Sermorelin
GHRH fragment with a long clinical history, once used diagnostically.
What it is
A 29-amino-acid fragment representing the biologically active portion of GHRH.
What it does
Stimulates pituitary growth-hormone release; historically used in assessing growth-hormone deficiency.
Does it work?
Has more clinical history than most compounds here, including paediatric use. Its modern marketing for adult anti-ageing is a different use case with weaker supporting evidence.
Claims vs data
Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.
| Stimulates natural growth-hormone release | supported |
| Reverses age-related decline | overreach |
Reference figures
Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.
The evidence, counted
Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.
478 publications indexed, including 23 randomised controlled trials. 34 interventional studies registered. This is a well-tested compound.
query: "Sermorelin" · checked 2026-08-07
Most-cited literature
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G Protein-Coupled Receptors as Targets for Approved Drugs: How Many Targets and How Many Drugs?
Sriram K, Insel PA. · Mol Pharmacol 2018 · 988 citations
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Identification of a mast-cell-specific receptor crucial for pseudo-allergic drug reactions
McNeil BD, Pundir P, Meeker S, Han L, Undem BJ, Kulka M, Dong X. · Nature 2015 · 947 citations
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An official American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: update on limb muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Maltais F, Decramer M, Casaburi R, Barreiro E, Burelle Y, Debigaré R, · Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014 · 693 citations
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THE CONCISE GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY 2017/18: G protein-coupled receptors
Alexander SP, Christopoulos A, Davenport AP, Kelly E, Marrion NV, Pete · Br J Pharmacol 2017 · 515 citations
Regulatory status
Formal, dated regulatory actions.
WADA — Prohibited List 2026
Prohibited in sport — WADA S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances)
Common questions
Why does sermorelin have a longer clinical history?
It was used diagnostically and therapeutically for growth-hormone deficiency, including in children, before being discontinued commercially in some markets.
How does it differ from injecting growth hormone?
It stimulates the pituitary to release its own GH rather than supplying the hormone directly, keeping feedback loops partly intact.
Is the anti-ageing use evidence-based?
Modern adult anti-ageing marketing is a different use case from the historical paediatric one, and its supporting evidence is weaker.