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AOD-9604: quick citable summary
AOD-9604 is listed by PeptaHub as a weight loss peptide with a research only legal-status classification. The page summarizes mechanism, research context, common routes, safety notes, and references for writers and AI answer engines.
PeptaHub. “AOD-9604: Mechanism, Research Context, Safety.” peptahub.com, 2026. https://peptahub.com/peptides/aod-9604. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. Link back to https://peptahub.com/peptides/aod-9604.
What is AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177-191) designed to isolate the fat-metabolising actions of GH. The published efficacy data come from rodent studies; human obesity trials were run but never published, and development was discontinued.
Overview
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177-191) that was developed to isolate the fat-loss effects of GH without the growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects. Originally developed at Monash University in Australia, it mimics the way natural GH regulates fat metabolism in animal models. It is not approved as a medicine in any jurisdiction.
Mechanism of action
AOD-9604 stimulates lipolysis (fat breakdown) and inhibits lipogenesis (fat formation) by mimicking the lipolytic fragment of human growth hormone. In obese mice its lipolytic action was shown not to be mediated directly through beta-3 adrenergic receptors, although both hGH and AOD-9604 raised beta-3 adrenergic receptor expression, which may increase lipolytic sensitivity (Heffernan, Endocrinology 2001). In rodent studies it did not impair insulin sensitivity the way intact hGH did. Whether it spares IGF-1 and tissue growth in humans has not been established in published trials.
Reported study ranges
| Purpose | Route | Reported range | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fat loss | subcutaneous | 250–500 mcg | daily | Inject in the morning on an empty stomach. 12-week cycles. Often combined with dietary modification. |
Reported ranges are for research context only. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any peptide.
Convert AOD-9604 research-range units
Need to convert mg to mcg, dose volume, or U-100 syringe units? The AOD-9604 dose calculator is preloaded with these ranges, or use the general dose unit converter.
Research summary
AOD-9604 entered human obesity trials in the 2000s, but no results from those trials have been published in the peer-reviewed literature and clinical development was discontinued; contemporaneous reviews of obesity pharmacotherapy list it only as a compound in development. The published efficacy data are animal: in obese Zucker rats, oral AOD-9604 at 500 mcg/kg for 19 days reduced body weight gain by more than 50 percent and increased adipose lipolytic activity, without the loss of insulin sensitivity seen with intact hGH (Ng, Horm Res 2000). Human efficacy and long-term safety are not established.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Evidence grading
Each claimed benefit is graded by the strength of available evidence. Grades reflect study quality, not effect size.
Strong = multiple RCTs · Moderate = limited trials or observational · Preliminary = animal or in vitro only · Insufficient = anecdotal or no published data
Side effects
Side effects vary by individual. This is not an exhaustive list. Report unusual symptoms to a healthcare professional.
Common stacks
Peptides commonly paired with AOD-9604 for synergistic effects.
Legal status
AOD-9604 cannot legally be compounded in the US today. It was placed on the FDA's Category 2 bulk drug substances list in September 2023, which put it outside enforcement discretion for compounding. It was not among the 12 peptides the FDA removed from Category 2 on April 15, 2026, so it remains in Category 2, and no Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee review of AOD-9604 has been scheduled. AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any indication and is not an approved medicine in any other jurisdiction. Verify current federal and state rules before relying on access claims.
Sourcing & access
Research compound
AOD-9604 is classified as a research compound. Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction. Always verify current legal status and source from vendors providing third-party certificates of analysis (COA).
Frequently asked questions
AOD-9604 (Anti-Obesity Drug 9604) is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone consisting of amino acids 177 to 191. It was developed at Monash University to isolate the fat-metabolizing mechanism of GH without its growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects.
There is no published, peer-reviewed human efficacy trial of AOD-9604. Human obesity trials were conducted in the 2000s but the results were never published, and clinical development was discontinued. The published efficacy evidence is animal: obese Zucker rats given oral AOD-9604 for 19 days gained more than 50 percent less body weight than controls.
In rodent studies AOD-9604 reduced body weight and body fat without the loss of insulin sensitivity that chronic intact hGH caused. Its lipolytic effect was shown not to be mediated directly through beta-3 adrenergic receptors: it still increased fat oxidation acutely in beta-3 receptor knockout mice, though it does raise beta-3 receptor expression. These comparisons have not been reproduced in published human trials.
AOD-9604 is on the FDA Category 2 bulk drug substances list, so it cannot legally be compounded in the US, and it is not FDA-approved for any indication. It is not an approved medicine in any other jurisdiction either. It is sold as a research peptide.
Community protocols use 250 to 500 mcg injected subcutaneously in the morning on an empty stomach, typically run in 12-week cycles combined with dietary modification. These are user-reported ranges, not FDA-approved recommendations, and no published human dose-response trial supports them.
Research references
- Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormonePubMed
- Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragmentPubMed
- The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out micePubMed
- Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604PubMed
- Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD9604 with or without Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Osteoarthritis ModelPubMed
- Molecular and cellular actions of a structural domain of human growth hormone (AOD9401) on lipid metabolism in Zucker fatty ratsPubMed