The verifiable place to buy research peptides · Free shipping over $150
0

Research Reference · Growth-Hormone Axis

Sermorelin

A 29-amino-acid peptide copy of the active part of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It prompts the pituitary to release the body’s own growth hormone, and it was once an FDA-approved medicine (Geref).

Last reviewed November 2026 5 peer-reviewed sources 4-minute read

At a glance

Sermorelin is a short version of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the natural signal that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. It keeps the first 29 of the hormone’s 44 amino acids, the part that carries its activity. The FDA approved it as Geref in 1990 (as a test of pituitary function) and in 1997 (for children with growth-hormone deficiency). The maker discontinued Geref in 2008. The evidence comes from cell studies and human clinical studies, most of them from the 1990s.

TypeGHRH analogue (29 amino acids)
Studied forGrowth-hormone release & pituitary testing
Evidence stageCell studies + human clinical studies
Human data1990s studies in children & older men
StatusFormer FDA-approved drug (Geref); discontinued 2008

What it’s studied for

Growth-hormone release

Prompts the pituitary to release the body’s own growth hormone. The 29-amino-acid fragment kept about half the full hormone’s potency in pituitary cells. 1,5

Cell + human

Children with GH deficiency

Growth rate rose over one year in a multicenter study of children with growth-hormone deficiency. 3

Human

Older men

Short-term treatment raised growth hormone release in older men. In one study IGF-1 also reached young-adult levels; in another it did not change. 2,4

Human

Pituitary testing

Used as a single-dose test of whether the pituitary can release growth hormone. A review judged it rapid and relatively specific. 5

Human · review

Selank + Sermorelin

Selank + Sermorelin (10mg) · $49.99

Third-party tested · batch-matched COA · research use only

View Selank + Sermorelin Selank + Sermorelin COAs

How it works

Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide made of the first 29 amino acids of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), with an amide group at the end. It is also called GRF(1-29)NH2. In a 1984 study on rat pituitary cells, this 29-amino-acid fragment kept about half the potency of the full 44-amino-acid hormone. 1 A later review called it the shortest synthetic peptide with the full biological activity of GHRH. 5

Sermorelin works on the pituitary gland, which responds by releasing the body’s own growth hormone. It is not growth hormone itself. 5

Most human studies date from the 1990s. In a one-year study of 110 previously untreated children with growth-hormone deficiency, the average growth rate rose from 4.1 cm a year to 7.2 cm a year at 12 months. 3 In healthy older men, two weeks of treatment at the higher of two doses brought growth hormone and IGF-1 up to the levels seen in young men. 2 A six-week study in older men raised night-time growth hormone release but did not change IGF-1. 4

The FDA approved sermorelin as Geref in 1990 as a test of pituitary function and in 1997 for children with growth-hormone deficiency. The maker, EMD Serono, discontinued Geref in 2008, and the FDA withdrew the approvals at its request in 2009. In 2013 the FDA determined that Geref was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

Related research

Selank + Sermorelin (Blend)Our Selank + Sermorelin blend TesamorelinFull-length GHRH analogue CJC-1295Long-acting GHRH analogue IpamorelinGhrelin-receptor secretagogue

Frequently asked questions

Do you sell Sermorelin?
Yes — in our Selank + Sermorelin blend (10 mg vial, about 5 mg of each), with a batch-matched certificate of analysis.
Is sermorelin an approved drug?
It was. The FDA approved it as Geref in 1990 and 1997. The maker discontinued Geref in 2008, and in 2013 the FDA determined it was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin sold here is for research use only.
How is sermorelin different from growth hormone?
Sermorelin is not growth hormone. It is a short GHRH analogue that signals the pituitary to release the body’s own growth hormone.
How does sermorelin compare with tesamorelin and CJC-1295?
All three are GHRH analogues. Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of GHRH. Tesamorelin is the full 44-amino-acid sequence with a stabilizing change. CJC-1295 is built on the same 29-amino-acid core and modified to last much longer.
What is the CAS number of sermorelin?
86168-78-7. Its molecular formula is C149H246N44O42S (3357.9 g/mol).

Identifiers

Name Sermorelin
Other names GRF(1-29)NH2 · GHRH(1-29)NH2
Class GHRH analogue — GHRH(1-29) amide
Sequence Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-NH2
Molecular formula C149H246N44O42S
Molecular weight 3357.9 g/mol
CAS number 86168-78-7
CAS number (acetate) 114466-38-5
PubChem CID · UNII 16132413 · 89243S03TE
Former approved medicine Geref (discontinued 2008)

Identifiers checked against PubChem (CID 16132413). The sequence and UNII also match the FDA substance registry (GSRS). The final arginine carries an amide group (-NH2).

Research timeline

  1. 1984The 29-amino-acid fragment of GHRH keeps about half the full hormone’s potency in rat pituitary cells. 1
  2. 1992Two weeks of treatment restores growth hormone and IGF-1 in older men to young-adult levels. 2
  3. 1996One-year multicenter study in children with growth-hormone deficiency shows a faster growth rate. 3
  4. 1997Six-week study in older men raises night-time growth hormone; IGF-1 unchanged. 4
  5. 1999Review of sermorelin as a pituitary test and as a treatment in children. 5

Key studies

StudyModelWhat it found
Ling 1984 1 Rat pituitary cells The hGRF(1-29)NH2 fragment kept about 50% of the full hormone’s growth-hormone-releasing potency.
Corpas 1992 2 Human · older men At the higher dose, 14 days of treatment raised 24-hour GH and IGF-1 to young-adult levels; fasting glucose unchanged.
Thorner 1996 3 Human · children with GH deficiency Mean growth rate rose from 4.1 to 7.2 cm/yr at 12 months; no excess IGF-1; well tolerated.
Vittone 1997 4 Human · older men Night-time GH release rose; IGF-1, body composition and glucose did not change; two of six strength measures improved.
Prakash 1999 5 Review Rapid, relatively specific test for GH deficiency; limited data on growth in children.

Sources

  1. Synthesis and in vitro bioactivity of C-terminal deleted analogs of human growth hormone-releasing factor. Ling N, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984.
  2. Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men. Corpas E, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1992. Human
  3. Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy. Thorner M, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1996. Human
  4. Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men. Vittone J, et al. Metabolism, 1997. Human
  5. Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. Prakash A, Goa KL. BioDrugs, 1999. Review
For Research Use Only. This page summarizes published scientific research for educational purposes. It is not medical advice and does not promote, recommend, or describe any human or animal use. Products referenced are sold strictly for laboratory research and are not for human consumption.

Last reviewed November 2026 by Midwest Compounds. Every source above was checked against its original publication.