Sermorelin: research, legal status and who sells it

What it is

Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid analogue of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and the shortest synthetic peptide with the full biological activity of GHRH [9]. It stimulates growth hormone secretion from the pituitary gland [9].

Research status

Sermorelin was used as a diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency and, based on limited data, to treat some prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency [9]. A 1999 review found that it induced catch-up growth in most of these children and that its effect on final adult height had not been established; the recommended regimen had not been compared directly with somatropin, and growth gains with some other ways of giving sermorelin were smaller than with somatropin [9]. In adults, a 2020 review of growth hormone secretagogues, including sermorelin, in men with low testosterone found that clinical data were scarce [10]. A 2026 review in Sports Medicine listed sermorelin among peptides marketed directly to patients for musculoskeletal and performance uses [11].

Regulatory status

The FDA approved sermorelin as Geref in 1990 and 1997; both products were discontinued in 2008, and FDA withdrew both approvals effective June 18, 2009 [1][2][13]. No sermorelin medicine is authorized in the UK, the EU or Canada [3][4][6]. Australia lists sermorelin in Schedule 4 (prescription-only) and bars possession of growth hormone releasing hormones without authority (Appendix D) [7], and WADA names it as a prohibited growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue [8].

Quality and testing considerations

Because both Geref applications are discontinued, there is no currently marketed FDA-approved sermorelin product to compare against [1][2]. Black-market growth-promoting products analyzed by anti-doping laboratories have contained modified versions of known peptides, such as growth hormone-releasing peptides with an extra glycine [12], so identity should be confirmed by mass spectrometry rather than assumed from a label.

Where it’s sold

Sermorelin is sold online by research-chemical vendors; the tables below track current listings.