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Hexarelin vs Sermorelin: What the Research Shows

Hexarelin and Sermorelin side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
Growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP)Not FDA approved · research chemicalHexarelinSynthetic analog of ghrelin that binds the growth hormone secretagogue receptor; reviews describe strong growth hormone-releasing effects for this drug class.[12]
GHRH analogCompounded by prescriptionSermorelinGHRH analog once FDA-approved as Geref and since discontinued; in an uncontrolled pediatric study mean height velocity rose from 4.1 to 8.0 cm/yr after 6 months.[13]Growth hormoneFlat YoY
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider Hexarelin if…

  • you want a human GH-release study: hexarelin stimulated GH secretion in patients with idiopathic GH deficiency[14]
  • you are tested in sport and want to avoid a WADA-prohibited substance: WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin (check hexarelin's own status separately)[1]

Consider Sermorelin if…

  • you want human data in growth-hormone-deficient children, though uncontrolled: Mean height velocity rose from 4.1 cm/yr at baseline to 8.0 cm/yr at 6 months and 7.2 cm/yr at 12 months (open-label, no control group).[13]

What they have in common

  • A physiology study in normal short children looked at GH responses to GHRH and to hexarelin; it is not a treatment trial[11]
  • Sermorelin's only FDA record is Geref, listed with marketing status Discontinued[15]
Sermorelin is not FDA approved. Sermorelin is prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 8 of 10 fields where the two differ. Also called, PCAC vote, Jul 2026 are the same or both unknown.

FieldHexarelinSermorelin
ClassGrowth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP)GHRH analog
FDA statusNot FDA approved · research chemicalCompounded by prescription
WADANo WADA record in our dataProhibited by WADA (S2.2.4)Sermorelin is named as a GHRH analogue in S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors), prohibited at all times.
Anti-doping detectionNone reportedanti-doping literature, as of 2 Oct 2026
  • A urine assay detects CJC-1295 and other GHRH analogues at very low concentrations.PMID 35298973
  • Labs expect GHRH analogues like CJC-1295 to be hard to find because of tiny urine concentrations; the study reports no detections in routine anti-doping samples.PMID 34665524
Half-life[half-life by route]No published half-life foundPubMed search, 2 Oct 2026
Evidence strength[evidence grade]Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1992, PMID 1379256
Human studies we summarised[n]4 human (1 randomized or controlled) of 7 summarised
Typical study doses[dose range]

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Sources

  1. 1World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2An antibody-free, ultrafiltration-based assay for the detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations using nanoLC-HRMS/MS.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022PMID 35298973Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs.Drug testing and analysis · 2021PMID 34665524Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1992PMID 1379256Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels.American journal of men's health · 2017PMID 28830317Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men.Metabolism: clinical and experimental · 1997PMID 9005976Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7PubMed search: (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab]) (34 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PubMed search: (sermorelin[tiab] OR "GHRH(1-29)"[tiab] OR "GRF(1-29)"[tiab] OR "GHRH 1-29"[tiab]) AND (elderly[tiab] OR aging[tiab] OR "older adults"[tiab] OR adults[tiab]) AND (treatment[tiab] OR therapy[tiab] OR administration[tiab]) (15 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9PubMed search: (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (2 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10PubMed search: (hexarelin[tiab]) AND (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11The negative GH auto-feedback in childhood: effects of rhGH and/or GHRH on the somatotroph response to GHRH or hexarelin, a peptidyl GH secretagogue, in children.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2000PMID 10803472Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Implications of ghrelin and hexarelin in diabetes and diabetes-associated heart diseases.Endocrine · 2015PMID 25645463Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy. Geref International Study Group.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1996PMID 8772599Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14The effect of hexarelin on growth hormone (GH) secretion in patients with GH deficiency.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1995PMID 7673411Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Drugs@FDA (openFDA) search: active ingredient "sermorelin"U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026api.fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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