AOD-9604
Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 176-191 with N-terminal tyrosine)
- Class
- HGH fragment
- Half-life
- ~2 hours
- Route
- —
- Cadence
- Daily
- Evidence
- Mixed / early human
Overview
AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid fragment of human growth hormone, designed to keep the fat-burning part and drop the rest — no IGF-1 spike, no blood-sugar disruption, no growth effects. It went further through formal drug development than almost any peptide in the research space: six randomised controlled trials, 900+ participants, Phase 2b multi-centre study. Then it failed its primary endpoint in that last trial and development was terminated in 2007.
The preclinical data looked great — obese mice lost fat, oxidised it faster, and didn't develop the glucose intolerance you see with full growth hormone. The mechanism is real: AOD-9604 hits beta-3 adrenergic receptors on fat cells, cranks up lipolysis, and shuts down new fat formation. Early human trials showed modest but real weight loss (2.6 kg vs 0.8 kg placebo over 12 weeks at 1 mg/day oral). But when they scaled up to 536 people over 24 weeks, the effect didn't hold — no statistically significant weight loss versus placebo.
The safety story is genuinely excellent. Over 900 people, zero serious adverse events attributed to the peptide, no effect on glucose or IGF-1, side-effect profile indistinguishable from placebo. It's now sold in research markets as a subcutaneous injection (the trials used both oral and injectable forms). Australia's TGA lists it as a cosmetic ingredient (sh-Oligopeptide-74) and as a Schedule 4 prescription-only substance. The efficacy story is honestly mixed — strong mechanism, real effects in small studies, didn't replicate at scale.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- Not approved by FDA, EMA, TGA (Australia), or any other regulator for therapeutic use. Listed by Australia's TGA as a cosmetic ingredient (sh-Oligopeptide-74) and as a Schedule 4 prescription substance — legal status varies by jurisdiction.
- Prohibited by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) — a hard no if you're subject to drug testing in competitive sport.
- Over 900 participants across six RCTs with zero serious adverse events attributed to AOD-9604. Side-effect profile in trials was indistinguishable from placebo — genuinely clean safety record.
+ 3 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching AOD-9604.
- Body composition (DEXA or similar — weight alone won't show fat vs lean changes)
- Fasting glucose and HbA1c (trials showed no effect, but worth tracking)
- Lipid panel (LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
- Subjective: energy, appetite changes (mechanism doesn't touch central appetite circuits — most users report no hunger suppression)
Frequently asked questions
What is AOD-9604?
Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 176-191 with N-terminal tyrosine). AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid fragment of human growth hormone, designed to keep the fat-burning part and drop the rest — no IGF-1 spike, no blood-sugar disruption, no growth effects. It went further through formal drug development than almost any peptide in the research space: six randomised controlled trials, 900+ participants, Phase 2b multi-centre study. Then it failed its primary endpoint in that last trial and development was terminated in 2007.
How is AOD-9604 administered?
—, typically daily.
What is the half-life of AOD-9604?
~2 hours — Short plasma half-life — effects thought to persist longer in adipose tissue.
Is AOD-9604 approved for human use?
AOD-9604 is investigational — not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA for human use at the time of writing.
What does the evidence show for AOD-9604?
Evidence tier: Mixed / early human. Phase 2a trial (12 weeks, ~300 obese adults, 1 mg/day oral): mean weight loss 2.6 kg vs 0.8 kg placebo — statistically significant but modest in absolute terms.
What is commonly monitored when researching AOD-9604?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: Body composition (DEXA or similar — weight alone won't show fat vs lean changes), Fasting glucose and HbA1c (trials showed no effect, but worth tracking), Lipid panel (LDL, HDL, triglycerides), Subjective: energy, appetite changes (mechanism doesn't touch central appetite circuits — most users report no hunger suppression).
Related compounds
Open this in AIx Core for the full picture
Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.