Sermorelin (GHRH analog)

Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino-acid analogue of endogenous growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1–29) that stimulates pituitary somatotrophs to secrete growth hormone (GH) in a pulsatile, feedback-sensitive manner, in contrast to exogenous GH administration which suppresses endogenous production. It was formerly FDA-approved for paediatric GH deficiency (Geref); the manufacturer voluntarily discontinued the product in 2008 for commercial reasons, and the FDA's 2013 Federal Register notice formally determined that Geref had not been withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin remains approved in some other jurisdictions. In anti-aging medicine, sermorelin is widely prescribed off-label at clinics that advertise effects on GH/IGF-1 axis activity, body fat, lean mass, and sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults. Controlled evidence for meaningful longevity or functional outcomes is limited, and the GH secretagogue class broadly lacks Phase III efficacy data for aging indications. Adverse effects include injection-site reactions, fluid retention, and theoretical concern about promotion of occult neoplasia given GH/IGF-1 mitogenic signalling; its use is not endorsed by major endocrinological societies for anti-aging purposes.