SermorelinGrowth Hormone
GHRH fragment studied for natural GH support.
- Status
- Research / not approved
- Developer
- GHRH(1-29) amide; marketed as Geref by Serono; today via compounding pharmacies
- Receptors / target
- Pituitary GHRH receptor (GHRHR) on somatotrophs; stimulates pulsatile endogenous growth-hormone release and downstream hepatic IGF-1
- FDA-approved?
- NO
- Prescription available?
- NO
- Studied for
- growth hormone deficiency (pediatric & adult)GH-stimulation diagnostic testingage-related GH declinebody composition
Overview
Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the active 1-29 fragment of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), C-terminally amidated — the shortest GHRH fragment that keeps full activity. Rather than supplying growth hormone directly, it prompts the pituitary to release the body's own GH in physiologic pulses. Marketed as Geref, it was FDA-approved in 1990 (diagnostic) and 1997 (childhood GH deficiency); both approvals were later voluntarily withdrawn for commercial — not safety — reasons (US marketing ended 2009). Today it has no FDA-approved product and exists through compounding pharmacies and the research-chemical market.
Mechanism
Sermorelin binds the pituitary GHRH receptor on somatotroph cells, triggering cAMP signaling that stimulates synthesis and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone, which drives hepatic IGF-1. Because it works upstream through an intact pituitary, GH output remains subject to normal negative feedback (e.g., somatostatin). Its plasma half-life is very short (~11-12 minutes), but the downstream GH pulse lasts roughly 2-4 hours. It is the native, unmodified GHRH(1-29) amide — hence a much shorter half-life than the modified analogs tesamorelin and CJC-1295.
Clinical evidence
The strongest human evidence comes from its FDA-era indications. As a diagnostic, a single IV dose gave a relatively specific GH-stimulation test with fewer false positives than other agents. As a pediatric therapeutic, once-daily subcutaneous sermorelin increased height velocity in some prepubertal children with idiopathic GH deficiency over 12 months, though the effect was smaller than somatropin and final-adult-height benefit was never established. Adult and "anti-aging"/body-composition uses remain poorly supported, resting on small studies and commentary rather than robust trials.
Safety profile
In supervised diagnostic and pediatric use, sermorelin was generally well tolerated — mostly mild, transient injection-site reactions, flushing, headache, dizziness, nausea and altered taste; serious hypersensitivity is rare. As a GH secretagogue it carries class-level metabolic concern (hyperglycemia/ impaired glucose tolerance), and there are no long-term malignancy or mortality data for the class. It is prohibited in sport (WADA S2). Compounded/gray-market supply adds purity, sterility and dosing-accuracy risks. Research-use framing only — not a validated treatment for aging, weight loss or performance.
- Per dose (acute)
Stimulates a pulsatile growth-hormone release within ~hours; downstream IGF-1 rises over days. The peptide's own plasma half-life is only ~minutes.
- Months 1–3
In its FDA-era pediatric use, increased height velocity was assessed over months. Adult body-composition / anti-aging time-course is not well characterized and is largely anecdotal.
Reported in published literature and user reports. Not a complete list, and not medical advice.
- Injection-site pain, redness or swelling
- Flushing, headache, dizziness
- Altered taste (dysgeusia), nausea
- Hyperglycemia / glucose-intolerance risk (GH-secretagogue class effect)
- Rare hypersensitivity reactions
If severe or unexpected symptoms occur, contact a qualified medical professional. PEPTIDES·INDEX does not provide medical advice.
- Known hypersensitivity to sermorelin or its components (historical Geref labeling).
- Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance is a grounded caution, since GH secretagogues carry class-level hyperglycemia risk.
- Active or prior cancer is a theoretical concern given mitogenic GH/IGF-1 signaling; modern compounded use has no long-term malignancy data.
- Corticosteroids / glucocorticoidsMay blunt the GH response (class effect of GHRH agents); historical labeling noted antithyroid agents and somatostatin can also reduce the GH response
- Insulin or other glucose-lowering agentsGH-axis stimulation can alter glucose handling; monitor glucose status (research/compounded use)
Compare
- vs Tesamorelin
A stabilized GHRH analog with current FDA approval; sermorelin is the native fragment with only former approval.
- vs CJC-1295 (No-DAC)
A tetrasubstituted modification of the same GHRH(1-29) backbone with a longer half-life.
FAQ
Is sermorelin still FDA-approved?
No. As Geref it held FDA approvals for a GH-stimulation diagnostic (1990) and childhood GH deficiency (1997), but both were voluntarily withdrawn for commercial - not safety - reasons, and US marketing ended in 2009. Today there is no FDA-approved product; it exists via compounding pharmacies and the research-chemical market.
How is sermorelin different from tesamorelin and CJC-1295?
Sermorelin is the native, unmodified GHRH(1-29) amide, so it has a very short plasma half-life of about 11-12 minutes. Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 are stabilized or albumin-binding modifications that last considerably longer.
Is sermorelin banned in sport?
Yes. As a GHRH-receptor agonist / growth-hormone secretagogue it is prohibited at all times under WADA category S2.
How does sermorelin work in the body?
Sermorelin binds the pituitary GHRH receptor on somatotroph cells and triggers cAMP signaling that prompts synthesis and pulsatile release of the body's own growth hormone, which in turn raises hepatic IGF-1. Because it acts upstream through an intact pituitary, GH output stays subject to normal negative feedback such as somatostatin.
What does the human evidence for sermorelin actually show?
The strongest data come from its FDA-era uses: a single IV dose gave a relatively specific GH-stimulation diagnostic test, and once-daily subcutaneous sermorelin increased height velocity in some children with idiopathic GH deficiency over about 12 months, though less than somatropin. Adult anti-aging and body-composition uses remain poorly supported.
What are the risks of compounded or gray-market sermorelin?
There is no FDA-approved sermorelin product today, so supply comes from compounding pharmacies or the research-chemical market, which adds purity, sterility and dosing-accuracy risks. As a GH secretagogue it also carries class-level hyperglycemia concern, and there are no long-term malignancy or mortality data for the class.
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Starting references for the library summary. These are not dosing instructions or medical advice.
For research-use educational context only. Not medical advice and not a recommendation to use any compound. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before any health decision.