At a glance: Growth hormone fragment developed as a fat-loss drug. Evidence: Human trials, negative for main goal. Status: Not approved.
How it works
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone, made from the last part of the molecule (amino acids 176–191). The idea behind it was to keep growth hormone’s fat-breakdown effect while leaving out its effects on growth and blood sugar.
How it’s taken
In the clinical trials it was given as a daily injection under the skin, and later tested as an oral tablet.
What the research shows
This is one of the few research peptides that was properly tested in humans, and the result was negative.
- Promising fat-breakdown results in animal and cell studies, which is what justified the trials.
- An Australian company, Metabolic Pharmaceuticals, ran human obesity trials in the 2000s.
- The trials did not show meaningful weight loss compared with placebo, and development as an obesity drug was stopped.
- It is sometimes sold with claims based on the early animal work, without mentioning that the human trials failed.
Side effects
In the human trials it was generally well tolerated, without the blood sugar effects seen with full growth hormone. Since development stopped, there is no long-term safety data.
What’s sold online
No approved dose exists. Because no regulator has approved this peptide, there is no official dosing schedule, no quality standard for what is sold, and no doctor overseeing use. Vials sold online are made by unregulated labs; independent testing of online peptides has repeatedly found contents that do not match the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is AOD-9604?
A modified piece of the human growth hormone molecule, developed in Australia as an anti-obesity drug without growth hormone’s other effects.
How is AOD-9604 taken?
Daily subcutaneous injection, later oral (trials).
Is AOD-9604 FDA approved?
Not approved.
That means no regulator has reviewed its safety, effectiveness or manufacturing quality for this use.
What has research shown about AOD-9604?
- Fat breakdown in animal and cell studies.
- Weight loss in human trials in the 2000s, which did not show meaningful results; development as a drug was stopped.
What side effects have been reported?
- Generally well tolerated in the human trials, without the blood sugar effects of full growth hormone
Serious or less common risks are listed in the Side Effects section above.
What is still unknown about its safety?
Most of it. AOD-9604 has not been through the trials that establish long-term safety in people, and products sold online are made by unregulated labs. Independent testing of online peptides has repeatedly found contents that do not match the label.