DRUG
Tesamorelin Effects on Liver Fat and Histology in HIV
Status
Completed
Phase
Not applicable
Enrollment
61
Locations
2
Results
Posted
Publications
4
Study summary
What the protocol is testing.
Liver disease is one of the leading co-morbidities of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is present in approximately 30-40% of patients with HIV infection. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form of NAFLD in which increased liver fat is also accompanied by inflammation, cellular damage, and fibrosis. NAFLD is most prevalent in patients who also have increased visceral adiposity, and our group has previously shown that HIV-infected individuals with increased visceral adiposity generally have decreased growth hormone secretion. Tesamorelin is a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue that increases endogenous growth hormone secretion. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved for the reduction of visceral fat in HIV-infected individuals. In a previous study, treatment with tesamorelin in HIV-infected individuals selected for abdominal adiposity reduced liver fat. The current study is designed to test the effect of tesamorelin on liver fat and steatohepatitis in HIV-infected individuals who have NAFLD. The investigators hypothesize that tesamorelin will reduce liver fat and will also ameliorate the inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular damage seen in conjunction with NASH.
Interventions
Treatment arms and agents.
DRUG
Placebo
inactive substance that looks like tesamorelin
Timeline
From registration to results.
First posted
Jul 22, 2014
Study start
Jul 1, 2015
Primary completion
Jan 16, 2019
Study completion
Jul 24, 2019
Results posted
Jan 13, 2020
Registry updated
Jan 27, 2020
Outcomes
What the study measures.
Primary outcomes
Change in Liver Fat as Measured by 1-H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Time frame · change between baseline and 12 months
change (value at 12 months minus value at baseline). Hepatic fat fraction is a standardized measure used to describe the percent fat in the liver. As it is determined by spectroscopy, it is quantified by the area under the lipid peak, standardized to the total area under the (lipid peak + water peak). Using 1-H Magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify liver fat in this manner was first described by Longo R et al., Invest Radiol, 1993, 28(4):297-302.
Secondary outcomes
Change in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Activity Score
Time frame · change between baseline and 12 months
change (value at 12 months minus value at baseline). The nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score is a standardized histological quantification of NAFLD severity designed and validated by the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (Kleiner DE et al., Hepatology, 2005, 41(6):1313-1321). The score is the sum of three semi-quantitative histological grades: 1. steatosis, graded from 0 \[\<5% liver fat\] to grade 3 \[\>66% liver fat\] 2. lobular inflammation, graded from 0 \[no foci of inflammation\] to 3 \[\>4 foci per 200x field\] 3. hepatocellular ballooning, graded from 0 \[no ballooning\] to 2 \[many cells/prominent ballooning\] The "total" NAFLD activity score, a sum of the three components below, ranges from 0 to 8, with a higher score generally representing greater severity of NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Change in Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Time frame · change from baseline to 12 months
change (value at 12 months minus value at baseline)
Change in Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Time frame · change from baseline to 12 months
change (value at 12 months minus value at baseline)
Eligibility
Who can take part.
