AOD-9604
Educational information only — not medical advice. Many listed compounds are not FDA-approved for human use. Consult a licensed clinician before starting, changing, or stopping any protocol.
Overview
AOD-9604 (Anti-Obesity Drug 9604) is a synthetic peptide based on the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone — the region spanning amino acids 176-191, with a small stabilizing modification. It was developed in an effort to isolate the fat-metabolizing activity of growth hormone while leaving out its growth-promoting and blood-sugar-related effects.
The compound was advanced through preclinical work and a series of human clinical trials as a candidate anti-obesity drug. While early studies were encouraging, its largest trial did not meet the primary weight-loss endpoint, and it was ultimately abandoned as a pharmaceutical candidate.
Today AOD-9604 is discussed mainly in the context of fat loss and body composition. It is not approved by any major regulator, and the robust human evidence for meaningful fat loss is limited.
How it works
In preclinical models, AOD-9604 is thought to stimulate lipolysis — the breakdown of stored fat — and to reduce the accumulation of new fat, reportedly by acting on pathways involved in fat cell metabolism. Unlike full-length growth hormone, it was studied for these effects without a corresponding rise in IGF-1 or a reduction in insulin sensitivity.
The precise mechanism in humans is not well established, and much of the mechanistic data comes from animal studies. Human trials focused more on overall body-weight and safety outcomes than on confirming the proposed mechanism.
Reported benefits
- Reduction of body fat and stimulation of fat breakdown (primarily animal data)
- Fat-focused effects without the blood-sugar impact associated with full-length HGH (studied for)
- Favorable safety and tolerability profile in early human studies
These are reported and studied effects, not guaranteed outcomes, and the strongest clinical endpoint for weight loss was not met.
Considerations & side effects
Across the human studies conducted, AOD-9604 was generally reported to be well tolerated, with a safety profile described as similar to placebo; the most commonly noted effects were mild, such as occasional headaches and injection-site reactions. Because it was never approved and long-term human data is sparse, its safety over extended use is not well characterized.
Product purity varies widely in the research-chemical market, and it is not a substitute for evaluation and treatment by a qualified clinician.
Frequently asked
What is AOD-9604?
A synthetic peptide based on the C-terminal fragment (amino acids 176-191) of human growth hormone, studied for its effects on fat metabolism without the growth-promoting or blood-sugar effects of full-length HGH.
Is AOD-9604 FDA-approved?
No. AOD-9604 completed several human clinical trials but did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint and was abandoned as a drug candidate. It is not approved by the FDA or any major regulator and is sold for research purposes only.
How is AOD-9604 different from HGH?
It represents only the fat-metabolizing portion of the growth hormone molecule. In studies it was reported to influence lipid metabolism without raising IGF-1 or impairing insulin sensitivity the way full-length HGH can.
Does AOD-9604 affect blood sugar?
In the trials conducted, AOD-9604 did not appear to impair glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity, which was one of the reasons it was investigated as an alternative to full-length HGH. Human data overall remains limited.
References
- Heffernan M, et al. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice. ↗
- Stier H, et al. Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans. ↗
- Moré MI, Kenley D. Safety and Metabolism of AOD9604, a Novel Nutraceutical Ingredient for Improved Metabolic Health. ↗
Related compounds
Synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 176-191 region of human growth hormone, retaining GH's lipolytic (fat-mobilizing) activity while omitting the diabetogenic region. Distinct from AOD-9604 (a modified analog of this fragment).
Small molecule NNMT enzyme inhibitor. Increases NAD+ levels in fat cells, promoting energy expenditure and reducing fat accumulation without affecting appetite.
Prohibitin-targeting peptidomimetic designed to selectively disrupt blood supply to white adipose tissue. Highly experimental anti-obesity compound. Clinical development discontinued due to renal side effects.