AOD-9604
Get a source-linked, educational explanation from this profile.
Complete Research Guide
Open each section for the available evidence. Gaps are stated rather than inferred.
Overview
AOD-9604 is listed as metabolic / lipolytic.
- •Fat metabolism
- •Weight management
- •Cartilage repair (off-label)
Regulatory status: Not FDA-approved; TGA-approved (Australia, discontinued); research use.
Structure & Properties
Compound: AOD-9604; also known as hGH fragment 176-191.
Pharmacologic class: Metabolic / Lipolytic.
Known delivery routes: Subcutaneous.
Sequence, molecular weight, salt form, and excipient details are formulation-specific and are not listed unless verified by a manufacturer or laboratory COA.
How It Works
C-terminal fragment of hGH — activates fat-specific β3-adrenergic receptor; promotes lipolysis without GH's anabolic/diabetogenic effects; possible cartilage regeneration via VEGF.
- •Selective lipolysis without GH side effects
- •No insulin resistance signal
- •No IGF-1 elevation
Human Research
Evidence grade: Pre-clinical / Observational
Evidence is primarily preclinical or observational; human effectiveness and long-term safety are not established.
Laboratory Research
Phase II/III completed (failed primary obesity endpoint)
Preclinical findings describe biological plausibility, not proven benefit in people. Animal and laboratory doses do not translate directly to human use.
Processing & Interactions
Timing and exposure
Once daily fasted (morning) SubQ. Wait 30 min before eating.
Potential interactions and combinations to avoid
- •Redundant stacking with full GH or GHRPs
Absorption, half-life, metabolism, and clearance can vary by formulation and route. Use prescribing information when an approved product exists.
Safety & Precautions
Known or reported risks
- •Failed Phase III obesity endpoint
- •Limited long-term human data
Contraindications
- •Pregnancy
- •Hypersensitivity
- •Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without physician guidance (injection-site haematoma)
- •Active skin infection, cellulitis, or lipohypertrophy at intended injection sites
- •Inability to maintain sterile technique or safe sharps disposal
- •Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- •Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- •Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- •Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- •Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- •Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- •Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- •Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Unknown long-term toxicity should be assumed where controlled human data are limited. Seek urgent care for a severe or unexpected reaction.
Administration & Studied Formulations
Reference range: 300–600 mcg/day
Frequency: Once daily (fasted)
Cycling: 8 weeks on / 4 weeks off.
Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Default route for most research and therapeutic peptides — best absorption for reconstituted powder.
31G × 5/16" insulin syringe (U-100). 100 units = 1 mL. Pinch skin at abdomen (2" from navel), outer thigh, or love handle. Insert at 45–90°. Rotate sites daily to prevent lipohypertrophy. Alcohol-swab site, air-dry, inject slow, hold 5 sec.
Dosing information is educational context, not a personal recommendation. Approved products must follow their label and prescriber instructions.
Applications & Related Therapies
Potentially complementary measures
- •Standalone or paired with caloric deficit + training
Clinical use should account for diagnosis, approved alternatives, nutrition, activity, sleep, rehabilitation, current medicines, and appropriate monitoring.
Cases, Considerations & Ethics
Decision framework: establish the clinical goal, confirm evidence quality and legal status, screen contraindications and interactions, compare approved alternatives, define monitoring and stopping criteria, and use shared decision-making with a licensed clinician.
Case evidence: individual reports cannot establish safety or effectiveness and should not outweigh controlled trials.
Ethics: informed consent should distinguish established care from experimental use, disclose uncertainty and cost, avoid overstated claims, and never substitute research products for medically necessary care.
What is AOD-9604?
In plain words
AOD-9604 is a small, modified piece of human growth hormone studied for fat metabolism and weight management. Animal research suggests it may help fat cells break down stored fat and make less new fat. Human trials have not shown reliable weight-loss benefits, and long-term safety data are limited.
Technical definition
AOD-9604 is a synthetic 16-amino-acid peptide derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone, consisting of residues 177–191 with an added N-terminal tyrosine. Preclinical studies suggest effects on lipolysis and fat synthesis involving β3-adrenergic signaling, but direct β3-receptor activation has not been established, and its mechanism differs from classical growth hormone signaling. It is an investigational compound that is not FDA-approved; human obesity trials have not established meaningful weight-loss efficacy.
Function
Dosing
Recommended Time of Day
Morning fasted, 30+ min before breakfast.
See “Timing & Interactions” below for full fasted/fed circumstances, what to avoid combining, and what pairs well.
Administration & Technique
Injection & Application Sites
- Abdomen — 2 in (5 cm) away from the navel, either side. Fastest, most consistent SubQ absorption.
- Flank / love handle — Lateral fat pad above the hip. Good rotation site when the abdomen is tender.
- Outer thigh — Upper outer quadrant, a hand-width below the hip. SubQ pinch at 45°.
Diagram is a general illustration, not a medical instruction. Rotate sites every injection, keep 1 in (2.5 cm) between recent sites, and avoid scars, moles, bruises and the navel area.
Cycling
8 weeks on / 4 weeks off.
Timing & Interactions
- ·Redundant stacking with full GH or GHRPs
- ·Standalone or paired with caloric deficit + training
Storage & Reconstitution
Reconstitution Calculator
1 mL = 100 units on a standard U-100 insulin syringe. Draw to the nearest 0.5 unit and confirm dosing with a clinician before injection.
Your Notes
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Benefits
- ·Selective lipolysis without GH side effects
- ·No insulin resistance signal
- ·No IGF-1 elevation
Risks
- ·Failed Phase III obesity endpoint
- ·Limited long-term human data
Contraindications
- ·Pregnancy
- ·Hypersensitivity
- ·Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without physician guidance (injection-site haematoma)
- ·Active skin infection, cellulitis, or lipohypertrophy at intended injection sites
- ·Inability to maintain sterile technique or safe sharps disposal
- ·Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- ·Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- ·Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- ·Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- ·Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- ·Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- ·Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- ·Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Regulatory
Not FDA-approved; TGA-approved (Australia, discontinued); research use
Veterinary Use (Pets)
Fragment of GH used in canine and equine weight-loss and joint-support protocols.