Growth hormone axis

Sermorelin

Also known as Geref

Mixed / limited human dataListed formulation is not FDA-approvedUnder editorial review

GHRH(1-29) analog historically marketed for pediatric growth hormone deficiency.

This profile is still being checked by our editors. Treat the summary as unconfirmed until it is marked reviewed.

Where the evidence comes from

44 verified records from 11 countries. The number of studies or countries is not proof that Sermorelin works or is safe.

29 human studies2 reviews13 lab, animal or other

Human clinical trial: 18 · Randomized clinical trial: 9 · Animal study: 13 · Observational human study: 2 · Narrative review: 2

What is known

Editorial summary not yet written.

What remains uncertain

Editorial summary not yet written.

Conflicting findings

Editorial summary not yet written.

U.S. regulatory status (FDA)

Compound

Sermorelin acetate

Product or formulation

Compounded sermorelin (branded Geref was discontinued in the U.S.)

FDA status

Listed formulation is not FDA-approved

FDA-approved branded drug

Geref (discontinued)

Approved indication

Previously: pediatric GH deficiency (branded product withdrawn from market)

Metara availability (compounded formulation)

Available through Metara Health →

Research material (research use only)

Available through BioNex Peptides

Source

View FDA source →

Last verified

September 27, 2026

Notes

A branded product was once FDA-approved but is no longer marketed. Currently available compounded sermorelin is not an FDA-approved product.

Approval applies only to the exact finished drug, formulation and indication. A shared active ingredient does not make a compounded version, blend or other use FDA-approved. Pharmacy or research-material availability is not FDA approval.

International regulatory status

Kept separate from U.S. status. The regulator's country is not the same as where studies took place.

No sourced international decisions recorded yet.

Continue your research

These are two different pathways, not two ways to get the same thing. Neither changes the FDA status shown above.

Clinical care

Available through Metara Health

Explore clinician-guided care and available pharmacy options.

EXPLORE METARA HEALTH →

Research materials

Available through BioNex Peptides

Explore research-use materials, lot-specific analytical testing and research documentation.

EXPLORE BIONEX →

Limitations

Older human data; modern adult "wellness" use is not well studied.

Human clinical evidence (29)

Editorially verified studyHuman clinical trialPhase 1 · CompletedLocation context: United States2017-01-01

A Two-Part, Phase 1, Randomized, Crossover Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Intranasal Octreotide (DP1038) Versus Subcutaneous Sandostatin® Injection in Healthy Adult Volunteers

Dauntless Pharmaceuticals · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03031535

This completed human trial compared a nasal formulation of octreotide with an injected formulation in healthy adults. It assessed safety, tolerability, how the drug enters and leaves the body, and effects on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1; no results are reported.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-07

Editorially verified studyHuman clinical trialNA · CompletedLocation context: United States2015-07-01

Tesamorelin Effects on Liver Fat and Histology in HIV: A Collaborative UO1 Grant

Massachusetts General Hospital · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT02196831

This completed human trial was designed to test whether tesamorelin reduces liver fat, inflammation, scarring, and liver cell damage in people with HIV and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. These were proposed benefits, not reported findings; the abstract provides no results from this trial.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-07

Editorially verified studyRandomized clinical trialPhase 1 · CompletedLocation context: United States2014

Pilot Study of Estradiol-Receptor Blockade in Older Men and Women

Mayo Clinic · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT02271282

This completed human pilot study examined estrogen-receptor blockade in older men and women, focusing on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1. The abstract describes background information and a hypothesis about reduced estrogen activity, but reports no study results.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-26

Editorially verified studyHuman clinical trialPhase 2 · TerminatedLocation context: United States2011

Three Month Treatment of GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone) in the Elderly

University of Pennsylvania · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT01410799

This registered human trial planned to study whether GHRH could increase growth hormone and improve muscle, bone, and fat tissues in healthy older men and women. Planned assessments included strength, body composition, physical performance, and sugar metabolism. The trial was terminated, and no results are provided.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-26

Editorially verified studyRandomized clinical trialPhase 2 · CompletedLocation context: United States2008

Physiologic Effects of Long-Term GHRH1-44 in Abdominal Obesity

Massachusetts General Hospital · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00675506

This registered human trial evaluated synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone in people with abdominal obesity, focusing on abdominal fat and cardiovascular function. The record lists the trial as completed but provides no results, so whether these outcomes improved is not reported.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-26

Editorially verified studyHuman clinical trialNA · CompletedLocation context: United States2007-07-01

Sexually Dimorphic Effects of GHRH in Adult Growth Hormone Testing

Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00324064

This completed human study aimed to examine sex differences in growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) in healthy people and people with growth hormone deficiency. It also aimed to examine links with cell-signaling proteins, sex hormones, and pubertal development; the abstract lists study aims rather than results.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-07

Editorially verified studyHuman clinical trialPhase 2 · TerminatedLocation context: United States2007

Six Month Treatment of GHRH in the Elderly

Johns Hopkins University · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00807365

This registered human trial planned to examine whether GHRH could raise growth hormone and improve muscle, bone, and fat tissues in older adults. It also planned to assess how the body processes sugar, fat, and protein. The trial was terminated, and no results are provided.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-26

Editorially verified studyHuman clinical trialPhase 4 · TerminatedLocation context: United States2007

Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Markers in GH Deficient Patients With Nonsecreting Pituitary Adenomas

Columbia University · ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00720902

This terminated human study planned to compare markers of heart attack and stroke risk in adults with growth hormone deficiency and adults with normal growth hormone secretion. Researchers hypothesized greater cardiovascular risk with deficiency, but the provided abstract reports no results.

Original source →Via ClinicalTrials.gov · checked 2026-09-26

Systematic & narrative reviews (2)

Editorially verified studyNarrative reviewLocation context: Italy2003

PEGylation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRF) analogues.

Esposito P, Barbero L, Caccia P, Caliceti P, D'Antonio M, Piquet G, Veronese FM · Advanced drug delivery reviews · DOI 10.1016/s0169-409x(03)00109-1

This review describes laboratory and animal testing of growth hormone-releasing peptides related to sermorelin, modified by attaching polyethylene glycol to improve stability. Tests included receptor activity in the lab and growth hormone responses in rats and pigs. Some modified peptides retained laboratory activity similar to the unmodified peptide and produced a stronger growth hormone response.

Original source →Via PubMed · checked 2026-09-26

Editorially verified studyNarrative reviewLocation context: Spain1996

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects.

Argente J, García-Segura LM, Pozo J, Chowen JA · Hormone research · DOI 10.1159/000185015

This review discusses growth hormone-releasing peptides in human, animal, and laboratory research. Oral GHRP-2 stimulated growth hormone release in children and acted synergistically with growth hormone-releasing hormone. In an animal experiment, GHRP-6 altered gene activity in rat brain regions controlling growth hormone release, although whether its effects were direct remained unclear.

Original source →Via PubMed · checked 2026-09-26

Laboratory, animal & other research (13)

Editorially verified studyAnimal studyPreclinical (animal)Location context: South Korea2007-01-23

Site-specific PEGylation for high-yield preparation of Lys(21)-amine PEGylated growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) (1-29) using a GRF(1-29) derivative FMOC-protected at Tyr(1) and Lys(12)

Youn YS, Lee KC · Bioconjugate chemistry · DOI 10.1021/bc060173z

This lab and animal study tested a method for attaching the polymer PEG to a specific site on growth hormone-releasing factor. The modified peptide resisted breakdown in rat biological samples and remained in rats’ blood longer, with less distribution to liver and kidneys. It enhanced initial growth hormone release in animals despite reduced activity in lab testing.