Sermorelin is a lab-made version of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).[1] Sold as Geref, it was FDA-approved for testing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, then discontinued in 2008. FDA later confirmed it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons.[2] Today it is widely offered by anti-aging and wellness clinics.[18]

This profile covers what sermorelin is, its FDA history, what studies show in children and older adults, how it compares with tesamorelin, side effects, dosage and its legal status.

What is sermorelin?

Natural GHRH has 44 amino acids, but the first 29 carry its full activity. Sermorelin is that 29-amino-acid fragment.[1] It was developed by Serono and marketed as Geref.[2]

How sermorelin works

Sermorelin signals the pituitary gland to release growth hormone in natural pulses, which raises IGF-1.[1][5] Because it relies on the pituitary’s own output, it works only when the pituitary is functioning, which is why it was also used as a diagnostic test.[2]

FDA history

  • December 1990: Geref approved to test the pituitary gland’s ability to release growth hormone.[2]
  • September 1997: approved for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure.[2][3]
  • 2008: Serono discontinued both products; the approvals were withdrawn in 2009.[2]
  • 2013: responding to a citizen petition, FDA determined that Geref was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness, which allows generic versions to reference it.[2]

Sermorelin benefits: what the research shows

Children with growth hormone deficiency

  • In 110 children treated nightly, growth rate nearly doubled, from 4.1 to 8.0 cm a year at 6 months, and 74% were good responders.[4]
  • In children with radiation-induced growth hormone deficiency in the UK, growth rate rose from 3.3 to 6.0 cm a year.[12]
  • In a Chinese comparison, growth hormone itself worked better than GHRH (14.6 vs about 9.2 cm a year).[11]

Older adults

  • Hormone levels: two weeks of 1 mg twice daily raised growth hormone and IGF-1 in older men to young-adult levels.[5]
  • Body and strength: six weeks of 2 mg nightly raised nighttime growth hormone but did not change IGF-1, body composition or blood sugar; 2 of 6 strength measures improved.[6]
  • A related analog: a 16-week study of a closely related GHRH analog (not sermorelin itself) found men gained lean mass and insulin sensitivity while women did not.[7]
  • Cognition: six months of daily GHRH improved some cognitive test scores in older adults; the study abstract does not specify which GHRH form was used.[8]

Sleep

In young men in Belgium, a late-night GHRH injection increased deep (slow-wave) sleep nearly tenfold.[9] In two older adults in Germany, repeated GHRH did not improve sleep.[10]

Sermorelin research around the world

  • China: a randomized trial in 60 children compared GHRH with growth hormone.[11]
  • United Kingdom: studies in children with radiation-induced growth hormone deficiency and with idiopathic short stature, where growth slowed again after stopping.[12][13]
  • Russia: a Moscow study compared GHRH with GHRP-2 in children with growth hormone insufficiency and found low responses to GHRH in that group.[14]
  • Belgium and Germany: studies of GHRH and sleep.[9][10]

Sermorelin vs tesamorelin and ipamorelin

Tesamorelin is the full 44-amino-acid hormone with a stabilizing chain; it has large phase 3 trials and is currently FDA-approved, for belly fat in HIV. Sermorelin is the shorter, shorter-acting fragment with older, smaller studies. Ipamorelin works through a different receptor (the ghrelin receptor); see our CJC-1295 + ipamorelin guide. For a long-acting GHRH analog, see CJC-1295 with DAC.

Sermorelin side effects

  • Most common: temporary facial flushing and pain at the injection site.[1]
  • Antibodies: in the Chinese pediatric study, 39 of 40 children on GHRH developed antibodies to it.[11]
  • Blood sugar: one pediatric study found rises in fasting glucose and insulin.[13]
  • Other reported effects: redness or swelling at the injection site, and rarely itching, dizziness, headache, sleepiness or restlessness.[21]
  • USADA also lists swelling, joint and nerve pain, and insulin resistance among the risks.[18]

Sermorelin dosage: what has been studied

SettingDose
Children with growth hormone deficiency30 mcg per kg once daily at bedtime[1][4]
Older men (2 weeks)0.5 or 1 mg twice daily[5]
Older men (6 weeks)2 mg nightly[6]

No dose is currently approved, since Geref is discontinued. For converting milligrams to syringe units, see our peptide calculator.

What users report

  • No currently approved product: Geref was discontinued, but FDA confirmed this was not for safety or effectiveness reasons.[2]
  • Compounding: FDA allows compounding pharmacies to use substances that are components of FDA-approved drugs; FDA’s guidance does not name sermorelin specifically.[15] A pharmacy compounding trade group lists sermorelin among peptides that meet the legal criteria for compounding.[17] Sermorelin is not on FDA’s list of substances with significant safety risks.[16]
  • Banned in sport: WADA prohibits sermorelin at all times, and USADA says an exemption is highly unlikely.[19][18]

This is general information, not legal advice.