GHRH Analogue
A synthetic compound that mimics natural growth hormone-releasing hormone, designed to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce growth hormone while resisting enzymatic degradation. Tesamorelin is the only approved GHRH analogue, licensed for reducing visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Technical Context
Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is trans-3-hexenoic acid-GHRH(1-44)-NH2 — the full-length GHRH sequence with a hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus that improves stability. It is administered as a daily subcutaneous injection. Research GHRH analogues include CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex, a lysine-reactive linker that covalently binds albumin for sustained release), CJC-1295 without DAC (identical to Modified GRF 1-29 — a GHRH(1-29) analogue with substitutions at positions 2, 8, 15, 27), and sermorelin (GHRH(1-29)-NH2 without stabilising substitutions, previously approved but discontinued). The research variants differ primarily in half-life extension strategy and duration of GH stimulation.