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Growth hormone axis

Sermorelin

Also called Sermorelin acetate, GRF 1-29 NH2, Geref

Sermorelin is a short, lab-made piece of the body's growth-hormone-releasing hormone. It was once an FDA-approved drug (Geref) for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, but the maker stopped selling it in 2008. It is still widely discussed in anti-aging clinics.

FDA-approvedApproved by the FDA for at least one use after large human trials.

All printable flashcards

Drawn from its published sequence: 29 residues, one bead each.

Overview

Sermorelin is a short, lab-made piece of the body's growth-hormone-releasing hormone. It was once an FDA-approved drug (Geref) for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, but the maker stopped selling it in 2008. It is still widely discussed in anti-aging clinics.

How it works

Established: sermorelin acts on pituitary GHRH receptors to trigger natural, pulsatile growth hormone release, which raises IGF-1. Because it works through the pituitary, normal feedback (e.g., somatostatin) still limits the response.

What research shows

  • Was approved for pediatric idiopathic GH deficiency and as a diagnostic test of pituitary GH secretion (Geref); FDA's 2013 review of literature and postmarketing data found no safety or effectiveness reason for its withdrawal.

Doses studied in people

Labeled Geref doses were not retrieved from a primary source for this profile; no current FDA-approved sermorelin product exists.

Read this first: these are the amounts given to participants in published studies or written on official prescribing labels, reported for reference. They are not recommendations. Trial doses were chosen for specific patients under medical supervision, and a dose that is safe in one person can be harmful in another.

Weekly protocol

How the schedule looks week by week. Each chart says where it comes from: a prescribing label, a clinical trial, or a protocol commonly reported online.

Geref trials in children with GH deficiency

Clinical trial

One week

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7

Once daily at bedtime · Subcutaneous injection

Dose by week

30 mcg/kgwk 1+
Course
Studied for 1–3 years
Note
Weight-based dose from pediatric GH-deficiency studies of Geref, the former US-approved sermorelin brand (no longer marketed). No current FDA label exists.
Source
Murray F, Howard C, Saenger P et al. GRF 1-29 (Geref) therapy accelerates growth in GHD children beyond the first year of therapy. Pediatr Res 1998;43(Suppl 4):82

Reference only, not a recommendation. Label and trial schedules were set for specific patients under medical supervision. Use the calculator only to understand the arithmetic.

Safety

  • FDA's 2013 determination found the product was not withdrawn for safety reasons.
  • Long-term safety of off-label adult use (e.g., anti-aging) is not established.

Report side effects of any drug or product to the FDA through MedWatch. For a possible poisoning in the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

History

Marketed by EMD Serono as Geref: a 0.05 mg diagnostic ampule approved in December 1990 (to test pituitary GH secretion) and 0.5/1.0 mg vials approved September 1997 for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children. Serono discontinued both in 2008, approvals were withdrawn in 2009, and FDA determined in 2013 that the withdrawal was not for safety or effectiveness reasons.

Common questions

Is sermorelin FDA-approved?

Not currently. It was approved as Geref for testing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, but was discontinued in 2008 and its approvals were withdrawn in 2009 1.

Was sermorelin pulled for safety reasons?

No. In 2013 FDA determined it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons, after reviewing the literature and postmarketing reports 1.

Can sermorelin be compounded?

It is in Category 1 on FDA's 503B list for outsourcing facilities 2. It is not on FDA's 503A categories list checked for this entry 3.

Is sermorelin banned in sport?

Yes. WADA's 2026 list prohibits it at all times as a GHRH analogue and names it 4.

Related compounds

Growth hormone axisFDA-approvedFlashcard

Tesamorelin

Egrifta · Egrifta SV

Tesamorelin is a lab-made version of the body's growth-hormone-releasing hormone.

Growth hormone axisEarly human dataFlashcard

CJC-1295

CJC-1295 with DAC · CJC-1295 without DAC

CJC-1295 is a lab-made, modified version of the active part of growth-hormone-releasing hormone.

Growth hormone axisEarly human dataFlashcard

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin acetate · NNC 26-0161

Ipamorelin is a small lab-made peptide (five building blocks) that copies the hunger hormone ghrelin to make the pituitary release growth hormone.

Sources

  1. Federal Register (Mar 4, 2013): Determination that GEREF (sermorelin acetate) was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness Regulatory
  2. FDA: Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B (categories list, updated March 21, 2025) Regulatory
  3. FDA: Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A (categories list, updated May 14, 2026) Regulatory
  4. WADA 2026 Prohibited List (in force 1 January 2026) Regulatory

Last reviewed 2026-10-25 · How we research · Found an error? See our corrections policy.