RFK JR. ANNOUNCEMENT · FEB 27 2026 · 14 PEPTIDES RETURN TO CATEGORY 1DATABASE UPDATED · 847 NEW PUBMED CITATIONS THIS WEEKRETATRUTIDE · GRADE B EVIDENCE · 4 NEW CLINICAL TRIALSCOA SCANS · 2,341 BATCHES VERIFIED BY COMMUNITY THIS MONTHFDA ENFORCEMENT · PEPTIDE SCIENCES SHUTDOWN · MAR 2026GLP-1 DIRECTORY · 47 VERIFIED TELEHEALTH CLINICSRFK JR. ANNOUNCEMENT · FEB 27 2026 · 14 PEPTIDES RETURN TO CATEGORY 1DATABASE UPDATED · 847 NEW PUBMED CITATIONS THIS WEEKRETATRUTIDE · GRADE B EVIDENCE · 4 NEW CLINICAL TRIALSCOA SCANS · 2,341 BATCHES VERIFIED BY COMMUNITY THIS MONTHFDA ENFORCEMENT · PEPTIDE SCIENCES SHUTDOWN · MAR 2026GLP-1 DIRECTORY · 47 VERIFIED TELEHEALTH CLINICS
Home/Compounds/Sermorelin
Growth hormoneFDA approvedRx required

Sermorelin

Also known as: Geref · GRF 1-29
Brands: Geref

Bioidentical GHRH fragment approved for pediatric growth hormone deficiency, widely used in anti-aging medicine.

A
Grade A
Multiple human RCTs
Human studies17
PubMed citations30
Typical dose100 mcg – 500 mcg
Routesubcutaneous
Regulatory (US)FDA approved · Rx
Last verifiedyesterday
TL;DR · 30-second summary
  • Increases IGF-1 levels by 20-40%
  • Preserves natural GH pulsatility
  • Improves body composition in adults
  • Better safety profile than exogenous GH

Mechanism of action

Synthetic analog of the first 29 amino acids of GHRH. Stimulates natural pulsatile GH release from pituitary without suppressing endogenous production.

Evidence summary

17
Human studies
30
PubMed citations
0
Clinical trials
A
Evidence grade

FDA approved for pediatric GH deficiency. Extensive off-label use data in adults for anti-aging. Maintains physiological GH pulsatility.

Dosing protocols

Educational information only. Consult a licensed provider before using any peptide.
Dose range
100 mcg – 500 mcg

Typically 100-300mcg before bed daily. Often combined with GHRP for synergistic effect.

Administration routes
subcutaneous

Side effects & safety

Reported side effects
Injection site reactionsFlushingHeadacheDizziness
Contraindications
  • Active malignancy
  • Pregnancy
  • Hypersensitivity

Interactions

No documented drug interactions on file.

Regulatory status

United States
FDA approved

FDA approved for pediatric use. Available through compounding for adults.

Compounding
Permitted

Available through compounding pharmacies with valid prescription.

Regulatory data last verified 4/17/2026

Citations

PMID 41490200Rahman OF, Lee SJ et al. · Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026)HumanPMID 41138283Uçaktürk E, Nemutlu E · Analysis of growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogs in urine using nano liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/orbitrap mass spectrometry.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (2025)HumanPMID 36787346Otin J, Tran NT et al. · Online large volume sample staking preconcentration and separation of enantiomeric GHRH analogs by capillary electrophoresis.Electrophoresis (2023)HumanPMID 37688464González-López NM, Guerra-Acero-Turizo LM et al. · In-house standards derived from doping peptides: Enzymatic and serum stability and degradation profile of GHRP and GHRH-related peptides.Biomedical chromatography : BMC (2023)HumanPMID 33842627Chang Y, Huang R et al. · A potentially effective drug for patients with recurrent glioma: sermorelin.Annals of translational medicine (2022)HumanPMID 32257855Sinha DK, Balasubramanian A et al. · Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males.Translational andrology and urology (2020)HumanPMID 30489688Timms M, Ganio K et al. · An immuno polymerase chain reaction screen for the detection of CJC-1295 and other growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogs in equine plasma.Drug testing and analysis (2019)PMID 28830317Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW et al. · Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels.American journal of men's health (2018)HumanPMID 26456392Venhuis BJ, Keizers PH et al. · Operation resistance: A snapshot of falsified antibiotics and biopharmaceutical injectables in Europe.Drug testing and analysis (2017)HumanPMID 24935659Cunha-Reis D, Aidil-Carvalho Mde F et al. · Endogenous inhibition of hippocampal LTD and depotentiation by vasoactive intestinal peptide VPAC1 receptors.Hippocampus (2015)PMID 19509104Yuen KC, Biller BM et al. · Clinical review: Is lack of recombinant growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone in the United States a setback or time to consider glucagon testing for adult GH deficiency?The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2009)HumanPMID 18031173Prakash A, Goa KL · Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy (2009)HumanPMID 14499707Esposito P, Barbero L et al. · PEGylation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRF) analogues.Advanced drug delivery reviews (2004)HumanPMID 11572326Saenger P, Pescovitz OH et al. · Outcome of growth hormone therapy in children with growth hormone deficiency showing an inadequate response to growth hormone-releasing hormone.Endocrine (2002)HumanPMID 11994347Popovic V, Pekic S et al. · The impact of cranial irradiation on GH responsiveness to GHRH plus GH-releasing peptide-6.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (2002)HumanPMID 10803472Bellone J, Bellone S et al. · The negative GH auto-feedback in childhood: effects of rhGH and/or GHRH on the somatotroph response to GHRH or hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in children.Journal of endocrinological investigation (2000)HumanPMID 8772599Thorner M, Rochiccioli P et al. · Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy. Geref International Study Group.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (1996)HumanPMID 8583376Bai JP, Chang LL · The involvement of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in brush-border degradation of GRF(1-29)NH2 by intestinal mucosal cells.The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (1996)PMID 8652828Delgado M, Garrido E et al. · Vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptides (PACAP27) and PACAP38) protect CD4+CD8+ thymocytes from glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis.Blood (1996)PMID 7722512Yuwiler A, Brammer GL et al. · Interaction between adrenergic and peptide stimulation in the rat pineal: pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide.Journal of neurochemistry (1995)

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