Synthetic fragment · 29 amino acids · 3,357.9 Da

Sermorelin studies and research data

PepBank has 101 sermorelin studies with results. 60 of them gave sermorelin, with 304 results, grouped by what the studies measured. In each group, results from studies in people come first. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Searches 304 results and 282 papers. Newer studies from Europe PMC

Results in people

248

82% of 304 results

Results in animals

12% of 304 results

Results in lab cells

7% of 304 results

From computer models

0% of 304 results

The molecule

Sermorelin identity

Identifiers, parent molecule, targets and development stage, from curated data.

Sermorelin is the first 29 residues of human growth hormone-releasing hormone with a C-terminal argininamide. In rat pituitary cell assays this 1-29 amide had about half the potency of full-length hGRF, and shorter fragments down to 1-21 amide kept full intrinsic activity at lower potency (Ling et al. 1984, PMID 6435620). It acts on pituitary somatotroph cells to release endogenous growth hormone. FDA approved GEREF Diagnostic (0.05 mg) in 1990 for assessing pituitary growth hormone secretion and GEREF (0.5 and 1 mg) in 1997 for growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure; the sponsor discontinued both in 2008 and the approvals were withdrawn in 2009. FDA determined in 2013 that neither product was withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons.

Kind: Synthetic fragment · 29 residues
Identifiers: ChEMBLCHEMBL1201490 (opens in a new tab)CHEMBL428135 (opens in a new tab)PubChem CID16132413 (opens in a new tab)UNII89243S03TE (opens in a new tab)00IBG87IQW (opens in a new tab)DrugBankDB00010 (opens in a new tab)CAS86168-78-7114466-38-5KEGGD08509 (opens in a new tab)D02117 (opens in a new tab)IUPHAR6998 (opens in a new tab)
Parent: Fragment of Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) · residues 32-60The 29 residues match mature somatoliberin 1-29 exactly (UniProt P01286, peptide 32-75). The GSRS systematic name states the relation directly: 'Somatoliberin (human pancreatic islet), 29-L-argininamide-30-de-L-glutamine-...-44-de-L-leucinamide'.
Development: US approval withdrawn in 2009 because the maker stopped selling it. The FDA found the withdrawal was not for safety or effectiveness reasons (Geref, first approved 1990)EMD Serono (Merck Serono); products discontinuedChEMBL records max_phase 4 for sermorelin acetate with first approval 1990. With term-level expansion (query.intr=EXPANSION[Term]sermorelin OR EXPANSION[Term]Geref) only two ClinicalTrials.gov records name the product, both diagnostic GHRH-plus-arginine studies that identify the agent as Geref: NCT00324064 (Children's Mercy Hospital, 2007-07 to 2009-07) and NCT03018886 (Helsinki University Central Hospital, 2001-05 to 2008-12, GEREF Serono, Italy). Source (opens in a new tab)

Targets

Molecular targets with action and evidence source
Target	Action	Evidence
Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptorGHRHRQ02643 (opens in a new tab)	Agonist	ChEMBL mechanismSource (opens in a new tab)

Sequence and structure

Residues, differences from the parent, calculated properties and 3D structure. Source values and calculated values are shown separately.

Sequence

29 amino acids · 1 modification

H-

YADAIFTNSY

RKVLGQLSAR

KLLQDIMSR

Alignment to Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44)

Calculated from the two sequences. Curated notes are shown as given.

29 of 29 aligned residues identical (100%) · 1 modified residue · Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) 1–29

Top row: Somatorelin, human GHRH(1-44) (parent)
Bottom row: Sermorelin

YADAIFTNSY

RKVLGQLSAR

KLLQDIMS

Same as parent
Substituted
Non-canonical or D-form
Added
Gap
Modified side chain or end
Parent context

Differences from the parent

1Parent 29 · analog 29Arg, modified · C-terminal amideC-terminal argininamide. GSRS records it as a structural modification at residue 29 using fragment 'ARGININAMIDE, L-' (UNII 29626ZE0WY).

Basis: The 29 residues match mature somatoliberin 1-29 exactly (UniProt P01286, peptide 32-75). The GSRS systematic name states the relation directly: 'Somatoliberin (human pancreatic islet), 29-L-argininamide-30-de-L-glutamine-...-44-de-L-leucinamide'.

Calculated from the two sequences with @pepdb/chem alignToParent (ungapped unless a gap scores higher). The record’s curated notes are shown as given.

