Sermorelin and Tesamorelin compared: chemistry, targets and regulatory records
Sermorelin is the first 29 residues of human growth hormone-releasing hormone, amidated. Tesamorelin is the full 44-residue sequence carrying a trans-3-hexenoyl group on Tyr1. Both act on the GHRH receptor.
Research-use information. This page summarises published literature and regulator records. It is not guidance for use, not medical advice, and not a statement that any material is suitable for use in people or animals.
How do Sermorelin and Tesamorelin differ on the facts?
| Fact | Sermorelin | Tesamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Class | GHRH(1-29) fragment, amidated | GHRH(1-44) analogue, hexenoylated |
| Length | 29 residues | 44 residues |
| Molecular formula | C149H246N44O42S | C221H366N72O67S |
| Average molecular weight | 3357.9 g/mol | 5136 g/mol |
| Receptor or pathway background | Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor | Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor |
| FDA (Drugs@FDA) | 2 applications listed (Discontinued) | 1 application listed (Prescription) |
| EMA (centrally authorised) | No centrally authorised medicine listed | Application withdrawn |
| MHRA (Products) | No product document found | No product document found |
| WADA 2026 list | Named, S2.2.4 | Named, S2.2.4 |
| Studies in our library | 5 | 3 |
| PubMed records for the search terms | 365 | 104 |
| Registered studies (ClinicalTrials.gov) | 27 | 24 |
Data dates: chemistry checked against PubChem 2026-10-05; regulatory records 2026-10-05; WADA list 2026-10-05; PubMed counts 2026-10-05.
What do the cited papers say differs between Sermorelin and Tesamorelin?
- Length differs: 29 residues for sermorelin and 44 for tesamorelin, from the sequences in the 1982 isolation paper.[2]
- Tesamorelin's hexenoyl modification slowed in vitro degradation in rat, dog and human plasma and prolonged plasma elimination in vivo in the non-clinical paper.[1]
- Both are named in the WADA 2026 Prohibited List under S2.2.4. Their records in the FDA, EMA and MHRA databases differ; see the table.
Nothing on this page ranks one compound above the other or states what either does for a person.
Which studies are cited on this page?
[1] Ferdinandi ES, Brazeau P, High K, Procter B, Fennell S, Dubreuil P. Non-clinical pharmacology and safety evaluation of TH9507, a human growth hormone-releasing factor analogue. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2007;100:49-58.
Non-clinical pharmacology and safety evaluation of TH9507 (tesamorelin), a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue carrying a trans-3-hexenoyl group, including plasma stability.
[2] Guillemin R, Brazeau P, Böhlen P, Esch F, Ling N, Wehrenberg WB. Growth hormone-releasing factor from a human pancreatic tumor that caused acromegaly. Science. 1982;218:585-7.
Isolation and amino-acid sequence of a 44-residue growth hormone-releasing peptide from a human pancreatic tumour, with a synthetic replicate.