COMPOUND

Compounds / Ancillaries

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 (Anti-Obesity Drug 9604; HGH Fragment 176-191)

Ancillaries SubQ · Oral Not FDA approved

16-amino-acid synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal lipolytic domain of human growth hormone (residues 176-191) with a tyrosine added at the N-terminus. Originally developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (Australia) as an obesity drug. CRITICAL: phase 2b obesity trial in 2007 (536 obese subjects, 24 weeks) showed NO statistically significant weight loss vs placebo. Development for obesity was formally discontinued. Despite the failed trial, AOD-9604 remains one of the most commonly sold and used 'fat loss' research peptides on the grey market. Lipolytic activity demonstrated in vitro (rodent beta-3 receptors) does not translate to in vivo human fat loss. Community use is essentially placebo for fat loss.

At a glance

Half-life
~30 min Plasma t½ ~30 minutes after SC injection. No significant accumulation with daily dosing. Tmax ~15 min.
Routes
SubQ · Oral
Vial sizes
2 mg · 5 mg
Evidence base
3 studies 2 human · 1 preclinical

Mechanism

In rodent models, binds beta-3 adrenergic receptors on adipocytes, stimulating lipolysis (fatty acid release) and inhibiting lipogenesis (fat synthesis): reduced body fat in obese mice, with no effect in beta3-AR knockouts confirming receptor specificity. Unlike full-length GH, does not signal through the GH receptor and does not raise IGF-1, glucose, or stimulate growth. Phase 2b human trial (n=536, 24 weeks) showed no statistically significant weight loss vs placebo. Development discontinued. Beta-3 receptor density and sensitivity differs substantially in humans vs rodents. This is the leading hypothesis for why human trials underperformed.

Dosing

Any amounts shown here are reported from published studies only. 2 of 3 catalogued studies involved human subjects. COMPOUND does not publish its own dosing guidance.

Published evidence

  1. Human RCT 2007

    Phase 2b obesity trial: Top-line results

    Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (industry announcement) Company press release

    536 obese subjects, 24 weeks. AOD-9604 did NOT produce statistically significant weight loss vs placebo. Development for obesity discontinued. Safety profile was clean.

  2. Human observational 2000

    Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone

    Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, et al. Hormone Research

    Early human pharmacology: confirmed lipolytic activity in healthy volunteers without affecting glucose, insulin, or IGF-1. Did not demonstrate fat-loss outcomes.

    PMID 11146367

  3. Animal in vivo 2001

    The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism in obese mice and beta3-AR knock-out mice

    Heffernan M, Summers RJ, Thorburn A, et al. Endocrinology

    Established beta-3 adrenergic receptor mechanism in rodents; AOD-9604 reduced body fat in obese mice, no effect in beta3-AR knockouts.

    PMID 11564675

Reported side effects

Injection site reaction
Occasional Mild · Mild redness; rare with proper technique.
Headache
Occasional Mild · Reported in trials.
Lack of efficacy
Very common Mild · Most documented 'effect': phase 2b (n=536, 24 weeks) showed no significant fat loss vs placebo. Community reports mirror this for most users.

Interactions

  • CJC-1295 (no DAC) Synergy

    Theoretical: combine GH-pulse stimulation with lipolytic fragment. Common bodybuilding stack for fat loss.

Reconstitution and storage

5mg vial + 2mL BAC water → 2.5 mg/mL. 0.1mL = 250 mcg.

Lyophilized at -20°C. Reconstituted refrigerated, use within 30 days.

Open the reconstitution calculator for AOD-9604