AOD-9604
AOD-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone that was investigated as a fat-loss compound, did not show enough effect in human obesity development to reach approval, and is not an approved drug.
Regulatory status: Not an approved drug. It was studied by its original developer in human obesity trials roughly two decades ago without reaching approval; it holds no FDA or other regulatory approval and is now sold only as a research chemical.
Default vial
5 mg
Default mix
2 mL
Reported range
300 mcg
Draw (U-100)
12 u
Commonly run 5-on / 2-off, dosed fasted in the morning.
What it is
- A synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 176–191 at the C-terminus of human growth hormone — often called the GH fragment.
- Proposed as a lipolytic GH-derived peptide intended to keep the fat-metabolising activity of GH without its growth-promoting effects.
- Preclinical work dosed it by subcutaneous injection in rodents.
- Publicly available human data come mainly from older industry-sponsored trials rather than an independent peer-reviewed literature.
How it is described to act
- 1
In animal studies it was given subcutaneously and reported to circulate systemically.
- 2
Proposed to reach adipose tissue, based on rodent pharmacology.
- 3
Hypothesised to act on beta-3 adrenergic-receptor-linked lipolytic pathways in fat cells, based on studies in beta-3 receptor knockout mice.
- 4
In mouse models this was associated with reduced fat mass without the insulin-resistance or growth effects of full-length GH; comparable controlled human efficacy data are lacking.
What the research has looked at
Rodent pharmacology
- Heffernan et al. (2001) reported that chronic AOD9604 treatment reduced fat accumulation in obese mice, by a mechanism they proposed depends on beta-3 adrenergic receptors.
Analytical and anti-doping work
- Thomas et al. (2015) characterised in-vitro metabolism and detection methods for AOD9604, reflecting its use as a research and anti-doping analyte rather than an approved therapeutic.
Strength of evidence: Preclinical evidence only
The evidence base is dominated by rodent and in-vitro studies; no adequately powered peer-reviewed human obesity efficacy trial was located, and the industry human trials did not lead to approval.
What is published comes from cell and animal studies. Findings in those models frequently do not carry over to people.
Reported cautions and unknowns
- No FDA-reviewed human safety profile exists, because the compound never completed regulatory approval.
- As a GH-derived fragment, the peptide literature raises theoretical concerns about immunogenicity and off-target endocrine effects, which have not been quantified in controlled human trials.
- Pregnancy, thyroid and pancreatitis data are unavailable, since no regulatory dossier or label exists.
References
Handling this vial
- Lyophilized vials are generally stored at 2–8 °C and kept out of light; once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water they are refrigerated and commonly discarded after 28 days.
- Mix by aiming water down the vial wall and rolling gently — do not shake — and never re-freeze a reconstituted vial.
- Pep-Tidy cannot verify what is in your vial. Ask your supplier for a current Certificate of Analysis (HPLC/MS).
AOD-9604 questions people ask
How do you reconstitute AOD-9604?
A common starting point for a 5 mg vial of AOD-9604 is 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, which gives 2.5 mg per mL. Aim the water down the inside wall of the vial, let it dissolve on its own, and roll gently instead of shaking. Pep-Tidy's reconstitution calculator will recalculate the numbers for any other vial size or water volume you use.
How many units of AOD-9604 is one dose?
At 2.5 mg per mL, that works out to about 12 units on a U-100 insulin syringe for a 300 mcg dose. Change the vial size, water volume, or target dose in the calculator and the syringe reading updates with it. This is arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
What dosing schedule is reported for AOD-9604?
Published and community sources describe 300 mcg, subcutaneous, specific weekdays, typically run 8 weeks on and 2 weeks off. These figures describe what has been reported, not what anyone should take — talk to a licensed clinician first.
How should AOD-9604 be stored?
Lyophilized AOD-9604 vials are generally kept at 2–8 °C and out of light. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water they are refrigerated and commonly discarded after about 28 days. Never re-freeze a reconstituted vial and never shake it.
Read this before you act on anything above
Everything on this page is a summary of what other people have published — it is not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not a dosing instruction. Reported dose ranges describe what appears in the literature or in community protocols, not what anyone should take. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any peptide.