Properties

From identity sources

Formula: C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S
Molecular weight: 3,357.9 g/mol
Monoisotopic mass: 3,355.8187 Da

GSRS UNII 89243S03TE(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09
PubChem CID 16132413(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09
ChEMBL CHEMBL428135(opens in a new tab)retrieved 2026-10-09

Calculated from the sequence

pKa set

Average mass: 3,357.92 Da; Sum of ExPASy residue masses + water + C-amide · ExPASy Compute pI/Mw; FindMod
Monoisotopic mass: 3,355.8187 Da; Sum of ExPASy residue masses + water + C-amide · ExPASy FindMod
Isoelectric point (pI): 10.95; pH of zero net charge, EMBOSS pKa set · EMBOSS iep, Epk.dat
Net charge at pH 7.4: 3.94; Henderson-Hasselbalch, EMBOSS pKa set · EMBOSS iep, Epk.dat
GRAVY (hydropathy): −0.221; Mean Kyte-Doolittle hydropathy · Kyte and Doolittle 1982; Negative: hydrophilic on average.
Extinction coefficient, 280 nm (Cys reduced): 2,980 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹; 5500 x Trp + 1490 x Tyr · Pace et al. 1995 (ExPASy ProtParam); No Trp: ExPASy reports more than 10 % error without Trp.
Instability index: 37.70; Dipeptide instability weights (DIWV) · Guruprasad et al. 1990; 40 or below: classed as stable (ExPASy).
Aliphatic index: 101.0; Mole % A + 2.9 V + 3.9 (I + L) · Ikai 1980
Boman index: 2.03 kcal/mol; Mean solubility value (negated) · Boman 2003; 2.48 or below: lower protein-binding potential (Boman).
Hydrophobic moment (μH): 0.612; Eisenberg scale, 100° per residue, best 11-residue window · Eisenberg et al. 1982, 1984
pI with each pKa set: EMBOSS 10.95Bjellqvist (ExPASy) 10.43IPC peptide 10.80IPC protein 10.72

Defined and validated for proteins; use with care for short peptides.
Assumes an ideal alpha helix. Many short peptides are not helical.

@pepdb/chem 0.2.0 · EMBOSS pKa set · ExPASy residue masses

Net charge by pH

pI 10.95 · Net charge at pH 7.4: 3.94

Point or use arrow keys

Henderson-Hasselbalch, EMBOSS pKa set, C-amide. Calculated, not measured.

Show as table

pH	Net charge
0	6.00
1	6.00
2	5.98
3	5.78
4	4.89
5	4.15
6	4.01
7	3.98
8	3.78
9	3.11
10	1.87
11	−0.09
12	−1.58
13	−3.26
14	−3.91

Composition

Hydrophobic38% (11)A I L M V
Aromatic10% (3)F Y
Positive17% (5)K R
Negative7% (2)D
Polar24% (7)N Q S T
Special3% (1)G

29 residues. Each residue counts in one class; F and W count as aromatic.

A Ala3 · 10%

I Ile2 · 7%

L Leu4 · 14%

M Met1 · 3%

V Val1 · 3%

F Phe1 · 3%

W Trp0 · 0%

Y Tyr2 · 7%

H His0 · 0%

K Lys2 · 7%

R Arg3 · 10%

D Asp2 · 7%

E Glu0 · 0%

N Asn1 · 3%

Q Gln2 · 7%

S Ser3 · 10%

T Thr1 · 3%

C Cys0 · 0%

G Gly1 · 3%

P Pro0 · 0%

3D structure

PredictedAlphaFold DB · P01286

Loads the 3D viewer (3Dmol.js, about 150 KB) and the model file from AlphaFold DB (EMBL-EBI).

2D structure

Sermorelin has 29 residues. A full-atom drawing is hard to read at this size; the sequence view is the reference.

SMILES fromPubChem CID 16132413(opens in a new tab)

CC[C@H](C)[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC2=CC=C(C=C2)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)CC)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCSC)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)N

Helical wheel

An ideal alpha-helix projection. It shows where the hydrophobic residues fall if the peptide folds as a helix. It does not show that it does.

μH, residues shown: 0.176
μH, best 11-residue window: 0.612
Arrow direction: 63°
Residues: 29 · 2 rings of 18

HydrophilicHydrophobic

Eisenberg consensus (normalized) scale · + K, R · − D, E

Assumes an ideal α-helix: 100° per residue, 3.6 residues per turn. The arrow is the mean hydrophobic moment (Eisenberg et al. 1984) and points at the hydrophobic face.

Show as table

Position	Residue	Angle	Eisenberg consensus (normalized)
1	Y	0°	0.26
2	A	100°	0.62
3	D	200°	-0.90
4	A	300°	0.62
5	I	40°	1.38
6	F	140°	1.19
7	T	240°	-0.05
8	N	340°	-0.78
9	S	80°	-0.18
10	Y	180°	0.26
11	R	280°	-2.53
12	K	20°	-1.50
13	V	120°	1.08
14	L	220°	1.06
15	G	320°	0.48
16	Q	60°	-0.85
17	L	160°	1.06
18	S	260°	-0.18
19	A	0°	0.62
20	R	100°	-2.53
21	K	200°	-1.50
22	L	300°	1.06
23	L	40°	1.06
24	Q	140°	-0.85
25	D	240°	-0.90
26	I	340°	1.38
27	M	80°	0.64
28	S	180°	-0.18
29	R	280°	-2.53

Results by area

Sermorelin results by year and outcome

Counts are exact and come from studies that gave the peptide.

Studies by year

101 of 282 studies have results (36%), published 1984 to 2026. Top row: every study. Bottom row: studies with results about Sermorelin, by class. The rows use different scales.

