Peptide · Fact sheet
Sermorelin
Also known as Geref · sermorelin acetate
Sermorelin is not currently available as an FDA-approved marketed drug product. The former Geref product was discontinued, and that history does not make current compounded versions FDA approved.
What is Sermorelin?
Sermorelin is a manufactured fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone that can stimulate growth-hormone release from the pituitary gland.
A former branded product, Geref, had approved diagnostic and pediatric uses before being discontinued from marketing.
Benefits people look for
It is frequently promoted in anti-aging and body-composition contexts.
Those marketing claims need to be separated from the discontinued product's regulatory history and the limited evidence for today's promoted uses.
What the evidence supports
- Sermorelin can stimulate the growth-hormone pathway, which explains its historical diagnostic role.
- A biological effect does not by itself prove meaningful anti-aging, weight, or performance benefits.
All research areas
- Growth hormone secretion testing
- Growth hormone deficiency in historical contexts
- Growth hormone pathway effects
- Various growth-hormone-pathway outcomes outside a currently marketed FDA-approved product
Anecdotal reports & lived experiences
Reports describe what someone noticed. They cannot establish cause, typical results, or how often a side effect happens.
No attributable personal reports are summarized here yet. The benefits above describe research interests; the side effects below come from the cited medical sources.
We do not fill this gap with unsourced testimonials or estimated success rates.
Side effects & risks
- Current compounded products do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
- Potential effects of stimulating the growth-hormone pathway can matter for glucose control, fluid retention, and other health conditions.
- Product purity, sterility, strength, and labeling are separate concerns for unapproved products.
This is a summary of the cited evidence, not a complete product label. A lack of human safety data does not establish safety.
Clinical research: how strong is it?
Limited or unclear evidenceHuman physiology and the former product are documented, but high-quality evidence for many current wellness, anti-aging, or body-composition claims is limited or unclear.
Selected research to read
Peer-reviewed review of sermorelin in diagnostic and therapeutic contexts.
Clinical literature on historical sermorelin use in pediatric growth-hormone deficiency.
FDA approval & research status
The FDA-approved Geref product is discontinued from marketing. Current compounded sermorelin products are not FDA-approved drug products, and discontinuation history should be checked in Drugs@FDA.
No FDA-approved use is documented in the records summarized on this page.
Previously approved product discontinued
Geref, a sermorelin acetate product, was discontinued. A discontinued product is not the same as a currently marketed FDA-approved option for wellness or anti-aging use.
This summarizes the cited product or research record. Trial phases do not establish successful completion of earlier stages, and a stopped program is not ongoing development. Approval applies only to the labeled product, use and population.
What we still don’t know
- Long-term safety for commonly promoted off-label wellness goals
- Reliable benefits for anti-aging or body-composition claims
- Consistency and quality of products outside an approved drug application
The takeaway
Sermorelin's past approval does not confer approval on products sold today. Current claims should be evaluated against current product status and human evidence.
Sources & further reading
Medical evidence and regulatory sources are listed here. Personal reports are linked separately in the experiences section.
- 1fdaFederal Register: Geref discontinuation determination
FDA determination that the Geref discontinuation was not for safety or effectiveness reasons.
- 2fdaFDA review noting Geref discontinuation
FDA clinical pharmacology review referencing the discontinued Geref product.
- 3
- 4pubmedSermorelin in children with growth-hormone deficiency
Clinical literature on historical sermorelin use in pediatric growth-hormone deficiency.