Tesamorelin vs sermorelin: two GHRH analogs, one you can get prescribed here
The short answer
Tesamorelin and sermorelin are both analogs of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH): they signal the pituitary to release the body's own growth hormone. Tesamorelin is a stabilized, longer-acting version with randomized trials in HIV-associated abdominal fat and an FDA-approved brand, Egrifta, for that one use. Sermorelin's branded product was discontinued in 2008. Peptides.build prescribes compounded tesamorelin from $158/mo; sermorelin is not offered here.
How do tesamorelin and sermorelin compare?
| Tesamorelin | Sermorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Stabilized GHRH analog | GHRH analog |
| Structure | Full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence plus a group that shields it from breakdown | A fragment of GHRH |
| Human evidence | Randomized trials, all in HIV-associated abdominal fat accumulation | FDA-approved uses: growth hormone deficiency in children, and a pituitary test |
| FDA brand | Egrifta, approved | Geref, discontinued 2008 |
| Compounded version | Not FDA-approved | Not FDA-approved |
| HHS policy | Not one of the six peptides; FDA-approved brand exists | Not one of the six peptides |
| Sport (WADA) | Prohibited at all times (S2) | Check with your governing body |
| At Peptides.build | Prescribed here | Not offered here |
| Monthly | $199 | n/a |
| 6 months | $949 ($158/mo) | n/a |
| Intake coming soon |
Sermorelin is not offered here. Tesamorelin is, alone or paired with ipamorelin, after a licensed provider reviews your intake.
What is tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a synthetic version of human GHRH, the signal the hypothalamus sends to the pituitary to prompt growth hormone release. Natural GHRH is broken down within minutes; tesamorelin keeps the full sequence and adds a small chemical group that shields the cleavage point, so it lasts long enough to work as a drug. It is a releasing factor, not growth hormone.
Unlike most peptides people ask about, tesamorelin has randomized human trials, and all of them were run in one setting: HIV-associated abdominal fat accumulation. Those trials are the basis of the Egrifta approval. They were not designed to show what tesamorelin does in adults without HIV, and a prescribing provider should say so plainly. More in What is tesamorelin?
What happened to sermorelin?
Sermorelin is a GHRH analog that signals the pituitary to release growth hormone on the body's own pulse. According to the Federal Register, FDA approved it as Geref twice: in 1990 as an injection for testing the pituitary's ability to secrete growth hormone, and in 1997 for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure. The maker, EMD Serono, told FDA in 2008 that both products were being discontinued, and FDA withdrew the approvals effective June 18, 2009.
In March 2013, responding to a citizen petition, FDA determined that Geref was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The notice does not state why the maker discontinued it. Peptides.build does not offer sermorelin. The closest live protocols are tesamorelin, the same receptor with a stabilized molecule, and Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin.
Are they covered by the HHS peptide policy?
No. The HHS policy of October 28, 2026 covers six peptides: BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, Epitalon, Semax and KPV. Neither tesamorelin nor sermorelin is one of them. Tesamorelin is different from most unlisted peptides because an FDA-approved brand exists; the compounded version prescribed here is not that product, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin blend is outside the policy, which covers single-ingredient products only, and is still prescribed by a licensed provider after an intake. Every protocol's status is on which peptides are legal.
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Compounded by a licensed 503A pharmacy, shipped cold-chain and already reconstituted. No membership fee.
FAQ
What is the difference between tesamorelin and sermorelin?
Both are GHRH analogs acting on the same pituitary receptor. Tesamorelin carries the full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence plus a stabilizing group that slows its breakdown; sermorelin mirrors a shorter fragment of GHRH. They also differ in evidence and in regulatory history.
Is tesamorelin stronger than sermorelin?
No head-to-head trial among the studies we cite compares them, so there is no evidence-based ranking. Tesamorelin is longer-acting by design; that describes the molecule, not a result in people.
Can I switch from sermorelin to tesamorelin?
That is a provider decision. If you have used sermorelin elsewhere, say so in your intake, and a licensed US provider decides whether tesamorelin, the Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin blend, or neither is appropriate.
Is sermorelin still available?
The branded product, Geref, was discontinued by its maker in 2008, and FDA withdrew its approvals effective June 18, 2009. In 2013 FDA determined it was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Peptides.build does not offer sermorelin.
Can you get sermorelin or tesamorelin over the counter?
No. Both are prescription-only. Compounded tesamorelin through Peptides.build starts with an online intake that a licensed US provider reviews.
Can tesamorelin and ipamorelin be taken together?
They are prescribed together as the Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin blend, two secretagogues acting on different receptors in one vial, from $183/mo. No trial has tested the combination, and the blend is outside the HHS policy of October 28, 2026.
Is compounded tesamorelin the same as Egrifta?
No. Egrifta is FDA-approved for one indication: reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Compounded tesamorelin is prepared by a licensed 503A pharmacy for one patient, is not that product and is not FDA-approved.
Is tesamorelin allowed in sport?
Tesamorelin is prohibited at all times; the World Anti-Doping Agency names it under S2 as a growth hormone releasing factor. Drug-tested athletes should check with their governing body before any prescription.
Tired of reconstituting?
A licensed US provider reviews a short online intake. If a prescription is appropriate, a licensed US 503A pharmacy fills it and ships it cold-chain, already reconstituted and labeled with the concentration.
This page is educational and is not medical advice. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. No results are implied or guaranteed. A licensed provider decides whether any protocol is appropriate for you, and sets any dose.