Studies
Human
Animal
Lab
Computer model
Natural levels, tool or combination only

Studies282 in all, 1984 to 2026

Studies with results101 in all, 1984 to 2026

Retracted studies are left out. A study with results in two classes counts in both.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

What the studies measured

People first in each area, then animals, then lab cells. Counts are exact and come from studies that gave the peptide.

Sermorelin studies on growth hormone and growth

192 results · people 162 · animals 28 · lab 2

Top 5 of 192 results

In healthy older men and women, the GHRH analog raised overnight growth hormone release.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In children with growth hormone deficiency, 30 micrograms/kg/day GHRH(1-29)-NH2 gave less growth than growth hormone.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In older men and women, a nightly GHRH analog dose triggered a quick release of growth hormone within 10 minutes.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In children with growth hormone deficiency, height growth rose by at least 2 cm a year in all but two children across all groups.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In adult survivors of childhood brain tumours, a steady GHRH infusion raised growth hormone release in most people compared with natural release.Clinical endocrinology, 1999

Sermorelin studies on immune system and inflammation

31 results · people 24 · animals 0 · lab 7

Top 3 of 31 results

In children with growth hormone deficiency, all 20 children on high-dose GHRH(1-29)-NH2 developed antibodies against GHRH.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In healthy older men and women, the GHRH analog raised the number of activated immune cells carrying CD71.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In children with growth hormone deficiency, 14 developed antibodies against GHRH during treatment.Lancet, 1987

Sermorelin studies on side effects

17 results · people 17 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 5 of 17 results

In healthy older men and women, no side effects were reported with the GHRH analog.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In children given nasal GHRH, most sneezed right after the spray.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In five healthy men, the only side effect was short flushing at the highest dose.Peptides, 1985
In children given nasal GHRH, three of eight made antibodies against GHRH within 6 weeks.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In children with growth hormone deficiency, three children on GHRH(1-29)-NH2 reported mild irritation where they were injected.Acta paediatrica, 1993

Sermorelin studies on blood levels and clearance

27 results · people 16 · animals 6 · lab 5

Top 5 of 27 results

In children with growth hormone deficiency on high-dose GHRH(1-29)-NH2, GHRH levels in the blood built up over time.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In normal men, growth hormone began to rise within 5 to 10 minutes of the analog and peaked within 30 minutes.Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, 1986
In healthy men, the body cleared injected GHRH(1-29)-NH2 rapidly.Acta paediatrica, 1993
In normal men, growth hormone levels fell back to near baseline about 2 hours after the analog.Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, 1986
In children with growth hormone deficiency, GHRH levels in the blood rose steadily during 6 months of treatment and were higher with the higher dose.Acta paediatrica, 1993

Sermorelin studies on blood sugar

7 results · people 7 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 7 results

In older men and women, the GHRH analog did not change fasting insulin levels.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In children with growth hormone deficiency, daily GHRH did not change fasting blood sugar.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1996
Fasting blood glucose rose during treatment.Clinical endocrinology, 1994

Sermorelin studies on hormones

5 results · people 5 · animals 0 · lab 0

Top 3 of 5 results

In five healthy men, the GHRH peptide did not change blood levels of other hormones or glucose.Peptides, 1985
The GHRH peptide caused a small short rise in prolactin, but the total prolactin response did not change.Clinical endocrinology, 1986
Adding the GHRH peptide to two other releasing hormones gave a bigger thyroid-stimulating hormone rise than the two hormones alone.Clinical endocrinology, 1986

Sermorelin studies on weight and appetite

6 results · people 4 · animals 2 · lab 0

Top 5 of 6 results

In older men and women, the GHRH analog caused no other changes in body composition.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In older men and women, the GHRH analog did not change body weight.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In older men and women, the GHRH analog showed a trend toward positive nitrogen balance, significant only when men and women were combined.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In young female rats, the highest daily GHRH dose increased body weight.Journal of physiology and biochemistry, 1999
In older men, the GHRH analog increased lean body mass. This was seen in men only.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997

Sermorelin studies on bones and joints

2 results · people 2 · animals 0 · lab 0

2 results

In children with growth hormone deficiency after radiation, bone age advanced by about 1.1 years for each year of GHRH treatment.Clinical endocrinology, 1997
In older men and women, the GHRH analog did not change bone mineral density.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997

Sermorelin studies on daily life and fitness

2 results · people 2 · animals 0 · lab 0

2 results

In older women, the GHRH analog did not improve how well they felt in general.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In older men, the GHRH analog improved how well they felt in general.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997

Sermorelin studies on kidneys and bladder

2 results · people 2 · animals 0 · lab 0

2 results

In children with chronic kidney failure, blood urea and creatinine stayed stable during GHRH treatment.Medicina, 1996
GHRH treatment had no consistent effect on kidney function in children with chronic kidney failure.Medicina, 1996

Sermorelin studies on sexual and women's health

2 results · people 2 · animals 0 · lab 0

2 results

In older women, the GHRH analog did not improve sex drive.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997
In older men, the GHRH analog improved sex drive.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1997