Can a hormone drug boost exercise benefits for aging HIV patients?

NCT ID NCT06554717

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether adding tesamorelin (a growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue) to a home-based exercise program can improve physical function in 100 adults aged 50-80 with HIV. Participants are randomly assigned to receive tesamorelin or a placebo injection daily for 24 weeks, while all follow a supervised exercise routine. The study measures changes in chair stand time, muscle strength, and quality of life, and will also see if benefits last after treatment stops.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Tesamorelin (a growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue, also known as Egrifta)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a way to help people aging with HIV maintain strength and mobility, potentially improving quality of life.

What could go wrong

This is a phase 2 trial with only 100 participants, so results are preliminary. Tesamorelin is already approved for abdominal fat in HIV, but its effect on physical function is unproven, and the exercise component may be hard to sustain.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Frailty HIV infectious disease Obesity, Abdominal

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus

    RECRUITING

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••