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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 verified2 months ago
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
25
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

Clinical trials

NCT03375788Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog to Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Cardiovascular RiskCompleted · Phase 2 · Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease · n=51NCT06554717Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIVRecruiting · Phase 2 · HIV-1-infection · n=100NCT00720902Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Markers in GH Deficient Patients With Nonsecreting Pituitary AdenomasTerminated · Phase 4 · Growth Hormone Deficiency · n=7NCT00608023A Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Extension Study Assessing the Efficacy and Long-term Safety of a 2 mg Dose of TH9507, a GHRH Analog, in HIV Subjects With Excess Abdominal Fat AccumulationCompleted · Phase 3 · Lipodystrophy · n=263NCT02196831Tesamorelin Effects on Liver Fat and Histology in HIV: A Collaborative UO1 GrantCompleted · N/A · Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) · n=61NCT02553603The Effect of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone on Cognitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive ImpairmentCompleted · Phase 1 · Mild Cognitive Impairment · n=22NCT00791843The Effect of GHRH Therapy on Myocardial Structure and Function in Congestive Heart FailureCompleted · Phase 2 · Congestive Heart Failure · n=3NCT01410799Three Month Treatment of GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone) in the ElderlyTerminated · Phase 2 · Hormone Deficiency · n=13NCT00675506Physiologic Effects of Long-Term GHRH1-44 in Abdominal ObesityCompleted · Phase 2 · Abdominal Obesity · n=60NCT01263717Effects of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone on Fat Redistribution, Cardiovascular Indices, and Growth Hormone Secretion in HIV LipodystrophyCompleted · N/A · HIV · n=54NCT03031535A Two-Part, Phase 1, Randomized, Crossover Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Intranasal Octreotide (DP1038) Versus Subcutaneous Sandostatin® Injection in Healthy Adult VolunteersCompleted · Phase 1 · Healthy Volunteer Study · n=32NCT00807365Six Month Treatment of GHRH in the ElderlyTerminated · Phase 2 · Elderly · n=5

Showing 12 of 25 indexed studies. View all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

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 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 36787346Otin J, Tran NT et al. · Online large volume sample staking preconcentration and separation of enantiomeric GHRH analogs by capillary electrophoresis.Electrophoresis (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 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 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 14499707Esposito P, Barbero L et al. · PEGylation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRF) analogues.Advanced drug delivery reviews (2004)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 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 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 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 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 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)

Showing 20 of 30 papers. View all on PubMed →