In this article
Sermorelin and tesamorelin have different product histories. FDA withdrew the Geref approvals in 2009; Egrifta WR's tesamorelin label covers excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, not general weight-loss management.[1][2]
Sources checked October 25, 2026. This is a document-check date, not a medical-review date. The comparison describes records and selected research, not which treatment to choose.
What is the difference between sermorelin and tesamorelin?
Compare the named products and study populations, not a general promise about growth hormone. The table separates historical records from the product label retrieved for this page.
Administration terms below describe the documents. They are not a dose, mixing instruction or injection schedule.
| Document question | Sermorelin | Tesamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Which product identifies the ingredient? | Historical Geref products contained sermorelin acetate.[1] | Egrifta WR identifies tesamorelin as its active ingredient.[2] |
| What administration route appears? | Subcutaneous injections in the 1997 study.[3] | Subcutaneous administration in the WR label.[2] |
| What population did the selected study include? | 11 older men studied for six weeks.[3] | 412 adults with HIV and abdominal-fat accumulation, followed for 26 weeks.[4] |
| What was compared? | Measurements before and after treatment; no parallel placebo group described in the abstract.[3] | Tesamorelin versus placebo, not versus sermorelin.[4] |
Is sermorelin FDA approved, and how does tesamorelin differ?
FDA's March 4, 2013 notice records initial Geref approvals in 1990 and 1997, discontinuation notifications in 2008, and withdrawal of both approvals effective June 18, 2009.[1]
The notice also records FDA's determination that the products had not been withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. That is a historical regulatory determination, not a conclusion about a current clinic preparation.[1]
The retrieved Egrifta WR prescribing information was revised in March 2025; its DailyMed record was updated July 29, 2026. It gives 2010 as tesamorelin's initial US approval year.[2]
Ask the prescriber and pharmacy to identify the actual product, manufacturer or compounder, and supporting documentation. An ingredient name alone does not answer those questions. This comparison does not determine current compounding eligibility or state prescribing rules.
What did the sermorelin study in older men measure?
PubChem lists sermorelin with the synonym GHRH(1-29)NH2. That naming link explains why the GHRH 1-29 study appears in this comparison.[5]
Vittone and colleagues' January 1997 report studied GHRH 1-29 in 11 non-obese men aged 64 to 76 with low baseline IGF-I. Hormone, body-composition and muscle-function measurements were taken before and after six weeks.[3]
The abstract reports increased nocturnal growth-hormone release, no change in IGF-I or DEXA measures of muscle and fat, and changes in two of six strength measures and one endurance test.[3]
These are mixed measurements from a small, short study. They are not an estimate of what a current clinic program will do. Only the original author abstract was retrieved; full-text methods were not independently reviewed.
What did the tesamorelin trial measure?
Falutz and colleagues' December 2007 trial randomized 412 adults with HIV and abdominal-fat accumulation to tesamorelin or placebo for 26 weeks. The primary endpoint was percentage change in visceral adipose tissue measured by CT.[4]
The author abstract reports a 15.2 percent decrease in that measure with tesamorelin and a 5.0 percent increase with placebo. Those are visceral-fat measurements, not percentage body-weight loss.[4]
The abstract reports no significant between-group differences in glycemic measures or adverse events overall, but more participants receiving tesamorelin withdrew because of an adverse event.[4]
This summary uses the original author abstract. It does not extend the result to adults without HIV or compare the drug with sermorelin. The two cited studies differ in design, population and endpoint.[3][4]
Can these studies tell you which peptide is better?
Neither cited study compared sermorelin directly with tesamorelin. Putting their results beside one another does not create a head-to-head trial.[3][4]
These reports are a selected comparison, not a systematic review or a claim that no other trial exists. This page makes no efficacy ranking, safety conclusion or recommendation for a particular person. Ask a clinician which exact study supports the proposed use and whether its participants match that use.
Can you compare the doses or substitute Egrifta formulations?
The Egrifta WR label states that WR and SV are not substitutable and have different preparation and storage instructions.[2]
Do not use this comparison to calculate a dose or switch products. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist to reconcile the exact prescription with its product instructions. This page supplies no dose conversion or preparation protocol.
What should a sermorelin or tesamorelin price quote include?
No matched, compound-specific price sample was established for this page. A national average or cheaper-drug ranking would therefore be unsupported.
Ask for a written quote naming the product, supplied quantity and billing period. Request separate amounts for consultation, laboratory work, medication, supplies, delivery and follow-up. Ask whether there is a setup fee, renewal charge or minimum commitment.
For insurance questions, request a determination for the exact prescription and services rather than assuming coverage from a clinic's advertised program price. These are quote-comparison questions, not a payment or coverage promise.
Where can you compare peptide therapy clinic profiles?
Regenerated.com's September 2026 clinic export contains 2,743 records listing Peptide Therapy among 9,042 clinic records, across 49 states plus Washington, DC. Source: Regenerated.com clinic export, collected September 2026. This measures directory coverage, not market size or confirmed availability of either drug.
Start with the Peptide Therapy clinic directory. Examples of profiles recording that broad category include IV Theory in Boca Raton and Perfect Balance Health in San Diego. These are directory records, not endorsements or confirmation that either clinic supplies sermorelin or tesamorelin.
Confirm the clinician, exact service and location directly with the provider. For background terminology, see the peptide therapy guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are sermorelin and tesamorelin the same drug?
No. The Geref record names sermorelin acetate; the Egrifta WR label names tesamorelin. They have different product records.[1][2]
Was Geref discontinued in 2008 or withdrawn in 2009?
Both dates describe different events. FDA records discontinuation notifications in 2008 and withdrawal of the approvals effective June 18, 2009.[1]
Is Egrifta WR labeled for general weight-loss management?
No. Its prescribing information explicitly excludes weight-loss management.[2]
Does a Peptide Therapy listing confirm either drug is available?
No. The directory category is broader than either drug. Ask the provider to confirm the exact product, clinician and location; the listing count is not a drug-availability count.
Sources
- FDA Geref withdrawal determination, March 4, 2013. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Egrifta WR prescribing information, revised March 2025. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Vittone et al., Metabolism, January 1997, PMID 9005976. Checked October 25, 2026.
- Falutz et al., New England Journal of Medicine, December 2007, PMID 18057338. Checked October 25, 2026.
- NLM PubChem, sermorelin CID 16132413 synonym record. Checked October 25, 2026.