title: Tesamorelin, a human growth hormone releasing factor analogue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The combination of clinical effectiveness with a variety of adverse side effects from the use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in therapy for growth hormone (GH)-deficient disorders has led to the development of human growth hormone releasing factor (GFR) analogues, which may be better tolerated. Tesamorelin, a synthetic GFR, has been developed as a potential treatment for a variety of conditions that may be associated with a relative deficiency of GH including HIV-related lipodystrophy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the development of tesamorelin and its purported role in HIV-related lipodystrophy and other potential indications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant articles and abstracts were obtained from searches of the medical and chemical literature databases and the references from published articles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase III clinical trial suggested that tesamorelin might be a beneficial treatment strategy for HIV-related lipodystrophy with a good safety profile and a positive effect on reducing visceral fat. Other potential indications for tesamorelin appear less promising from the current data.
authors.affiliation: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; C479538:tesamorelin