AOD-9604
Compound snapshot
Class
Research peptide
FDA approved
No
Clinical development
Phase 2
Last reviewed
September 2026
Research areas
Metabolism / Body weight / Mitochondrial function
Regulatory status
Research use only — not approved
Internet attention
Moderate
Registry query
AOD-9604
A 16-amino-acid fragment of the C-terminus of human growth hormone, designed to isolate GH's fat-burning action from its growth action.
Reality check — what we actually know
Supported by human evidence
- No adequately powered randomised human trials establish the outcomes this compound is marketed for.
Animal research only
- Fat-loss signalling without the IGF-1 rise that makes other GH-axis compounds risky
- No measurable effect on blood glucose in human trials — a genuine advantage over GH
- Studied additionally for cartilage repair in osteoarthritis models
Mechanistically plausible
- Stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis in fat cells in vitro without binding the GH receptor or raising IGF-1.
Common internet claims
- Online discussion frequently presents AOD-9604 as a proven treatment rather than a research compound.
Not established
- Human efficacy for the outcomes commonly claimed
- Optimal route, quantity and duration in humans
- Long-term human safety
Evidence distribution
Each band is a live PubMed search for AOD-9604, filtered to that kind of study. Top is the strongest evidence; the base is reasoning, not proof. A band with no records means that kind of study has not been published for this compound yet.
Mechanism and reported findings
Stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis in fat cells in vitro without binding the GH receptor or raising IGF-1.
- Fat-loss signalling without the IGF-1 rise that makes other GH-axis compounds risky
- No measurable effect on blood glucose in human trials — a genuine advantage over GH
- Studied additionally for cartilage repair in osteoarthritis models
Strength of the evidence: Reached Phase 2b obesity trials and failed to beat placebo on weight loss. Holds GRAS status as a food ingredient in some jurisdictions; it is not an approved drug.
Safety and known cautions
The human efficacy signal for weight loss is negative. WADA-prohibited.
Evidence at a glance
No single score, on purpose. The line beside each bar shows how much reported outcomes vary between studies.
Development stage
- Discovery
- Preclinical
- Phase 1
- Phase 2Current
- Phase 3
- Regulatory review
- Approved