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Sermorelin vs CJC-1295: What the Research Shows

Sermorelin and CJC-1295 side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
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.[16]Growth hormoneFlat YoYGHRH analogNot FDA approved · research chemicalCJC-1295CJC-1295, a GHRH analog; in healthy adults a single injection produced dose-dependent rises in mean plasma GH of 2- to 10-fold and in IGF-I of 1.5- to 3-fold.[10]Growth hormone+49% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

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).[16]

Consider CJC-1295 if…

  • you want randomized human hormone data (hormone levels, not a clinical benefit): a single injection raised mean plasma GH 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more[10]

What they have in common

  • Sermorelin's only FDA record is Geref, listed with marketing status Discontinued[17]
  • WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin[1]
Sermorelin is not FDA approved. Both are prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 5 of 13 fields where the two differ. Class, Category, PCAC vote, Jul 2026, WADA, Anti-doping detection, Half-life, Evidence strength, Human studies we summarised are the same or both unknown.

FieldSermorelinCJC-1295
Also called—CJC, mod GRF, GRF 1-29
FDA statusCompounded by prescriptionNot FDA approved · research chemical
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold2 mg, 5 mg, 9 mg, 15 mg2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
US searches per month165,000 · Flat YoY60,500 · +49% searches

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

Taken together?

Sermorelin and CJC-1295 together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 13 results, 2 Oct 2026).

Open the stack page
StackSermorelin + CJC-1295, taken as separate injectionsStack page

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. 10Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16352683Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 17018654Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16822960Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) (33 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (7 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (sermorelin[tiab] OR Geref[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Once 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
  17. 17Drugs@FDA (openFDA) search: active ingredient "sermorelin"U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026api.fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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