Sermorelin

Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid fragment of growth-hormone-releasing hormone. This page covers its past FDA-approved uses, what trials showed, safety notes and current status.

Content last updated October 22, 2026. This page has not been medically reviewed.

Overview and classification

Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide made of the first 29 amino acids of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the brain signal that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. [1] It is a signaling-system analogue, not a growth hormone itself. It is not the same molecule as CJC-1295, tesamorelin or ipamorelin; see Growth-Hormone-Releasing Peptides for how they differ. This page uses these evidence labels: approved medicine, promising but limited, insufficient evidence, and marketing claim.

What research shows

Children with growth hormone deficiency (human trials, older). A review of the earlier literature found that sermorelin given as a single test dose was useful as one part of diagnosing growth hormone deficiency, and that limited data suggested daily injections could speed growth in some prepubertal children. [1] The same review noted that normal responses to sermorelin cannot exclude a deficiency of hypothalamic origin, and that the effect on final adult height was not yet known. [1] In a randomized comparison of 43 children, height velocity with the higher GHRH(1-29) amount was comparable to that with growth hormone, but only the growth hormone group gained in height relative to bone age. [6] Label: approved medicine (formerly, for these uses).

Older adults (human trial, short). A single-blind, placebo-controlled trial gave a modified GHRH(1-29) analogue (with norleucine at position 27, so not identical to sermorelin) to 19 people aged 55 to 71 for 16 weeks. [7] Nighttime growth hormone, IGF-1 and skin thickness rose, and lean body mass rose in men only. [7] Men reported better general well-being and libido, while sleep quality did not change. [7] Transient high blood lipids was the only side effect reported. [7] This was a small study of an analogue; it does not show that sermorelin improves health outcomes in healthy adults. Label: promising but limited for hormone biomarkers, insufficient evidence for clinical benefit. Higher growth hormone or IGF-1 is a biomarker, not a benefit; see Biomarker Changes vs Meaningful Health Outcomes.

Adult "anti-aging" and body-composition claims. I searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov for sermorelin trials in healthy adults and found small, older or terminated studies rather than large outcome trials. Proper evidence not found for long-term benefit on fitness, longevity or disease prevention.

Quality and naming

Product names, strengths and sources vary. A clinic offering sermorelin, or a bottle with the name on it, does not tell you what it contains. See Research Peptide Naming and Identity Problems and How to Evaluate Peptide Claims.

Related guides

Tesamorelin is an approved GHRH analogue with a different label. Growth Hormone and IGF-1 Signaling explains the pathway. Sports Anti-Doping Rules for Peptides covers testing.

Frequently asked questions

Is sermorelin an approved drug?

It was. GEREF was FDA-approved and later discontinued by its maker, and the FDA found it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons. [2] Whether any product available now is approved is a separate question.

Is sermorelin the same as growth hormone?

No. Sermorelin mimics the signal that prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone. [1]

Does sermorelin slow aging?

Proper evidence not found. The adult trial I read was small, used an analogue, and measured hormones and short-term body measures. [7]

Is sermorelin allowed in sport?

It is listed as a GHRH analogue on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. [4]

Can I tell from a label that sermorelin is safe?

No. Safety depends on the actual product, the person and the setting; talk with a clinician. [8]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Where it came from: a formerly approved medicine

Sermorelin was sold in the United States as GEREF. In a 2013 Federal Register notice, the FDA described two GEREF applications: one injection was indicated for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure, and another was indicated for testing whether the pituitary can secrete growth hormone. [2] The manufacturer told the FDA in December 2008 that the vial product was being discontinued. [2] The FDA later determined these products were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. [2] That is a statement about why the product left the market, not an endorsement of any product sold today.

Regulatory status (read 2026-10-22)

Jurisdiction	What the official source says
United States (FDA)	GEREF was approved in 1990 and 1997 and later discontinued; the 2013 notice found it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons. [2] Sermorelin is not named in the FDA's list of compounding substances with significant safety risks that I read, which was current as of 22 April 2026. [3]
Other countries	Not verified. I could not read a regulator page for sermorelin outside the US.
Sport	Sermorelin is named as a GHRH analogue on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. [4]

Compounding rules are separate from approval. The FDA says state-licensed pharmacists and physicians compounding under section 503A may only use bulk drug substances that meet certain conditions, such as being a component of an approved drug or appearing on a list. [5] Whether a given sermorelin product meets those conditions is not something this page can confirm. This is not legal advice, and laws change.

Safety

In the pediatric review, single and repeated injections were well tolerated, and transient facial flushing and injection-site pain were the most common adverse events. [1] A 2026 review of peptides used in sports medicine warns that rigorous human safety data are scarce for many unapproved peptides. [8] Sermorelin raises growth hormone through the pituitary, so effects on blood sugar, fluid balance and other hormones are plausible but should not be assumed from other drugs. Anyone with a pituitary, thyroid, cancer or diabetes history should talk with their own clinician rather than rely on marketing.

References

Prakash A, Goa KL. Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. BioDrugs 1999. PubMed 18031173. Read 2026-10-22.
U.S. FDA. Determination That GEREF (Sermorelin Acetate) Injection ... Were Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness. Federal Register 78 FR 14095, 4 March 2013. FDA. Read 2026-10-22.
U.S. FDA. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 22 April 2026). FDA. Read 2026-10-22.
World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List 2026 (in effect 1 January 2026). Prohibited List 2026 (in effect 1 January 2026). Read 2026-10-22.
U.S. FDA. Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act (content current as of 14 May 2026). FDA. Read 2026-10-22.
Neyzi O et al. Growth response to growth hormone-releasing hormone(1-29)-NH2 compared with growth hormone. Acta Paediatr Suppl 1993. PubMed 8329826. Read 2026-10-22.
Khorram O, Laughlin GA, Yen SS. Long-term administration of [Nle27]GHRH-(1-29)-NH2 in age-advanced men and women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997. PubMed 9141536. Read 2026-10-22.
Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and efficacy of approved and unapproved peptide therapies for musculoskeletal injuries and athletic performance. Sports Med 2026. PubMed 41966639. Read 2026-10-22.

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.