Sermorelin: Research Overview, Mechanisms, and Current Evidence
Sermorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, corresponding to the first 29 amino acids of GHRH (GHRH 1-29). It stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone and was previously approved as the prescription drug Geref for growth hormone deficiency in children before being withdrawn from the US market in 2008. Because it is a prescription drug, the framing here is research-use only. The information below summarizes published research for educational and research purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not guidance for use in humans.
Sermorelin is a prescription drug. Available for research use from our preferred vendor, Project Zero. For laboratory research use only.
How It Works (Preclinical Mechanisms)
Sermorelin reproduces the active region of GHRH and stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone in a pulsatile, physiological manner.
- Binds the GHRH receptor on the pituitary to stimulate synthesis and release of growth hormone.
- Reported to support pulsatile growth hormone release, preserving feedback regulation by somatostatin.
- Studied for downstream increases in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) that follow growth hormone release.
- Investigated historically as a way to test pituitary growth hormone reserve.
Areas of Research Interest
Published studies have examined sermorelin and related GHRH analogs in the following research contexts, including registration-era clinical trials.
Pediatric growth hormone deficiency
Studied in clinical trials of GHRH(1-29) to increase height velocity in growth hormone-deficient children.
Radiation-induced GH deficiency
Investigated in children whose growth hormone deficiency followed cranial irradiation.
Growth hormone axis testing
Used to probe pituitary growth hormone reserve and GH pulse generation.
GHRH pathway pharmacology
Examined as part of broader research into GHRH agonists and antagonists.
Reported Study Parameters
For laboratory research use only. The table below reports the doses and routes used in published clinical trials, with sources. It describes what was administered in those studies and is not a protocol, recommendation, or guidance for use in humans or animals. Doses are expressed per kilogram of body weight as reported. Because sermorelin is a prescription drug, this information is provided for research context only.
| Research Model | Dose and Route Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Growth hormone-deficient children (clinical trial, GHRH 1-29) | 30 ug/kg per day, subcutaneous, once daily at bedtime | Thorner 1996·DOI |
| Radiation-induced GH deficiency, children (multicenter) | 15 ug/kg twice daily, subcutaneous | Ogilvy-Stuart 1997·DOI |
| Human research (regulatory status) | Previously approved as sermorelin (Geref) for pediatric GH deficiency; withdrawn from the US market in 2008; a prescription drug provided here for research use only | Coutinho 2026·DOI |
Products are supplied as lyophilized powder requiring reconstitution. For reconstitution concentration math, use the Peptide Calculator.
Latest Research (1996 to 2026)
Peer-reviewed literature indexed on PubMed includes the registration-era clinical trials of GHRH(1-29) and more recent reviews of GHRH pathway pharmacology and peptide use.
Peptides in sport (critical review)
A 2026 critical review of peptide drugs in sport listed sermorelin among GHRH analogues promoted for muscle growth and recovery, while emphasizing that most controlled evidence comes from therapeutic, not performance, settings and that risks remain poorly defined. PubMed·DOI
GHRH pathway in cancer (review)
A 2024 review discussed GHRH receptor pharmacology and the development of GHRH antagonists as a targeted approach in acute myeloid leukemia, illustrating ongoing interest in the GHRH axis that sermorelin acts upon. PubMed·DOI
Radiation-induced GH deficiency (trial)
A 1997 multicenter study reported that GHRH(1-29) at 15 ug/kg twice daily increased height velocity from 3.3 to 6.0 cm/year in children with radiation-induced growth hormone deficiency, though less than subsequent growth hormone therapy. PubMed·DOI
Pediatric GH deficiency (registration trial)
A 1996 multicenter study of 110 growth hormone-deficient children reported that GHRH(1-29) at 30 ug/kg per day subcutaneously at bedtime increased mean height velocity from 4.1 to 8.0 cm/year at 6 months and was well tolerated. PubMed·DOI
Research Questions
What is sermorelin?
Sermorelin is a synthetic GHRH analog (the first 29 amino acids of GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone. It was marketed as the prescription drug Geref.
What is the current state of human evidence?
Registration-era trials established that sermorelin increases growth hormone release and height velocity in growth hormone-deficient children. It was withdrawn from the US market in 2008 and is now used off-label or in compounding.
What does the available safety literature suggest?
In pediatric trials sermorelin was generally well tolerated without adverse changes in glucose. Because it is a prescription drug with defined risks, it should be used only under appropriate medical supervision.
Referenced Citations
Literature indexed on PubMed.
- Coutinho, L.F.D., et al. (2026). A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness, 66(7), 880-885. PubMed·DOI
- Costoya, J., et al. (2024). A novel approach for the treatment of AML, through GHRH antagonism: MIA-602. Rev. Endocr. Metab. Disord., 26(3), 483-491. PubMed·DOI
- Ogilvy-Stuart, A.L., et al. (1997). Treatment of radiation-induced growth hormone deficiency with growth hormone-releasing hormone. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf), 46(5), 571-578. PubMed·DOI
- Thorner, M., et al. (1996). Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 81(3), 1189-1196. PubMed·DOI
PeptideInfo.org provides information strictly for educational and research purposes. All referenced products are intended for laboratory and research use only and are not approved for human consumption, medical use, or self-administration. Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice. Research summaries reference literature indexed on PubMed.