AOD-9604
Tyr-hGH Frag 177-191
Growth hormone fragment studied for fat metabolism
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide built from the C-terminal end of human growth hormone (hGH), amino acids 177-191, with an extra tyrosine added. Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia developed it as an oral obesity drug, hoping to keep growth hormone's effects on fat without its effects on growth or blood sugar. Rodent studies were encouraging, but the company stopped development in 2007 after its largest human trial missed its weight-loss target. In 2024, FDA proposed not allowing it in 503A compounding, citing a lack of evidence of effectiveness and limited safety data. As of October 2026, it isn't approved as a drug anywhere and is sold for research use only.
Read the research profile for mechanisms, citations, and safety context before comparing vendors. View the AOD-9604 research profile.
Key Benefits
Mechanism of Action
In rodent studies, AOD-9604 increased lipolysis (the breakdown of stored fat) and fat oxidation and reduced lipogenesis (the formation of new fat), much as full growth hormone does. Unlike growth hormone, it didn't bind growth hormone receptors in cell studies, and in obese mice it didn't change blood glucose or insulin levels. One mouse study suggests its effect on fat depends at least partly on beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling. Even so, FDA's 2024 review concluded that its molecular target and mechanism remain unknown. Summaries of the sponsor's human trials reported no significant change in IGF-1, but FDA found no nonclinical data backing the claim that it doesn't raise IGF-1.
Dosing Guidelines
Typical Dose
300-500 mcg (user-reported)
Frequency
1x daily
Duration
12-16 weeks
Note: User-reported, not trial-tested. Forum users most often describe 300 mcg by subcutaneous injection once daily, fasted in the morning, for about 12 weeks. Advice to inject 30-60 minutes before food comes from vendor and clinic guides; no study has tested whether timing matters. No human trial has tested injected AOD-9604. The sponsor's trials used oral doses (0.25-1 mg daily in the OPTIONS trial) or single IV doses of 25-400 mcg/kg, and found no meaningful weight loss compared with placebo.
Research & Studies
What AOD-9604 is, what the rodent studies and the failed human obesity trials showed, user-reported doses and side effects, and its legal status.
Read Full ResearchBackground on the closely related growth hormone fragment 176-191. WADA names both fragments in the same class of banned substances.
Read Full ResearchA prescription GLP-1 medicine that works mainly by reducing appetite. It's useful context here because its weight-loss trials succeeded where AOD-9604's did not, and it is FDA-approved for weight management.
Read Full ResearchPotential Side Effects
Reported side effects may include:
- - Trials (oral/IV): headache, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea
- - Chest tightness and euphoria judged possibly related in an IV trial
- - Cancers in one 12-week oral trial (judged unrelated by investigators; FDA unsure)
- - Users mostly report mild injection-site irritation or no noticeable effects
- - FDA (2024): human safety data are limited and cover only oral and IV use
This information is for research purposes only. Always consult with a healthcare professional.
Popular Stacking Options
AOD-9604 + CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin
Some users pair AOD-9604 with this GHRH/GHRP combination while cutting, aiming for fat loss alongside the growth hormone release those peptides are studied for. No study has tested the combination.
Shop this stackAOD-9604 + Tesamorelin
Both come up in fat-loss discussions, but they aren't comparable: tesamorelin is a prescription medicine (Egrifta) approved only to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, while AOD-9604 is unapproved. No study has combined them, so any added effect is speculation.
Shop this stackAOD-9604 + BPC-157
Some users add BPC-157, which has been studied for tissue repair mostly in rodents, during diet and training phases. The two have unrelated proposed mechanisms, and no study has tested them together.
Shop this stackFrequently Asked Questions
Is AOD-9604 a steroid or a form of HGH?
Neither. AOD-9604 is a synthetic copy of a 15-amino-acid piece from the end of the growth hormone molecule, with an extra tyrosine. In cell studies it didn't bind growth hormone receptors, and summaries of the sponsor's trials reported no significant change in IGF-1. Sport still treats it as a growth hormone product: WADA's 2026 Prohibited List names AOD-9604 under S2.2.3 (growth hormone fragments), so it's banned at all times for tested athletes.
Will AOD-9604 help me build muscle?
There's no evidence it does. No study has measured muscle growth with AOD-9604, and it doesn't appear to act through growth hormone receptors the way full growth hormone does. Any visible change in muscle definition would have to come from fat loss, and the human trials showed little of that.
How long does it take to see results with AOD-9604?
There's no reliable answer. In the OPTIONS trial (502 adults with obesity taking 0.25-1 mg by mouth daily for 24 weeks), weight loss at 12 and 24 weeks was too small to beat placebo. Users on peptide forums usually describe 12-week runs; most report no noticeable change, while a minority describe losing inches. No trial has tested injected AOD-9604, so these reports can't be checked against study data.
Do I need to diet and exercise while using AOD-9604?
In the trials, diet and exercise did most of the work. OPTIONS gave every participant, including the placebo group, a dietitian-supervised diet and exercise program, and AOD-9604 added too little on top to reach statistical significance. User reports of fat loss usually involve a calorie deficit too, which makes the peptide's own contribution hard to separate. Anyone considering a weight-loss treatment should talk to a healthcare professional; prescription medicines such as semaglutide are FDA-approved for weight management.
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