What Sermorelin is
Sermorelin is a synthetic copy of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). That's the active part of the hormone, and it signals the pituitary to release growth hormone.
It was FDA-approved as Geref for growth hormone deficiency in children. Its legal status is very different from look-alikes such as CJC-1295.
Regulatory status in 2026
Sermorelin was approved, then discontinued for business reasons, not safety. Because of that, licensed pharmacies can generally compound it for an individual patient with a prescription.
Approved as Geref for growth hormone deficiency in children.
The manufacturer discontinues Geref for commercial reasons.
FDA formally determines Geref was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness.
No brand on the market. Available as a compounded prescription. Prohibited in sport at all times under WADA class S2.
Regulatory status can change. Check the sources linked at the bottom of this page before relying on anything here.
Claims vs. what the research shows
Sermorelin's strongest evidence is from its original approved use in children. Adult anti-aging use is where the evidence thins out.
Raises growth hormone.
Shown in human studies, including in adults.
Strong human evidenceImproves growth in children with GH deficiency.
Shown in trials and the basis for its original approval.
Strong human evidenceReverses aging in adults.
Not established in quality trials.
Insufficient dataStorage and stability
Peptides break down with heat, light, moisture, and repeated freezing and thawing. Degraded product is one common reason two vials of the "same" peptide behave differently. These are general peptide handling practices. The compounding pharmacy's label and beyond-use date take priority.
Sealed powder (lyophilized)
- Refrigerate at 36 to 46°F (2 to 8°C) for routine storage.
- Freezer is generally used for long-term storage.
- Keep in its original sealed vial, away from light.
- Let a cold vial reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation.
After reconstitution
- Keep refrigerated. Do not freeze.
- Protect from light. Clear glass lets it through.
- Opened multi-dose bacteriostatic water is typically discarded 28 days after first puncture.
- Log the mix date so you know the vial's age at a glance.
Light exposure is easy to overlook in a fridge door that opens dozens of times a day. VIALTIGHT is building stackable cases that block light from every side. See vialtight.com for updates.
Reconstitution math
Concentration is just the amount of peptide divided by the volume of water added. On a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units equals 1 mL, so each unit is 0.01 mL. Enter what is on your vial label and what you added to see the concentration.
This shows concentration only. It is not a dosing recommendation. VialTracker runs this math for every vial you log and keeps it with the vial's history.
Safety flags
Compounded quality varies. Compounded drugs aren't FDA-approved. Use a licensed pharmacy with sterility testing.
Common side effects. Injection site reactions, flushing, and headache were reported in studies.
Long-term adult use. Long-term effects of raising growth hormone in healthy adults haven't been well studied.
Tested athletes. Prohibited at all times under WADA class S2.
FAQ
Why can sermorelin be compounded when CJC-1295 can't?
Sermorelin was part of an FDA-approved drug that wasn't withdrawn for safety. CJC-1295 was never approved, and FDA's advisory committee voted against it.
Is sermorelin the same as tesamorelin?
No. Both mimic GHRH, but tesamorelin is a different, currently approved drug for a specific condition.
Does VialTracker tell me what to take?
No. VialTracker organizes the information you enter and runs the math. It does not recommend doses, products, or protocols.