Human RCT
Mensch, klinische Studien
Thorner MO et al. 1997
Stimulation of growth-hormone release
What does NOT follow: Pharmacological action on the GHRH receptor well established; clinical endpoints depend on indication.
Peptide entry · Growth
Sermorelin
GHRH(1-29) · Geref
Highest evidence
Human RCT
Studies recorded
5· 3 in humans
Legal status · US
Research onlyScientific context only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use.
At a glance
Synthetic analogue of the first 29 amino acids of human GHRH. Stimulates pulsatile growth-hormone secretion from the pituitary. Formerly FDA-approved as Geref Diagnostic, now withdrawn in many markets — compounding and research use dominate.
Researched for
GH stimulationDiagnosis of GH deficiencyAnti-aging (anecdotal)Sleep quality (anecdotal)
Official status
US: Research only
Originally FDA-approved as Geref Diagnostic; after market withdrawal only available via compounding or as research substance.
01
Mechanism of action
Synthetic analogue of the first 29 amino acids of human growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Stimulates pulsatile endogenous growth-hormone secretion from the pituitary via the GHRH receptor. Very short plasma half-life — pharmacodynamic effect lasts several hours nevertheless.
02
Evidence at a glance
Reading note. The distribution shows on which evidence tier each observation sits. Strong colours mark stronger evidence — weaker tiers are deliberately visible, not hidden.
03
What the studies show
Human trial
Mensch, klinischer Einsatz
Thorner MO et al. 1997
Use as a diagnostic provocation test for GH deficiency
What does NOT follow: Diagnostic use historically established; therapeutic indication withdrawn in many markets.
Anecdotal
—
Claimed anti-aging and body-composition effects
What does NOT follow: Outside the diagnostic indication, no controlled human studies on anti-aging endpoints.
04
Where studies disagree
Open question
Is sermorelin a meaningful intervention for healthy aging or anti-aging?
POSITION A
GHRH activity at the receptor and physiological GH stimulation are established — theoretically appealing.
POSITION B
Clinical anti-aging outcome trials (morbidity, mortality, function) are missing. Existing knowledge on elevated IGF-1 activity warrants caution.
CURRENT STATE · Anti-aging indication is not established. Diagnostic use is historically documented.
05
Pharmacokinetics
Theoretical concentration curve at a half-life of 0.2 h. Pure pharmacokinetic model — not a dosing recommendation.
Open in PK tool →Start time: t₀ = 0h
Repeat interval: off (single dose)
06
Routes of administration in the literature
Which routes of administration the available studies describe — neutral reporting, not a usage guide.
Subcutaneous
Standard route in clinical use and provocation tests.
Intravenous
Historically used in provocation tests.
07
Known adverse events from studies
Factual reporting of what studies observed. Not a safety statement for individual use.
Human RCT
Flushing
Classically described in provocation-test data; mostly transient.
häufig / common
Human trial
Headache
Reported in clinical use.
gelegentlich / occasional
Human trial
Injection-site reactions
Local reactions as with many peptide injections.
vereinzelt / sporadic
07b
Interactions & combinations
Documented interactions and contraindications from studies, prescribing information and guidelines. Where no data exists, this is stated.
Reporting of risks, NOT a combination guide. The absence of an entry does not mean „safe to combine“ but „not sufficiently studied“.
No documented interactions recorded
We have not yet found robustly documented interactions for this peptide. This does NOT mean none exist — the data is limited.
08
Risks & hygiene aspects in the literature
What regulatory and scientific literature reports on risks, sterility and identity in non-pharmaceutical sources — descriptive, not a hygiene guide.
Status after FDA market withdrawal
Regulatory documents show the market withdrawal was not safety-related. Today's sources are mainly compounding pharmacies or the grey market — neither with the pharmaceutical quality control of the approved formulation.
10
Anecdotal observations
Weakest evidence tier — not supported by studies
Reading note. This section gathers popular claims from communities and forums. They are explicitly marked as weakest-tier evidence. Unblinded self-reports are particularly prone to placebo, recall and confirmation biases.
Why no amounts or protocols are listed here. We deliberately show only WHAT communities report — not in what amount or how it is used. Anecdotal "doses" or "biohacker protocols" are neither verified nor standardised nor safe; publishing them would be a usage guide, which we do not provide on principle. Specific amounts belong in a conversation with a doctor, not in a forum.
Improved sleep and well-being under "anti-aging" use
Common claim in associated communities and private-practice offerings
Not supported by studies: Anti-aging indication is not established by RCTs; endpoints are subjective and prone to expectation effects.
11
Legal status by country
12
Reconstitution calculator
Pure mg/mL maths — works like a calculator. Not a usage recommendation.
Peptides ship as a dry powder. Once dissolved in a liquid (reconstitution), this calculator answers a single question: how much substance is in one millilitre of solution afterwards?
- 1Enter the vial's substance amount (printed on the label).
- 2Enter how much solvent you add.
- 3Result = concentration in mg per mL.
Printed on the label
/
Liquid you add
=
2.50
mg / mL
5 mg in 2 mL gives 2.50 mg/mL — each millilitre contains 2.50 mg of substance.
14
Study register
Human trialReview
Thorner MO et al. · 1997
Growth hormone-releasing hormone and growth hormone-releasing peptide as therapeutic agents to enhance growth hormone secretion in disease and aging
Findings:GHRH analogues induce a physiological, pulsatile GH response at the pituitary.
PreclinicalOther
U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2008
Withdrawal of Geref (Sermorelin Acetate) from the US Market
Findings:Withdrawal was commercially motivated, not driven by safety findings by the regulator.
Preclinical
Guillemin R., Brazeau P., Böhlen P., Esch F., Ling N., Wehrenberg WB. · 1982
Growth hormone-releasing factor from a human pancreatic tumor that caused acromegaly
Human trialControlled trial
Thorner MO. et al. · 1986
Acceleration of growth rate in growth hormone-deficient children treated with human growth hormone-releasing hormone (1-29)-NH2 (sermorelin)
15
Sources & method
Reviewed by
Dr. [Placeholder]
Last reviewed
2026-05-21
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