Sermorelin

CWithdrawn (US brand)GHRH(1-29)Geref
In one paragraphSermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone — the active fragment. It was FDA-approved in 1990 as Geref for diagnosing growth-hormone deficiency in children, and the brand was withdrawn in 2008 for commercial reasons, not safety. It reliably raises growth hormone and IGF-1. The adult anti-ageing and body-composition claims rest on small open-label studies, not randomised trials.
Schematic 3D structure of Sermorelin
29 residues · GHRH(1-29), helical · schematic
Overall gradeC Weak
Human trialsApproved paediatric use; small adult studies
Outcomes graded4
Last reviewed2 September 2026
EvidenceWhat it isHow it worksUnknownsRegulationQuestionsReferences

What the human research shows

The pharmacology is not in question — sermorelin does what it says to the hormone axis, and had a regulatory approval on that basis. What is missing is any well-controlled adult trial showing that the hormone change translates into the outcomes people take it for.

OutcomeGradeEffect sizeHuman studiesWhere the evidence comes from
Growth hormone / IGF-1 elevationAEstablishedModerateApproval-grade paediatric dataThe basis of the 1990 approval as a diagnostic agent: a reliable, measurable GH response. Open-label adult series report IGF-1 rises over 3–6 months.1
Body composition in adultsCWeakSmallSmall studies, mostly open-labelA few small trials and open-label series report modest changes; no adequately powered randomised trial in healthy adults.1
Sleep qualityDNo human evidenceNot measurableAnecdotal / smallFrequently claimed; the supporting human data is minimal and uncontrolled.
Safety in adultsadverseCWeakNot measurableCompounding-era useLong clinical familiarity from the paediatric era and compounded adult use; no modern controlled long-term dataset.
AMultiple good human trials, consistentBSome human trials, mostly consistentCFew or weak human studiesDAnimal or anecdotal onlyeffect size · red = adverse

Literature searched to 2 September 2026. Human studies only; animal and cell work informs the mechanism section and nothing else.

What it is

Growth-hormone-releasing hormone is 44 amino acids long, and its first 29 carry essentially all the activity. Sermorelin is that fragment, made synthetically. Because it prompts the pituitary to release its own growth hormone, the resulting pattern is pulsatile — closer to physiology than injected growth hormone.

It was sold as Geref from 1990, first for diagnosing growth-hormone deficiency in children and later for paediatric short stature. Serono withdrew it in October 2008; the withdrawal was commercial, and the FDA record does not attribute it to safety or efficacy concerns. In the US it remains available through 503A compounding pharmacies, which is why it occupies a different regulatory position from BPC-157 or TB-500.

How it is thought to work

It binds GHRH receptors on the pituitary, producing a pulse of growth hormone and, downstream, IGF-1. Because it works through the pituitary rather than bypassing it, the body's own feedback loops still apply — the argument for why it is gentler than exogenous growth hormone.

What is still unknown

  • Whether raising GH and IGF-1 in healthy adults changes body composition, sleep or anything else people take it for.
  • Long-term consequences of sustained IGF-1 elevation.
  • How much the compounded product resembles the original pharmaceutical.

Regulatory status

United States
Brand withdrawn; available via compounding

Geref discontinued 2008 for commercial reasons. 503A compounding pharmacies continue to supply it for off-label adult use.

European Union
Not authorised

No current EU marketing authorisation.

Sport (WADA)
Prohibited

GH-releasing factors are banned at all times.

Canada
Not authorised

No Health Canada authorisation.

Questions people actually ask

Is sermorelin FDA-approved?
It was, from 1990, as Geref — for diagnosing growth-hormone deficiency in children. The brand was withdrawn in 2008 for commercial reasons. It is not currently an approved product, though US compounding pharmacies supply it.
Does sermorelin work for anti-ageing?
It raises growth hormone and IGF-1, which is well established. Whether that produces the outcomes marketed under "anti-ageing" has not been shown in a randomised adult trial.
Sermorelin or CJC-1295?
Sermorelin has the regulatory history and a short half-life requiring daily dosing. CJC-1295 lasts far longer but never gained approval and has thinner human evidence. Neither has adult outcome trials.

References

  1. 1
    Sermorelin evidence review: Geref approval history, withdrawal, and adult off-label data.Evidence review, 2026Secondary source used for approval and withdrawal history; adult RCT data described as limited.

Change log

  • 2026-09-02Initial publication. Hormone-elevation outcome graded A on approval-grade data; adult body-composition claims graded C.