AOD-9604

Overview and classification

AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide modeled on the end (C-terminal) part of human growth hormone. It was developed as a possible obesity drug because that region was reported to promote fat breakdown without the blood-sugar effects of whole growth hormone. [1] It is a growth hormone fragment analogue, not growth hormone and not a growth-hormone-releasing peptide. In online listings it also appears as "hGH fragment 176-191". Evidence labels used: preclinical (cells/animals only), insufficient evidence, evidence of harm (where regulators name harms), marketing claim, and proper evidence not found.

Exact identity and naming

One analytical paper describes AOD9604 as the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone from amino acids 177 to 191 with an added tyrosine at the start. [1] The WADA list names "AOD-9604 and hGH 176-191" together as growth hormone fragments, but I did not verify from a primary source whether the two names describe identical molecules. [2] Products sold under either name may not match the published compound; see Research Peptide Naming and Identity Problems.

What research shows

Animal and laboratory work (preclinical). In obese mice, 14 days of AOD9604 reduced body weight and body fat and raised expression of a fat-cell receptor gene; in mice lacking that receptor, the long-term effect was absent. [3] In rats, oral AOD9604 reduced weight gain by more than half over 19 days without the insulin-sensitivity effects seen with whole growth hormone. [4] Label: preclinical (cells/animals only). Animal weight loss does not show human fat loss.

Human trials. A 2004 drug-pipeline note stated that phase IIa obesity trials were underway by February 2002. [5] I searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov for peer-reviewed results of randomized human efficacy trials of AOD-9604 and for registered trials of the exact compound and did not find any I could read. Proper evidence not found for weight loss, joint repair or muscle benefit in people. A 2026 review of peptides marketed to athletes and patients includes AOD-9604 among compounds with favorable animal results but scarce rigorous human safety data. [6] A 2026 review of performance-enhancing GH-axis peptides places the research peptides in evidence tiers that run down to a complete absence of human studies, and notes uncertainty about product composition. [7]

Special groups and unknowns

There is no human safety information in the sources I read for pregnancy, children, older adults or people with diabetes, cancer, heart, liver or kidney disease. Long-term safety is unknown.

Product quality

A US analytical team reported that the peptide is sold on internet sites and was recently identified in confiscated vials. [1] What a vial contains cannot be judged from its label. See How to Evaluate Peptide Claims, Peptide Safety and, for medicines that do have trial evidence, Metabolic and Diabetes Peptide Medicines.