AOD-9604
Also known as: AOD9604, Anti-Obesity Drug 9604, hGH fragment 177-191
Growth hormone fragment / lipolytic peptide
What it is
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide consisting of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177–191) with an additional tyrosine residue at the N-terminus. It is reported to mimic the lipolytic properties of growth hormone without diabetogenic side effects. In animal studies, both hGH and AOD9604 reduced body weight and body fat in obese mice following chronic intraperitoneal administration, correlating with increased expression of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) RNA — the major lipolytic receptor in fat cells. However, long-term treatment in beta3-AR knock-out mice failed to produce the body weight changes and lipolysis increase seen in wild-type mice, indicating the lipolytic actions are not mediated directly through beta3-AR, although both compounds increase beta3-AR expression, potentially contributing to enhanced lipolytic sensitivity over time. In an acute experiment, AOD9604 was capable of increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation even in beta3-AR knock-out mice. One review categorises AOD-9604 among growth hormone secretagogues that activate IGF-1 signaling and satellite cell repair. AOD-9604 does not influence the WADA hGH isoform immunoassay.
Class: Growth hormone fragment / lipolytic peptide
What it's studied for
- Obesity / adipose tissue reduction Mixed
- AOD9604 reduced body weight and body fat in obese mice following 14 days of chronic intraperitoneal administration; increased beta3-AR RNA expression to levels comparable with lean mice. Effects not observed in beta3-AR knock-out mice with chronic treatment, but acute energy expenditure and fat oxidation increases were PMID 11713213 Heffernan et al., Endocrinology (2001)
- AOD-9604 described as a human growth hormone fragment that increases adipose tissue breakdown; listed among anti-obesity drugs undergoing clinical development. Only rimonabant had completed Phase III trials at the time of this review. PMID 16625817 Halford, Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs (2006)
- AOD-9604 was in development by Metabolic for potential treatment of obesity; Phase IIa trials were underway by February 2002. PMID 15134286 Wilding, Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs (2004)
- Osteoarthritis / cartilage regeneration Animal studies only
- In a collagenase-induced knee OA rabbit model (n=32), weekly intra-articular injections of 0.25 mg AOD9604 significantly reduced cartilage degeneration scores versus saline control. Combined AOD9604 (0.25 mg) + hyaluronic acid (6 mg HA) was more effective than either agent alone in reducing morphological/histopathologi PMID 26275694 Kwon & Park, Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science (2015)
- Musculoskeletal injury recovery / orthopaedic applications Animal studies only
- Narrative review identifies AOD-9604 among growth hormone secretagogues proposed to activate IGF-1 signaling and satellite cell repair in orthopaedic contexts; notes preclinical studies are promising but current lack of clinical trials. PMID 41490200 Rahman et al., Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026)
- Review notes many unapproved peptides including AOD-9604 demonstrate favorable tissue repair and metabolic outcomes in animal models, but rigorous human safety data are scarce and there is potential for serious harm. PMID 41966639 Mendias & Awan, Sports Medicine (2026)
Community-reported dosing
| Route | Dose | Frequency / Duration | Population / context | Source tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intraperitoneal (ip) | Not explicitly stated as a numeric dose per kg in abstract; described as chronic ip administration for 14 days in obese mice | 14 days (chronic); also acute single-administration experiment | animal | Research PMID 11713213 |
| Intra-articular injection | 0.25 mg AOD9604 per injection (intra-articular, 0.6 mL volume) | Weekly injections for 4–7 weeks after first collagenase injection; assessment at 8 weeks | animal | Research PMID 26275694 |
| Not stated in abstract | Not stated in abstract | Phase IIa clinical trials underway as of February 2002 | human | Research PMID 15134286 |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | biohackers and recreational users pursuing fat loss | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 250 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | biohackers starting AOD-9604 for the first time or those sensitive to peptides | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 1000 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | experienced biohackers seeking enhanced fat loss, often stacking with other peptides | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | twice daily — morning fasted and 30 minutes pre-workout | active biohackers combining AOD-9604 with structured training for fat loss | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 300 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | biohackers following clinician-adjacent protocols for moderate fat loss | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | biohackers stacking AOD-9604 with CJC-1295/Ipamorelin for body recomposition | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| oral (sublingual) | 500 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | biohackers seeking needle-free administration of AOD-9604 | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| intranasal | 500 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | biohackers preferring non-injectable administration | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | once daily, fasted (morning) | overweight or obese adults pursuing medically supervised peptide-assisted weight loss | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
Tier key: Research = PMID-cited study · [C] = scraped community source · [S] = model-synthesized from aggregate community reports (softer evidence). How we source.
Safety signals
- Rigorous human safety data are scarce; potential for serious harm to patients identified for unapproved peptides including AOD-9604 used in sports medicine contexts. PMID 41966639
- AOD-9604 identified in confiscated pharmaceutical vials, raising concerns about unregulated supply, counterfeit or adulterated products. PMID 25208511
- AOD-9604 is reported to mimic lipolytic properties of growth hormone 'without the diabetogenic side effects,' but this claim is based on animal/preclinical data only; human safety profile not established in reviewed abstracts. PMID 25208511
Contraindications
- No specific contraindications are described in the reviewed abstracts. The absence of approved human safety data and the gray-market status of AOD-9604 constitute a general contraindication to unsupervised use. PMID 41966639
Frequently asked
What is AOD-9604 and what is it used for?
