Does tesamorelin raise cancer risk?
It raises IGF-1, and the label contraindicates it in active malignancy for that reason. Trials did not run long enough to measure cancer incidence; the caution is mechanistic.
Approved-drug data
Tesamorelin Side Effects
Approved drug (Egrifta) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy — figures are from its trials and label
Tesamorelin is an approved GHRH analogue, so its adverse-effect profile is documented from controlled trials: injection-site reactions, joint and muscle pain, peripheral oedema and the metabolic consequences of raising IGF-1. Research-grade vials are not the approved product.
Research-use information only. Research-grade Tesamorelin is not an approved medicine; where trial or label figures appear below they belong to the pharmaceutical product studied, not to any research vial. This page does not give dosing or medical advice.
What is reported
Every rate carries its source. Where no source exists, no rate is printed.
| Effect | Rate (sourced) | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injection-site reactions (erythema, pruritus, pain) | not quantified | The most common finding in the pivotal trials. | Falutz et al. 2007/2010; Egrifta label |
| Arthralgia, myalgia, peripheral oedema, paraesthesia | not quantified | Consistent with GH-axis stimulation. | Egrifta label |
| IGF-1 elevation | not quantified | Expected pharmacology; the label advises IGF-1 monitoring and discontinuation if persistently elevated. | Egrifta label |
| Glucose intolerance | not quantified | GH antagonises insulin; new-onset diabetes and worsened glycaemia were monitored in trials. | Egrifta label |
What is not known
- •Long-term effects of raised IGF-1 in people without lipodystrophy.
- •Research-grade identity and dose.
Mechanism-based cautions
- •Contraindicated in active malignancy on the label (GH/IGF-1 axis).
- •Contraindicated in pregnancy and with pituitary disruption.
Regulatory status: FDA-approved as Egrifta (2010) for excess abdominal fat in HIV lipodystrophy. Research-grade tesamorelin is not approved for any use.
References
- Falutz J, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. New England Journal of Medicine, 2007.
What is actually in a research vial
Everything above describes Tesamorelin the molecule. The risk specific to a research vial is different: it may not contain Tesamorelin at the labelled amount, and it may contain what the synthesis left behind. Identity (mass spectrometry), purity (HPLC), measured net content and an endotoxin result are the four lines on a certificate that bear on adverse effects, and only a certificate you can check at the laboratory tells you any of them. This is what we have verified for Tesamorelin so far.
Who sells Tesamorelin, and what they document
11 of the 77 vendors on our scoreboard list Tesamorelin with a price we read on the product page (11 Sept 2026–2 Oct 2026). Of those, 8 name their testing laboratory, 6 publish certificates that resolve on the lab's own site, and 7 publish measured milligrams against the label. The full ranking, with every dated price, is on Best Tesamorelin Vendors.
| Vendor | Rubric | Lab named | Price read |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyPurePeptidepartner | 10/10 | Janoshik Analytical | $40.00 · 10mg · 30 Sept 2026 |
| Purgo Labspartner | 10/10 | SteriGenix · Freedom Diagnostics | $69.99 · 10mg · 2 Oct 2026 |
| Amino Clubpartner | 9/10 | ILS Labs | $69.99 · 10mg · 2 Oct 2026 |
| Disguised Alpha | 7/10 | Chromate | $49.99 · 5mg · 2 Oct 2026 |
| Petratide Science | 7/10 | ILS Labs | $54.95 · 10mg · 1 Oct 2026 |
Top 5 by rubric score; 6 more on the ranking page.
Tesamorelin certificates we have opened
None yet for Tesamorelin specifically. The COA library holds the certificates we have read for each vendor on other compounds, which is the next best signal of how that vendor documents a lot.