Native GHRH — EU research guide.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is the natural hypothalamic signal that triggers the pituitary's own GH pulses — the parent hormone behind every GHRH analogue on the market, from sermorelin to tesamorelin and CJC-1295.
What is native GHRH?
Native GHRH is a 44-amino-acid hypothalamic peptide (only residues 1-29 are needed for full activity) that binds the pituitary GHRH receptor to release stored growth hormone. It has an extremely short half-life in circulation — a limitation every GHRH analogue since has tried to engineer around.
Why analogues are used instead
Because native GHRH degrades within minutes, essentially all clinical and research use today relies on modified analogues instead: sermorelin (GHRH 1-29), tesamorelin (stabilised, FDA-approved for HIV lipodystrophy) and CJC-1295 (extended half-life via a Drug Affinity Complex). Unmodified GHRH itself sees little standalone use.
EU legal status
Not marketed as a standalone medicine; GHRH and its analogues fall under WADA's S2 peptide-hormone category, prohibited in sport due to their growth-hormone-releasing effect.
Molecular information
Pharmacokinetics
GH-axis compounds across EU suppliers
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