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 70 Years
- Sex
- ALL
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion criteria: * Men and women 18-70yo * HIV-infection and treatment with a stable antiretroviral regimen for ≥ 6 months * Hepatic steatosis as demonstrated by liver fat fraction ≥5% on 1H-MRS * Hepatitis C antibody negative, or, if Hepatitis C antibody positive, either: a) known clinical disease, successful therapy ≥1 year prior to baseline and undetectable HCV RNA, or b) HCV resolved spontaneously and undetectable HCV RNA. Hepatitis B surface antigen negative at screen visit * For females ≥50yo, negative mammogram within 1 year of baseline visit * If use of Vitamin E ≥400 IU daily (in any formulation), stable dose for ≥6 months prior to study. Exclusion criteria: * Heavy alcohol use defined as consumption of more than 20g daily for women or more than 30g daily for men for at least 3 consecutive months over the past 5 years * Use of insulin or thiazoledinediones (TZDs), or HbA1c ≥7%. Individuals with mild diabetes that is well-controlled with diet and/or oral anti-diabetic agents besides TZDs will be included. Use of oral anti-diabetics must have been stable for ≥6 months prior to study entry. * Known diabetic retinopathy. * Known cirrhosis, or Child-Pugh score ≥7, stage 4 fibrosis on biopsy, or clinical evidence of cirrhosis or portal hypertension on imaging or exam. * Chronic corticosteroid use except intermittent use of topical steroid creams and/or prior short-term physiologic corticosteroid use in the ≤ 6 months prior to baseline visit * Chronic use of methotrexate, amiodarone, or tamoxifen * Known diagnosis of Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis, or autoimmune hepatitis * Use of GH or GHRH within the past 1 year * Change in lipid lowering or anti-hypertensive regimen within 3 months of screening * HgB \< 11.0 g/dL, CD4 \< 100 th/mm3, or HIV viral load \> 400 copies/mL * Active malignancy * For men, history of prostate cancer or evidence of prostate malignancy by PSA \> 5 ng/mL * Severe chronic illness judged by the investigator to present a contraindication to participation * History of hypopituitarism, head irradiation or any other condition known to affect the GH axis * Use of physiologic testosterone (men) or estrogen or progesterone (women) unless stable use for a year or more prior to study entry * Routine MRI exclusion criteria such as the presence of a pacemaker or cerebral aneurysm clip * Previous weight loss surgery * For women, positive pregnancy test performed in a CLIA certified laboratory using a test with a sensitivity of at least 25mIU/mL, or breastfeeding. * Known hypersensitivity to tesamorelin or mannitol * Unwillingness to abstain from the conception process during the study (i.e., must agree not to participate in an active attempt to become pregnant or impregnate, donate sperm, or participate in in vitro fertilization) * Unwillingness to use one (for males) or two (for females) reliable methods of contraception while engaging in heterosexual intercourse during the study. Acceptable methods for women include hormonal contraception (estrogen/progesterone or progesterone-only formulations) if stable for a year or more prior to study entry, intrauterine device, or barrier methods (condom, or diaphragm with spermicide). Acceptable methods for males include condom use. This requirement does not apply to women who have been post-menopausal for at least 24 consecutive months or have undergone surgical sterilization, or to men who have undergone surgical sterilization or have documented azoospermia. * Not willing or able to adhere to dose schedules and required procedures per protocol
Study locations
2 registered sites.
United States. Showing up to 24 locations stored in the fast local snapshot.
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Publications
Results and literature.
Related trials
More studies on Tesamorelin.
Body Composition and Adipose Tissue in HIV
Columbia University · HIV Lipodystrophy Syndrome · Growth Hormone Deficiency
Phase 4
Terminated
6
2026-05
Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIV
Massachusetts General Hospital · HIV-1-infection · Frailty
Phase 2
Recruiting
100
2026-05
Tesamorelin for Reduction of Liver Fat in Adults With Fatty Liver Disease (Mock Study)
Hudson Biotech · Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease · Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Phase 2
Recruiting
120
2026-03
Phase II Trial of Tesamorelin for Cognition in Aging HIV-Infected Persons
University of California, San Diego · Mild Cognitive Impairment
Phase 2
Completed
73
2026-03
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog to Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Cardiovascular Risk
Massachusetts General Hospital · Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease · Obesity
Phase 2
Completed
51
2025-11
Tesamorelin to Improve Functional Outcomes After Peripheral Nerve Injury
Johns Hopkins University · Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Phase 2
Recruiting
36
2025-11
TH9507 Extension Study in Patients With HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy
Theratechnologies · Lipodystrophy · HIV Infections
Phase 3
Completed
263
2022-09
Growth Hormone Dynamics and Cardiac Steatosis in HIV
Massachusetts General Hospital · Human Immunodeficiency Virus · Lipodystrophy
Not applicable
Completed
23
2022-07
Related PeptideStat pages
Put the record in context.
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