Overview
Marketed as "the fat-loss fragment of growth hormone without the growth hormone side effects". The marketing outlived the science: the clinical trials that tested exactly that claim did not show meaningful weight loss.
Not approved for human use anywhereNo approval anywhere for human use. Sold under research-use labelling. Not approved. FDA has determined it is not lawful as a dietary ingredient.
| Regulatory status | Failed clinical development for obesity. Not approved. FDA has rejected it as a dietary supplement ingredient. |
|---|---|
| Drug class | C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176–191) |
| Route | Subcutaneous or oral (research) |
| Half-life | Short; poorly characterised in humans |
| Evidence rating |
2/5 Limited
Evidence rating 2 out of 5: Limited
Preclinical work plus scattered human reports, uncontrolled use, or negative trials. |
| Studied in | Phase 2 obesity trials conducted in the 2000s; later small studies in osteoarthritis with intra-articular delivery. |
How it works
Proposed to stimulate lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis via beta-3 adrenergic signalling in adipose tissue, without binding the GH receptor and therefore without raising IGF-1. The mechanism is plausible in rodent adipocytes; translation to humans was not demonstrated.
Evidence base
Rated 2 of 5 — Limited. Preclinical work plus scattered human reports, uncontrolled use, or negative trials.
- Negative phase 2 results are the highest-quality evidence available.
Benefits & potential uses
Bars indicate how well each claim is supported: three = strong human evidence, two = moderate, one = preliminary or preclinical.
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Does not raise IGF-1 Moderate evidence
Human studies consistently confirm no meaningful effect on IGF-1 or blood glucose — its safety claim, at least, held up.
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Good short-term tolerability Moderate evidence
Trials reported an adverse-event profile close to placebo.
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Preclinical lipolytic activity Preliminary
Rodent and in-vitro adipocyte data show fat mobilisation.
Risks, cons & cautions
Bars indicate seriousness: three = serious or common, two = moderate, one = minor.
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No demonstrated efficacy Serious
The pivotal obesity trials did not separate from placebo on weight loss. This is the central fact about AOD-9604.
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Unapproved and unregulated Serious
Sold as a "research chemical" or in illegal supplements; the FDA has issued warning letters over it.
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Unknown long-term safety Moderate evidence
No chronic human exposure data.
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Prohibited in sport Minor
Listed by WADA.
Who should avoid it
- Anyone seeking evidence-based weight loss — approved options vastly outperform it
If used under medical supervision, monitor
- Not applicable
Commonly confused with
These mix-ups cause real harm — two products sold under one name, or two molecules whose effects run in opposite directions.
AOD-9604 is a fragment of growth hormone marketed as giving fat loss without GH side effects. It also failed to produce weight loss in its phase 2 trials, which somatropin does not.
Compare side by sideRegulatory & legal status
Not approved. FDA has determined it is not lawful as a dietary ingredient.
Infographic
Where to read further
We link to live literature searches rather than a frozen citation list, so you always see current results — including anything published after our last review.
- PubMed — all published literature on AOD-9604
- PubMed — randomized controlled trials only
- ClinicalTrials.gov — registered human trials
Related peptides in Metabolic & Weight
Terms used on this page
- Growth Hormone (GH)
- Growth hormone is a 191-amino-acid pituitary protein secreted in pulses that acts directly on tissues and indirectly through hepatic IGF-1, and is approved for a defined list of indications.
- Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)
- An adverse drug reaction is a noxious, unintended response to a medicine given at normal doses, and unlike an adverse event the term carries a causal judgement inside it.
- Adiposity
- Adiposity is the total quantity and anatomical distribution of body fat, treated as an active endocrine tissue rather than as inert storage.
- Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR)
- The growth hormone receptor is a preformed cytokine-receptor dimer that a single GH molecule activates by binding two subunits at separate sites, signalling through JAK2 and STAT5b to induce IGF-1.
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)
- IGF-1 is a 70-amino-acid, proinsulin-like peptide produced mainly by the liver under growth hormone control, and it mediates most of the anabolic effects attributed to growth hormone.
- Phase 2 Trial
- A Phase 2 trial is the first test of a compound in the target patient population, sized to find a workable dose and an early efficacy signal rather than to prove clinical benefit.
This page is educational information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your medical history, medications, or risk factors. Do not start, stop or change any treatment based on it. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional who knows your case.