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Sermorelin

A growth hormone-releasing hormone analog that was previously FDA-approved for diagnosing GH deficiency in children.

StrongWell-Studied Beginner-Friendly

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This information is for educational purposes. Peptide therapy should be guided by a licensed healthcare provider. Connect with a Noho clinician

What is Sermorelin?

Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide consisting of the first 29 amino acids of naturally occurring growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It was previously FDA-approved (as Geref) for diagnostic use in evaluating growth hormone deficiency in children. While the branded product was discontinued for commercial reasons, sermorelin remains available through compounding pharmacies and is one of the most well-studied growth hormone peptides.

Why People Talk About It

Growth hormone optimization

Strong

Improved sleep quality

Moderate

Body composition improvement

Moderate

Anti-aging support

Emerging

How It Works

Sermorelin is essentially a copy of the natural signal your brain sends to release growth hormone. By providing this signal, it encourages your pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone naturally, rather than injecting growth hormone directly.

Common Questions

Safety Information

Important Safety Notes

Common Side Effects

Injection site reactionsFacial flushingHeadacheDizziness

Cautions

  • Requires clinician supervision
  • Monitor with IGF-1 levels
  • Not for those with active malignancies

What We Don't Know

While short-term safety is well established, long-term effects of sustained use for anti-aging purposes are less characterized.

Published Research

30 studies

Influence of dopaminergic, adrenergic and cholinergic blockade and TRH administration on GH responses to GRF 1-29

Randomized Controlled TrialPMID: 2871952

Lack of effect of muscarinic cholinergic blockade on the GH responses to GRF 1-29 and TRH in acromegalic subjects

Randomized Controlled TrialPMID: 2874906

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

Clinical TrialPMID: 8772599

Effects of GRF (1-29) NH2 on short-term memory: neuroendocrine and neuropsychological assessment in healthy young subjects

Clinical TrialPMID: 2087150

A comparison of the biological activities of authentic rat GRF(1-43)OH with the analogue rat GRF(1-29)NH2

Comparative StudyPMID: 1829020

Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?

ReviewPMID: 18046908

Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.

ReviewPMID: 41490200

Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.

ReviewPMID: 18031173

Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males.

ReviewPMID: 32257855

Site-specific PEGylation for high-yield preparation of Lys(21)-amine PEGylated growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) (1-29) using a GRF(1-29) derivative FMOC-protected at Tyr(1) and Lys(12)

PreclinicalPMID: 17243755

Interactions of GRF(1-29)NH2 with plasma proteins and their effects on the release of the peptide from a PLAGA matrix

PreclinicalPMID: 15987661

The involvement of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in brush-border degradation of GRF(1-29)NH2 by intestinal mucosal cells

PreclinicalPMID: 8583376

Study of the activation mechanism of human GRF(1-29)NH2 on rat mast cell histamine release

PreclinicalPMID: 7544679

Histamine release on rat pleural and peritoneal mast cells elicited by human GRF(1-29)NH2

PreclinicalPMID: 7679022

An analogue of growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), (Ac-Try1, D-Phe2)-GRF-(1-29), specifically antagonizes the facilitation of the flexor reflex induced by intrathecal vasoactive intestinal peptide in rat spinal cord

PreclinicalPMID: 2067598

VIP antagonist [N-Ac-Tyr1,D-Phe2]-GRF-(1-29)-NH2: an inhibitor of vasodilation in the feline colon

PreclinicalPMID: 2116730

[Effects of GRF 1-29 in normal and hypotrophic lambs]

PreclinicalPMID: 3131856

The synthetic peptide GRF (1-29)-NH2 with growth hormone releasing activity penetrates human epidermis in nitro

PreclinicalPMID: 2901184

Applications of BOP reagent in solid phase synthesis. Advantages of BOP reagent for difficult couplings exemplified by a synthesis of [Ala 15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2

PreclinicalPMID: 2896637

GH response to GRF (1-29) NH2 in female rats treated neonatally with estradiol benzoate or testosterone propionate

PreclinicalPMID: 2898557

[Influence of twice-daily injections of GRF 1-29 on production, feed intake and nutritional status of lactating goats]

PreclinicalPMID: 3151137

Secondary structure of the human growth hormone releasing factor (GRF 1-29) by two-dimensional 1H-nmr spectroscopy

PreclinicalPMID: 3149201

[Response of growth hormone to GRF(1-29)NH2 in 12 cases of active acromegaly]

PreclinicalPMID: 2885902

Testing with growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF(1-29)NH2) and somatomedin C measurements for the evaluation of growth hormone deficiency

PreclinicalPMID: 2880720

Growth hormone responses to GRF 1-29 in patients with primary hypothyroidism before and during replacement therapy with thyroxine

PreclinicalPMID: 3098458

Does growth hormone releasing factor desensitize the somatotroph? Interpretation of responses of growth hormone during and after 10-hour infusion of GRF 1-29 amide in man

PreclinicalPMID: 2871948

The effects of intranasal insufflation of growth hormone releasing factor analogue GRF 1-29 NH2 on growth hormone secretion in children with short stature

PreclinicalPMID: 2877535

Interaction of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and 14 GRF analogs with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors of rat pancreas. Discovery of (N-Ac-Tyr1,D-Phe2)-GRF(1-29)-NH2 as a VIP antagonist

PreclinicalPMID: 2859987

Structural requirements for the activation of rat anterior pituitary adenylate cyclase by growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF): discovery of (N-Ac-Tyr1, D-Arg2)-GRF(1-29)-NH2 as a GRF antagonist on membranes

PreclinicalPMID: 2994998

A potentially effective drug for patients with recurrent glioma: sermorelin.

PreclinicalPMID: 33842627

Always consult a qualified clinician

This information is for educational purposes. Peptide therapy should be guided by a licensed healthcare provider. Connect with a Noho clinician

Research Insights

Related Peptides

Quick Facts

Class
GHRH Analog
Evidence
Strong
Safety
Well-Studied
Updated
Feb 2026
Citations
30PubMed

Also known as

GRF 1-29Geref

Tags

Growth HormoneAnti-AgingSleepBody Composition

Evidence Score

Overall Confidence85%

Clinical Trials

View Clinical Trials

Links to ClinicalTrials.gov for reference. Listing does not imply endorsement.

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