Sermorelin

Also known as: GHRH(1-29), GRF 1-29, formerly Geref

Wellness

In plain English

Sermorelin is a shortened, lab-made copy of the natural hormone (GHRH) that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Rather than replacing growth hormone directly, it nudges your own gland to make it, which keeps the normal day-night rhythm. It is given as a small injection (or troche) and is used in wellness settings for age-related decline in growth hormone. It was once FDA-approved for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children but was discontinued for commercial reasons; adult wellness use is off-label.

The science

Sermorelin is the biologically active 1-29 fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It binds pituitary GHRH receptors to stimulate endogenous, pulsatile growth hormone secretion, preserving physiologic feedback. Pediatric data (e.g., the Geref International Study Group, Thorner et al. 1996) showed increased height velocity in growth-hormone-deficient children, and it was FDA-approved (as Geref) for diagnosis and treatment before voluntary market withdrawal in 2008. Rigorous randomized evidence for adult anti-aging or body-composition benefit is limited; use in that setting is off-label and compounded. It is generally well tolerated, with transient flushing and injection-site reactions most common.

References

• Prakash A, Goa KL, BioDrugs 1999 (review)
• Geref International Study Group (Thorner M et al.), J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996