AOD-9604

Anti-Obesity Drug 9604 · HGH Fragment 176-191

Rank#999
Weight LossCategory 2PreclinicalResearchSubQ

Popular for:Fat metabolism, weight loss, cartilage repair

10

Total Studies

10

Human Studies

Preclinical

Evidence Level

Category 2

FDA Status

Overview

AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of the human growth hormone molecule, specifically amino acids 176-191 with an added tyrosine at the N-terminus. It was developed by Monash University in Australia to isolate the fat-metabolizing effects of HGH without its growth-promoting or diabetogenic properties.

AOD-9604 completed Phase IIb clinical trials for obesity but did not advance to Phase III due to insufficient efficacy at the doses tested. It stimulates lipolysis (fat breakdown) and inhibits lipogenesis (fat formation) without affecting blood sugar levels or cell proliferation.

Mechanism of Action

AOD-9604 mimics the lipolytic mechanism of natural growth hormone by acting on beta-3 adrenergic receptors in adipose tissue. It stimulates fat cell breakdown (lipolysis) and inhibits the formation of new fat (lipogenesis) without interacting with the GH receptor, meaning it does not cause the blood sugar elevation or growth effects associated with full HGH.

Key Research Benefits

Studied for fat metabolism without GH-related side effects
Does not affect blood sugar or insulin sensitivity
Does not promote cell proliferation
Completed Phase IIb clinical trials for obesity
Researched for cartilage repair and osteoarthritis

Clinical Evidence Summary

Research Pipeline

Preclinical
Animal
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Approved

10

Total Studies

10

Human Studies

Not FDA-approved. FDA Category 2 (banned from compounding). Previously in clinical trials for obesity (Metabolic Pharmaceuticals, Australia). Potential Category 1 reinstatement under review.

Key Studies / PubMed References

Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Review

Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA · Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2026

PMID: 41490200

Simplifying and expanding the screening for peptides <2 kDa by direct urine injection, liquid chromatography, and ion mobility mass spectrometry.

Review

Thomas A, G&#xf6;rgens C, Guddat S, et al. · Journal of separation science · 2016

PMID: 26578461

Analytical approaches for the detection of emerging therapeutics and non-approved drugs in human doping controls.

Review

Thevis M, Sch&#xe4;nzer W · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2014

PMID: 24906629

Detecting peptidic drugs, drug candidates and analogs in sports doping: current status and future directions.

Review

Thevis M, Thomas A, Sch&#xe4;nzer W · Expert review of proteomics · 2014

PMID: 25382550

AOD-9604 does not influence the WADA hGH isoform immunoassay.

Review

Orlovius AK, Thomas A, Sch&#xe4;nzer W, et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2013

PMID: 24124033

Side Effects & Safety

Injection site reactions
Headache
Generally well-tolerated in clinical trials
Efficacy questioned due to Phase II results

Known Interactions

No curated interaction entry is live for AOD-9604 yet.

Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Disclaimer

This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. AOD-9604 is not approved by the FDA for human therapeutic use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.