth-hormone-deficiency uses
Sports rules and safety limits
These statuses do not give personal clearance to compete.
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is named as a prohibited growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List and is prohibited at all times for covered athletes.
Reviewed Read the governing record ↗This prescription drug has benefits for a specific group and important monitoring requirements. No dosing, cycling, stacking, or performance-use guidance is provided.
Sermorelin
The 2026 WADA list names sermorelin as a prohibited growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue.
Reviewed Read the governing record ↗Approval of a former product does not prove the quality of a current product. This guide gives no dose, injection, or compounding instructions.
Why people compare these two
Both peptides copy growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). GHRH is a body signal that tells the body to release growth hormone. Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid piece of GHRH. Tesamorelin is a stabilized, 44-amino-acid version of the same signal.
Because they act on the same signal, sellers often present them as similar. Their records differ. Tesamorelin is graded Established, with approved human outcomes. Sermorelin is graded Emerging, and its human evidence is mostly about hormone response.
Which one has an approved product today
Tesamorelin has two FDA-approved products. Egrifta SV is a 2 mg single-dose vial. Egrifta WR is an 11.6 mg single-patient-use multidose vial. Both labels cover one use: reducing extra belly fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.
The labels say the products are not for weight-loss management. The two products cannot be swapped for each other. The claim that tesamorelin is an approved general weight-loss drug is graded Misleading.
Sermorelin was once FDA-approved as Geref. Those products were later discontinued. In 2013, FDA said safety or effectiveness was not the reason they were withdrawn. The July 23, 2026 review found no current FDA-approved sermorelin product in the United States.
A past approval does not carry over to a product sold today. The claim that compounded sermorelin is an FDA-approved Geref generic is graded Misleading.
What studies in people measured
Tesamorelin has phase 3 trials in adults with HIV and extra abdominal fat. These trials found less visceral fat, which is fat around the internal organs. The claim that tesamorelin reduces visceral fat in this group is graded Supported with scope.
Sermorelin's human studies mostly show a hormone response. Sermorelin can make the body release growth hormone. Older studies in children with growth hormone deficiency found limited growth results. A hormone response alone does not prove a health benefit.
Neither record shows general fat loss, muscle gain, or slower aging. The claim that sermorelin raises growth hormone and so is proven to slow aging is graded Misleading.
Safety, product, and sports limits
The tesamorelin labels describe risks that include abnormal growths (neoplasms), blood sugar changes, fluid retention, and allergic reactions. The labels also say long-term heart and blood vessel safety has not been established.
Sermorelin's safety record is thinner. Past records do not show whether modern compounded products are safe. They also do not show whether long-term use for wellness is safe.
Both records apply to specific products. Tesamorelin sold or compounded outside Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR is not automatically the same. Each compounded sermorelin product must be checked on its own.
Both are banned at all times for athletes covered by the World Anti-Doping Code. The 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List names each one as a growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue. No dose, injection, cycling, or compounding instructions are given here.
What these records cannot answer
- The reviewed records contain no study that compares tesamorelin with sermorelin directly, so no result comparison is made.
- Neither record includes adverse-event rates that can be compared between the two.
- The records give no dosing, injection, cycling, or stacking guidance, and none is given here.
- The reviewed records contain no cost, insurance, or availability data, so none is reported.
This page does not provide dosing, sourcing, or treatment advice.
Read the sources behind the comparison
Tesamorelin
Sermorelin