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Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I know if I have excess visceral abdominal fat?

The symptoms of EVAF may vary from person to person. If you have HIV and suspect you might have EVAF, take this quick survey to find out if you may be at risk.

How can EGRIFTA WR™ help me?

If you have HIV and have been diagnosed by your healthcare provider with lipodystrophy, EGRIFTA WR™ might help to reduce your EVAF.*
EVAF may occur in part due to a reduced amount of growth hormone in your body. Growth hormone plays a key role in regulating the body's metabolism by controlling how the body stores fat and helping to keep muscles healthy.
EGRIFTA WR™ is a GHRF analog, which causes the body to make more of its own growth hormone. By increasing levels of growth hormone, EGRIFTA WR™ helps to restore the body’s normal metabolic processes and reduce EVAF.
Click here to learn more about EGRIFTA WR™ and how it works.
* EGRIFTA WR™ is not for weight loss management. The long-term safety of EGRIFTA WR™ on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) is not known. It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA WR™ helps improve how well you take your antiretroviral medications. It is not known if EGRIFTA WR™ is safe and effective in children; do not use EGRIFTA WR™ in children.

How do I know if EGRIFTA WR™ is right for me?

Only your doctor can determine if EGRIFTA WR™ may be right for you.
If you suspect you may have EVAF, take this quick survey to find out. If your responses suggest you may be at risk, we’ll reach out to answer any questions you might have and provide more information about this condition and treatment options—so you can have an informed discussion about EVAF with your healthcare provider.
You can also download the Discussion Guide to help you have a meaningful conversation with your healthcare provider about EVAF.

What changes can I expect when I start EGRIFTA WR™?

Remember that EGRIFTA WR™ may take time to show noticeable results. Even if you don’t physically see results right away, that doesn’t mean the EGRIFTA WR™ isn’t working. Pay attention to other day-to-day improvements like less discomfort bending down, easier breathing, or your pants feeling a bit looser around the waist. Your healthcare provider may help monitor your progress through lab tests and regular check-ins.*
Two other ways you can assess progress while on EGRIFTA WR™ is to measure your waist circumference and calculate your waist-to-hip ratio.
* EGRIFTA WR™ is not indicated for weight loss management or waist circumference reduction.

What are the possible side effects of EGRIFTA WR™?

The most common side effects of EGRIFTA WR™ include pain in legs and arms and muscle pain.
These are not all the possible side effects of EGRIFTA WR™. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or to THERA patient support® toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).
For additional information about side effects, please see the complete Important Safety Information.

What do I do if I am uncomfortable with daily injections?

Feeling uncomfortable about adding a daily injection to your routine is completely normal. One helpful strategy is to pair your injection with something you already do every day, like brushing your teeth, washing your face, or eating a meal. For helpful tips on navigating your daily injections, download the EGRIFTA WR™ Handbook.
It’s also normal to feel nervous about self-injecting. Many people feel more confident once they understand the process and know they’re doing it correctly. You can learn how to inject EGRIFTA WR™ by downloading the Step-by-Step Administration Guide or watching the Step-by-Step Administration Video.
Additionally, the THERA patient support® Nurse Navigators are here to help. They can help teach you how to properly mix and inject EGRIFTA WR™ and will work with you to find a routine that suits your lifestyle. Learn more about the THERA patient support® program here or by contacting THERA patient support® at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).

How is EGRIFTA WR™ different from EGRIFTA SV®?*

EGRIFTA WR™ is the new formulation of tesamorelin—the active ingredient in EGRIFTA SV®—and it was designed to be simpler and more convenient to use. With EGRIFTA WR™, you now only need to mix the medication once a week instead of every day. Each vial of EGRIFTA WR™ provides doses for 7 consecutive days of injections.
After you mix your vial with the Bacteriostatic Water, store it at room temperature—not in the fridge or freezer—and use it for your daily injections over 7 days.
You’ll also notice there are fewer supplies in your injection box. That’s because the syringes now come with the needles already attached, making the process quicker and easier.
Another key difference is that the amount of medication you inject each day is smaller—just 0.16 mL—compared to the previous formulation.
These are not all the differences between EGRIFTA WR™ and EGRIFTA SV®. If you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider or contact THERA patient support® at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372) for more information.
EGRIFTA WR™ and EGRIFTA SV® are not substitutable.

Explore the THERA patient support® Program

THERA patient support® is a comprehensive patient support program offering personalized services and a dedicated team that will support you at every step of your EGRIFTA WR™ treatment journey.
Diagram of abdominal fat

What is EGRIFTA WR™ (tesamorelin) for injection?

  • EGRIFTA WR™ is a prescription medicine used to reduce the excess stomach-area (abdominal) fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.
  • EGRIFTA WR™ is a growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF) analog.
  • EGRIFTA WR™ is not for weight loss management.
  • The long-term safety of EGRIFTA WR™ on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) is not known.
  • It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA WR™ helps improve how well you take your antiretroviral medications.
  • It is not known if EGRIFTA WR™ is safe and effective in children; do not use EGRIFTA WR™ in children.

You should not take EGRIFTA WR™ if you:

  • Have a pituitary gland tumor, surgery, or other problems related to your pituitary gland, or have had radiation treatment to your head or head injury.
  • Have active cancer.
  • Are allergic to tesamorelin or any of the ingredients in EGRIFTA WR™.
  • Are pregnant or become pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop using EGRIFTA WR™ and talk with your healthcare provider.
  • Are less than 18 years of age.

Before using EGRIFTA WR™ tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • Have or have had cancer.
  • Have problems with blood sugar or diabetes.
  • Have scheduled heart or stomach surgery.
  • Have breathing problems.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
  • Are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

EGRIFTA WR™ may cause serious side effects including:

  • Increased risk of new cancer in adults with HIV or your cancer coming back (reactivation). Stop using EGRIFTA WR™ and inform your healthcare provider if any cancer symptoms come back.
  • Increased levels of your insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your IGF-1 levels while you are taking EGRIFTA WR™.
  • Serious allergic reaction such as rash or hives anywhere over the body or on the skin, swelling of the face or throat, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, feeling of faintness or fainting, itching and reddening or flushing of the skin. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using EGRIFTA WR™ and get emergency medical help right away.
  • Swelling or fluid retention. Call your healthcare provider if you have swelling, an increase in joint pain, or pain or numbness in your hands or wrists.
  • Increase in blood sugar (glucose) or diabetes.
  • Injection site reactions. Injection site reactions are a common side effect of EGRIFTA WR™ but may sometimes be serious.
  • Increased risk of death in people who have critical illness because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems has been reported after treatment with therapeutic doses of growth hormone.

The most common side effects of EGRIFTA WR™ include:

  • Pain in legs and arms
  • Muscle pain

These are not all the possible side effects of EGRIFTA WR™. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or to TPS logo toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).

This information is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. For additional information about EGRIFTA WR™, see the Patient Information and Patient Instructions for Use, and talk to your doctor. For more information about EGRIFTA WR™ contact TPS logo toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).