AOD-9604 (Anti-Obesity Drug 9604) is a synthetic peptide derived from the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177–191) with an added N-terminal tyrosine. It has been studied primarily for its lipolytic (fat-breakdown) properties in animal models, where it reduced body weight and body fat in obese mice. It has also been investigated in a rabbit osteoarthritis model, where intra-articular injections enhanced cartilage regeneration. As of the reviewed literature, it was in early-phase clinical trials for obesity (Phase IIa as of 2002; PMID 15134286) but is not FDA-approved and is banned by WADA (PMID 41966639, PMID 25208511).
Is AOD-9604 legal to use?
AOD-9604 is not approved by the US FDA and is described in the reviewed literature as operating in a 'gray market' outside regulatory oversight. It is explicitly banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and is subject to mandatory doping control testing (PMID 25208511, PMID 26578461). I can't provide legal advice — please consult a licensed healthcare provider and check current regulations in your jurisdiction.
What dose of AOD-9604 should I take?
I'm not a medical professional and can't recommend a protocol for you specifically. What research has shown: In animal studies, intra-articular injections of 0.25 mg were used in a rabbit osteoarthritis model. Intraperitoneal administration was used in obese mice over 14 days, but the exact dose per kg was not specified in the available abstracts. No human dosing data from completed clinical trials are available in the reviewed literature.
Can I stack AOD-9604 with other peptides like BPC-157 or ipamorelin?
I can't recommend combining compounds — that's a prescribing decision. Here's what has been studied individually: AOD-9604 has been studied alone in animal obesity and osteoarthritis models, and in combination with hyaluronic acid in the osteoarthritis rabbit model where the combination was more effective than either agent alone. No human combination studies involving AOD-9604 are present in the reviewed abstracts.
Does AOD-9604 affect growth hormone levels or the hGH test used by WADA?
According to a published study, AOD-9604 does not influence the WADA hGH isoform immunoassay. However, AOD-9604 itself is separately banned by WADA and is detected through dedicated mass spectrometry-based urine screening methods (PMID 25208511, PMID 26578461).
How does AOD-9604 work to burn fat?
Based on animal studies, AOD-9604 is reported to mimic the lipolytic properties of human growth hormone. In obese mice, it increased expression of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) RNA — a key lipolytic receptor in fat cells — to levels comparable with lean mice. The lipolytic actions are not mediated directly through beta3-AR (chronic treatment in beta3-AR knock-out mice failed to produce the expected body weight changes), but upregulation of beta3-AR may contribute to enhanced lipolytic sensitivity over time. In acute experiments, AOD9604 increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation even in beta3-AR knock-out mice. These findings are from animal models; human mechanistic data are not available in the reviewed abstracts.
Where can I buy AOD-9604?
I don't recommend vendors or sources. Please consult a licensed provider. Note that AOD-9604 is a non-approved compound available on internet websites and has been found in confiscated vials, raising serious concerns about product purity and authenticity (PMID 25208511, PMID 24976118).
Is AOD-9604 safe for humans?
Rigorous human safety data are scarce for AOD-9604, and the reviewed literature explicitly identifies potential for serious harm to patients from unapproved peptides in this class. The claim that AOD-9604 lacks diabetogenic side effects (unlike intact hGH) is based on preclinical/animal data only. Early Phase IIa human clinical trials were noted as underway circa 2002, but no results or safety outcomes from those trials are described in the reviewed abstracts. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider.
Can AOD-9604 help with osteoarthritis or joint repair?
AOD-9604 has been studied in a collagenase-induced knee osteoarthritis rabbit model (n=32). Weekly intra-articular injections of 0.25 mg AOD9604 significantly reduced cartilage degeneration scores versus saline, and the combination of AOD9604 + hyaluronic acid was more effective than either agent alone. These are animal data only. No human clinical trial data on AOD-9604 for osteoarthritis are available in the reviewed abstracts. I can't suggest treatments for medical conditions — please speak with a licensed healthcare provider.
Will AOD-9604 show up on a drug test?
Yes. AOD-9604 is banned by WADA and is detectable in urine using validated mass spectrometry methods with a reported limit of detection of 50 pg/mL. It is also included in multi-peptide screening panels with limits of detection between 50 and 500 pg/mL. At least one stable metabolite (amino acids CRSVEGSCG) has been identified that may extend the detection window beyond the parent compound.
References
- [1] PMID 11713213 — AOD9604 reduced body weight and body fat in obese mice following 14 days of chronic intraperitoneal administration; increased beta3-AR RNA expression to levels
- [2] PMID 16625817 — AOD-9604 described as a human growth hormone fragment that increases adipose tissue breakdown; listed among anti-obesity drugs undergoing clinical development.
- [3] PMID 15134286 — AOD-9604 was in development by Metabolic for potential treatment of obesity; Phase IIa trials were underway by February 2002.
- [4] PMID 26275694 — In a collagenase-induced knee OA rabbit model (n=32), weekly intra-articular injections of 0.25 mg AOD9604 significantly reduced cartilage degeneration scores v
- [5] PMID 41490200 — Narrative review identifies AOD-9604 among growth hormone secretagogues proposed to activate IGF-1 signaling and satellite cell repair in orthopaedic contexts;
- [6] PMID 41966639 — Review notes many unapproved peptides including AOD-9604 demonstrate favorable tissue repair and metabolic outcomes in animal models, but rigorous human safety
- [7] PMID 25208511 — AOD-9604 identified in confiscated pharmaceutical vials, raising concerns about unregulated supply, counterfeit or adulterated products.
- [8] PMID 24124033 — in-prose reference
- [9] PMID 26578461 — in-prose reference
- [10] PMID 24976118 — in-prose reference