NO. 024 · METABOLIC · GROWTH
GH FRAGMENT (LIPOLYTIC)
Synthetic C-terminal HGH fragment · lipolytic research
ALIASES
AOD-9604, AOD9604, hGH(176-191), Tyr-hGH(177-191)
CLASS
Synthetic growth-hormone C-terminal fragment · lipolytic candidate
FORMULA
C₇₈H₁₂₃N₂₃O₂₃S₂
SEQUENCE
16-residue fragment corresponding to hGH(177-191) with N-terminal Tyrosine addition
HALF-LIFE
Short (minutes) plasma
ROUTES
Subcutaneous (Phase 2 obesity) · Oral (food-supplement contexts in some jurisdictions)
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Synthetic 15-amino-acid fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191). Retains the C-terminal lipolytic domain of HGH without the growth-promoting IGF-1 elevation. Drives beta-adrenergic fat oxidation; daily SQ at investigational doses.
EVIDENCE GRADES
12-week Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Phase 2b at 1 mg/day did not meet primary weight-loss endpoint.
Veterinary and human cartilage research reported in registry data; not consistently in peer-reviewed Western journals.
MECHANISM CATEGORIES
SAFETY
Side effects
- Generally well-tolerated in trials at the doses tested
- Injection-site reactions
Drug interactions
- Not characterized in Phase 3
Contraindications
- Pregnancy/lactation (unstudied)
REGULATORY STATUS
FDA · Not FDA-approved as a drug.
WADA · Growth hormone fragments prohibited at all times under S2 on the WADA Prohibited List.
STORAGE
Lyophilized · -20 °C 24 months
Reconstituted · 2-8 °C, 28 days
PEER-REVIEWED EVIDENCE
- Heffernan M, et al.. 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 mice. Endocrinology 2001. PMID 11713213. link →
- Ng FM, et al.. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Horm Res 2000. PMID 11146368. link →
FAQ · 6 QUESTIONS
▶ What is AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal region (residues 176-191) of human growth hormone with an N-terminal tyrosine addition. Developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals as a candidate anti-obesity agent.
▶ Did AOD-9604 work for obesity?
The 12-week Phase 2b trial in 2007 at 1 mg/day did not meet the primary weight-loss endpoint. The compound was repurposed toward joint/cartilage research thereafter.
▶ Is AOD-9604 FDA-approved?
No. AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved as a drug. It had limited food-supplement GRAS history in some jurisdictions but Australia's TGA placed it on Schedule 4 (prescription) in 2020.
▶ Is AOD-9604 banned in sports?
Yes, in effect. Growth hormone fragments are prohibited at all times under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances) on the WADA Prohibited List.
▶ How does AOD-9604 differ from full-length hGH?
AOD-9604 was designed to retain the lipolytic activity of hGH without engaging the growth-hormone receptor in a way that elevates IGF-1. In vitro, this design held; in vivo, it did not deliver the obesity outcomes anticipated.
▶ What dose was used in trials?
Phase 2 trials used subcutaneous 1 mg/day. This wiki does not recommend any human dose.
SIGNATURE MOVES
Fat oxidation. No IGF-1 elevation side effect.
Anti-obesity research compound. Phase 2 trials.
SOURCED FROM GIGACOMPOUNDS
Reference compounds documented on this page are available as research-grade material at GigaCompounds · ≥99% purity · per-batch Certificate of Analysis. For laboratory research use only. No human dose is recommended by this wiki.
▶ LAST UPDATED · 2026-05-19