AOD-9604 is a 16-residue peptide copied from the end of human growth hormone, residues 176 to 191, with a tyrosine at the start and a disulfide bridge. It came out of work at Monash University on the part of growth hormone that acts on fat.1,3
Six human trials with 925 people found no clinically meaningful weight loss, and development as an obesity drug stopped in 2007.7 It is named on the WADA list as a growth hormone fragment.11
16
≈ 1815.1 g/mol
6 trials, 925 people
S2.2.3
Identity
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Sequence | YLRIVQCRSVEGSCGF; disulfide bridge Cys7–Cys14 |
| Based on | Human growth hormone residues 176–191, with an added N-terminal tyrosine |
| Formula | C78H123N23O23S2 |
| Avg mass | About 1815.1 g/mol, calculated from the formula |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 |
| Developer | Monash University; Metabolic Pharmaceuticals |
History
Mouse studies report more fat breakdown and weight loss in obese mice.1,2,3
First phase 2b obesity trial reported; no significant difference from placebo on the main analysis.12
Development as an obesity drug stops; six trials in 925 people showed no clinically meaningful weight loss.7
A US expert panel self-affirms conditional GRAS status for food use. This is not an FDA approval.8
Listed in Australia as prescription only (Schedule 4).10
FDA advisory committee votes 12 to 0 against adding it to the list of substances pharmacies may compound.9
What the studies measured
| Study | People or model | What was measured | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heffernan 2001 | Obese mice and β3 receptor knockout mice | Fat breakdown and lipid metabolism | Fat breakdown rose; knockout mice did not respond, pointing to β3-adrenergic receptors | [1] |
| Heffernan 2001 | Obese mice | Fat oxidation and body weight | Fat oxidation and weight loss increased | [2] |
| Kwon 2015 | Rabbits with induced osteoarthritis | Cartilage and joint tissue after joint injection | Repair reported, with an added effect alongside hyaluronic acid | [6] |
| Phase 2b, 2004 | About 300 adults with obesity, 12 weeks | Weight change | No significant difference from placebo on the main analysis | [12] |
| Stier 2013 | Pooled safety data, six placebo-controlled trials | IGF-1, glucose tolerance, antibodies, adverse events | No effect on IGF-1 or glucose tolerance; no antibodies detected | [4] |
Regulatory and sport status
As of this revision. General information, not legal advice.
| Where | Status |
|---|---|
| UK, EU | Not authorised as a medicine. |
| US | Not an approved drug. An FDA advisory committee voted 12 to 0 against allowing pharmacy compounding in 2024. The 2012 GRAS status was self-affirmed by an expert panel, not issued by the FDA.8,9 |
| Australia | Prescription-only medicine (Schedule 4) since 2015; not on the medicines register.10 |
| Sport | Prohibited at all times. Named in WADA class S2.2.3 as a growth hormone fragment.11 |
Open questions
- Why the early trial hinted at an effect at the lowest dose while the larger 24-week trial showed none.5,12
- Whether the β3-adrenergic mechanism seen in mice matters in people, given that the receptor is expressed differently across species.1
- Whether the rabbit joint findings hold up in independent or human studies. None are published.6
Common questions
Is AOD-9604 the same as HGH fragment 176-191?
Nearly. It is residues 176 to 191 of human growth hormone with a tyrosine added at the start and a disulfide bridge.
Did AOD-9604 cause weight loss in trials?
No meaningful loss. Six trials in 925 people did not show a clinically meaningful effect, and development stopped in 2007.
Is AOD-9604 FDA-approved or GRAS?
It is not an approved drug. In 2012 an independent expert panel self-affirmed conditional GRAS status for food use; that is not an FDA decision.
Does it raise IGF-1?
Not in the pooled human safety data, which found no effect on IGF-1 or glucose tolerance.
Is AOD-9604 banned in sport?
Yes. It is named in WADA class S2.2.3 and prohibited at all times.
See also
References
- Heffernan M, et al. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and β3-AR knock-out mice. Endocrinology. 2001;142(12):5182–5189. PMID 11713213
- Heffernan MA, et al. Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001;25(10):1442–1449. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801740
- Ng FM, et al. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Horm Res. 2000;53(6):274–278. PMID 11146367
- Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D. Safety and tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in humans. J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;3(1–2):7–15. doi:10.4021/jem157w. Industry-sponsored.
- Moré MI, Kenley D. Safety and metabolism of AOD9604, a novel nutraceutical ingredient for improved metabolic health. J Endocrinol Metab. 2014;4(3):64–77. doi:10.14740/jem213w
- Kwon DR, Park GY. Effect of intra-articular injection of AOD9604 with or without hyaluronic acid in rabbit osteoarthritis model. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2015;45(4):426–432. PMID 26275694
- Calzada Ltd. AOD9604: important clarifications. ASX announcement, 26 April 2013.
- Metabolic Pharmaceuticals. AOD9604 receives GRAS status. ASX announcement, 25 June 2012.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, 4 December 2024: final summary minutes. fda.gov
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Poisons Standard June 2015, explanatory statement (F2015L00749). legislation.gov.au
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List (in force 1 January 2026). wada-ama.org Class S2.2.3.
- LabOnline. Metabolic hits back at drug trial criticism. 17 December 2004. labonline.com.au
Peptidarium Library. AOD-9604 (entry 0019), revision 1.0, 2 November 2026. peptidarium.com/library/aod-9604
Revision history
| Rev | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2 Nov 2026 | Entry created. | [Scientific editor] |
Spotted an error or a missing paper? Send a correction. Every change is logged here.