AOD-9604
AOD9604 is a modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191), studied in lipid metabolism research models.
We have not published an audit on AOD-9604. Everything below is reference material, not our own reading of the literature, treat it as a starting point for questions, not as a grade.
How it is thought to work
Lipolytic and repair-related signaling.
AOD-9604 is a small fragment of human growth hormone that was studied to see if it could promote fat loss without the other effects of the full hormone, but its exact mechanism is still unknown and the largest human trial did not meet its primary weight-loss endpoint.
Reported side effects
In human trials, the most commonly reported side effects were mild-to-moderate headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and back pain, with one case of severe chest tightness at a high intravenous dose; animal studies also flagged potential liver and bone-turnover signals that have not yet been fully evaluated in humans.
Who should avoid it
People who are pregnant, under 18, have a cancer history, significant liver disease, or poorly controlled bone conditions should avoid it, as should any athlete subject to anti-doping testing, since no safety data exists for these groups and AOD-9604 is on the WADA Prohibited List.
What gets monitored
Weight, waist circumference, body composition, fasting glucose, basic lipid panel, IGF-1 at baseline and periodically, liver enzymes if there are preexisting liver concerns, and injection-site inspection. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]
What sources report
These are figures published elsewhere, reproduced with their source. Peppersite does not recommend an amount for AOD-9604 or for anything else, and nothing below has been checked against the study it came from.
| Amount | Frequency | Route | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250-300 mcg | Once daily8-12 weeks | subcutaneous or oral | Peptide Protocol WikiWhat it saysHide(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). |
| Standard: 300-500 mcg/day · Low: 300 mcg · High: 500 mcg | daily12-24 weeks · Cycle context Phase 2 protocols ran 12-24 weeks. | Subcutaneous injection | Peptide Dosing ProtocolsWhat it saysHide(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). Common research dose is 300-500 mcg/day. |
| 300 mcg SC daily (commonly AM, fasted) | once daily8-12 weeks · 8-12 week cycles | subcutaneous | Commonly published practitioner dosing range - provider confirmation required. |
| Referenced at 250-500 mcg once daily, up to 500 mcg-1 mg for aggressive fat loss protocols. Fasted morning administration cited. Noticeable results reported within 4-6 weeks. | Once daily · Morning, fasted, before eating12 weeks on followed by a short break to prevent desensitization | subcutaneous | Peptide Therapy Reference Text, internal KB v4What it saysHide(Aug 2026), secondary reference; provider confirmation required. |
- Once daily8-12 weeks
- subcutaneous or oral
- Peptide Protocol Wiki
What it saysHide
(secondary reference; provider confirmation required).
- daily12-24 weeks · Cycle context Phase 2 protocols ran 12-24 weeks.
- Subcutaneous injection
- Peptide Dosing Protocols
What it saysHide
(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). Common research dose is 300-500 mcg/day.
- once daily8-12 weeks · 8-12 week cycles
- subcutaneous
- Commonly published practitioner dosing range - provider confirmation required.
- Once daily · Morning, fasted, before eating12 weeks on followed by a short break to prevent desensitization
- subcutaneous
- Peptide Therapy Reference Text, internal KB v4
What it saysHide
(Aug 2026), secondary reference; provider confirmation required.
- Bacteriostatic water
- 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water for a 5 mg vial
- Commonly 2 mg or 5 mg vials · Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water
Common questions
What is AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid synthetic peptide, a fragment of human growth hormone.
Is AOD-9604 the same as HGH Fragment 176-191?
Yes, they refer to the same C-terminal region of growth hormone.
Is AOD-9604 FDA-approved?
No, AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any therapeutic use.
What dose did the trials use?
Trials used doses ranging from 0.25 mg to 30 mg per day orally and 25 to 400 mcg/kg intravenously.
Does AOD-9604 raise IGF-1 or blood sugar?
No statistically significant changes in IGF-1 or fasting glucose were detected.
Did AOD-9604 work for weight loss in humans?
The primary weight-loss endpoint was not met in the largest trial.
How is AOD-9604 typically reconstituted in research-context use?
A 5 mg vial is most often reconstituted with 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water.
Check 5 mg in 3 mL in the calculator →What are the most commonly reported side effects?
Common side effects include headache, gastrointestinal effects, and fatigue.
Sources
- 01Mathew B, Amaechi C, Asante K, et al. FDA Evaluation of AOD-9604-Related Bulk Drug Substances. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024)
- 02Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D. Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (2013)
- 03Heffernan M, Summers RJ, Thorburn A, et al. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism. Endocrinology (2001)
- 04Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, et al. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Hormone Research (2000)
- 05Kwon DR, Park GY. Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD9604 in Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science (2015)
- 06Wilding JP. Treatment strategies for obesity (review including AOD-9604 clinical development). Obesity Reviews (2004)
- 07Cox HD, Lopes F, Woldemariam GA, et al. Interlaboratory agreement of insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations. Clinical Chemistry (2014)
- 08World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List - Section S2: Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics. World Anti-Doping Agency (2026)
- 09Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Limited. OPTIONS Study Phase 2b results announcement. Australian Stock Exchange filing (2007)
- 10More VG, Kenley DC. Safety evaluation of AOD9604, a synthetic peptide for use in obesity. International Journal of Toxicology (2014)
- 11DrugBank. AOD9604 drug summary. DrugBank Online (2026)
The reference sections above are imported from our compound knowledge base, which classes the evidence for AOD-9604 as emerging. That classification is the knowledge base’s, not ours, our own grade appears only where an audit is linked above. Research use only; nothing here is medical advice or a protocol.
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