AOD-9604
Weight Loss
In short
- A synthetic fragment of human growth hormone corresponding to amino acids 176-191, developed specifically to separate fat metabolism from GH's growth effects.
- It went through human clinical trials for obesity and FAILED to beat placebo on weight loss.
- This is unusual and important: most compounds here lack evidence; this one has evidence pointing the wrong way.
- Holds GRAS status as a food ingredient in the US, which is a food-safety determination and not evidence that it works.
- Widely marketed for fat loss despite the negative trial result.
Structure
How it works
AOD-9604 is the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, the region associated with lipolytic activity. The design intent was to isolate fat metabolism from GH's IGF-1-mediated growth and glycaemic effects.
In rodent adipose tissue the fragment increased lipolysis and inhibited lipogenesis without raising IGF-1 or affecting glucose. It does not bind the growth hormone receptor in the way full-length GH does, which is why it does not produce GH's systemic effects.
What the research shows
Rodent studies showed reduced body weight in obese mice.
Human phase 2 trials by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals evaluated it for obesity. The 12-week study did not demonstrate significant weight loss versus placebo, and development for that indication was discontinued.
Subsequent interest shifted toward osteoarthritis and cartilage repair, where evidence remains limited.
It is safe — the trials established that — and it did not work for the purpose it was designed for.
Dosing in the literature
Figures below are quoted from published studies, with the species or population they were measured in. They are records of what was studied, not recommendations.
| Studied in | Amount | Route | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human — phase 2 obesity trials | Oral doses studied up to 54 mg daily; no significant weight effect versus placebo | oral | PubMed |
Commonly reported ranges
These are amounts people report using. They are not from any study, have not been evaluated for safety, and are reproduced here only because they circulate widely and are better seen alongside the evidence than instead of it.
| Reported by | Amount | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Commonly reported | 300–500 µg daily | subcutaneous |
No published human pharmacokinetic study establishes a dose, interval, or duration for this compound. Community figures below have no trial behind them and are reports of practice, not evidence. Note the direction of the evidence here: the human trials used substantially larger oral doses than the community injects, and still found no significant weight effect. That result is more informative than any dose.
Handling and storage
Supplied as a lyophilised powder requiring reconstitution with bacteriostatic water. The powder is comparatively stable; once reconstituted it is refrigerated and used within weeks. Track the date you reconstitute each vial — the Inventory section does this, and it is the difference between knowing a vial is three weeks old and guessing.
Subcutaneous injection is the community route, commonly fasted. The clinical trials used oral administration.
Side effects
The clinical trials reported a good safety profile with no significant adverse effects, and no effect on IGF-1 or glucose metabolism — the separation from GH activity worked as designed.
Injection-site reactions are the main community report.
This is one of the few compounds here where human safety data genuinely exists. The problem is efficacy, not safety.
Combinations
Commonly combined with GH secretagogues on the reasoning that it complements them. Given the negative efficacy trial, combination is more likely to add cost than effect.
Research status
Developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia, through phase 2 for obesity. Development discontinued after failing the primary endpoint. Later work explored osteoarthritis.
The compound also appeared in the Essendon Football Club supplements case in Australia, which is a useful reminder of its anti-doping ambiguity.
Legal status
Not approved as a drug in any jurisdiction. Holds GRAS status as a food ingredient in the US — that is a food-additive safety classification, not a therapeutic approval or an efficacy finding, and it is routinely misrepresented in marketing.
WADA status
Its status has been contested historically. WADA has stated it considers AOD-9604 prohibited under S2 as a growth hormone fragment, and it featured in a high-profile Australian anti-doping case. Treat it as prohibited in sport and verify against the live list.
Conclusion
AOD-9604 is the clearest example in this library of a compound that was properly tested and did not work. It is safe, well-characterised, and failed its phase 2 endpoint for fat loss.
That makes it more honestly assessable than almost anything else here — and the answer the assessment gives is no.
Sources
- [1]AOD-9604 clinical trials in obesityPubMed
- [2]AOD-9604 — hGH fragment 176-191 lipolytic mechanismPubMed
- [3]PubChem CID 71300630PubChem
- [4]WADA Prohibited List (current)WADA
Track your own AOD-9604 protocol
Peppers logs your doses, models your levels from this half-life, tracks your vials and tells you when you will run out. Free on iPhone.
Reference and educational information only. Not medical advice. Nothing here diagnoses, treats, or prescribes, and nothing here is a recommendation to use any compound. The compounds described are research chemicals and are not approved for human consumption. Legal and anti-doping status change — the review date above is when these claims were last checked. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything you intend to take.