Sermorelin: clinical evidence record
Also known as: GRF (1-29), Geref, Growth-Hormone-Releasing Factor (1-29)
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
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AI-friendly summary · Sermorelin
Previously FDA-approved as Geref for paediatric GH deficiency. Marketing was discontinued in the US in 2008. Phase 3 clinical trial data exists in paediatric short stature. No active UK marketing authorisation today.
Mechanism of action
How Sermorelin works
29-amino-acid synthetic analogue corresponding to the first 29 residues of endogenous growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Acts on the pituitary GHRH receptor to stimulate endogenous GH release in a pulsatile pattern.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Sermorelin. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency
Prakash A, Goa KL. BioDrugs, 1999.
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Sermorelin acetate in paediatric growth hormone deficiency
Thorner M, Rochiccioli P, Colle M, et al.. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1996.
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Effects of sermorelin in older adults
Khorram O, Laughlin GA, Yen SS. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1997.
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GHRH analogues and somatotrope function
Walker RF. Endocrine, 2006.
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Long-term sermorelin acetate treatment in growth hormone deficient adults
Vittone J, Blackman MR, Busby-Whitehead J, et al.. Metabolism, 1997.
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Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance
Mendias CL, Awan TM. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026.
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Growth hormone-releasing hormone attenuates amyloid deposition and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease models
Pedrolli F, Morello G, Gesmundo I, et al.. Cell death & disease, 2026.
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A new era of doping? Use of peptide and peptide-analog drugs in recreational and professional sport and bodybuilding: a critical review
Coutinho LFD, DE Oliveira Neves LF, Camilo RP. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2026.
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Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews, 2026.
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Analysis of growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogs in urine using nano liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/orbitrap mass spectrometry
Uçaktürk E, Nemutlu E. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, 2026.
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Growth hormone - releasing hormone antagonists induce autophagy in cancer cells
Sigdel M, Fakir S, Sarker MMR, et al.. Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society, 2025.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=sermorelin.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Sermorelin sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: WADA Prohibited List S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors), prohibited at all times.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Sermorelin
Known concerns
- Most published efficacy claims for Sermorelin require careful interpretation. Read the cited papers in full before drawing conclusions.
- Purity of UK research-peptide supply varies between retailers. Certificates of analysis and HPLC documentation differ.
- Cold-chain handling between manufacture and delivery is not standardised across the research-peptide market.
- Independent replication of single-group findings is the key check on any preclinical claim.
Open questions in the literature
- Where human pharmacokinetics have not been formally characterised, dose translation from animal models is not reliable.
- Long-term safety profile beyond the duration of published studies remains an open question.
- Interactions with other prescribed or unlicensed substances are typically not studied.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors). The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Sermorelin?
What is the UK regulatory status of Sermorelin?
Has Sermorelin been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Sermorelin?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.