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AOD-9604

Modified growth hormone fragment (research peptide)

Status

Not approved

Not approved anywhere; its US compounding nomination was withdrawn after FDA flagged possible immunogenicity and a lack of human safety information, it is not among the peptides FDA scheduled for advisory committee review in 2026 and 2027, and WADA prohibits it (S2).

Evidence

Animal data only

Published evidence comes mainly from rodent studies; peer-reviewed human efficacy data are lacking.

In sport

WADAProhibited (WADA)

AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (residues 177-191 plus a tyrosine) that was developed as an anti-obesity drug. It was never approved and is now sold mainly as an unregulated research peptide.

Structure

16 residues

Point at a bead, or focus the chain and use the arrow keys, to name it. Pick a chemistry to highlight it.

Sequence as text
H-Y-L-R-I-V-Q-C-R-S-V-E-G-S-C-G-F-OH

What it is used for

  • Obesity (studied)
  • Fat loss and body recomposition (claimed, unproven)
  • Joint cartilage repair (claimed, unproven)

How it works

AOD-9604 copies the C-terminal end of growth hormone, a region linked to its fat-mobilizing (lipolytic) effect. In obese mice it increased fat breakdown and fat oxidation and reduced weight gain without raising blood glucose or lowering insulin secretion. Unlike full growth hormone, it did not bind the growth hormone receptor or stimulate cell proliferation. Whether it has meaningful effects in people has not been established.

How strong the evidence is

Animal data onlyAlmost everything known comes from animals or cells.

In obese Zucker rats, a daily oral dose reduced weight gain by more than half over 19 days without impairing insulin sensitivity (Ng 2000). In ob/ob mice, two weeks of treatment increased fat oxidation and lipolysis and reduced weight gain (Heffernan 2001). A rabbit osteoarthritis study tested joint injections. Peer-reviewed controlled trials showing weight loss in humans are lacking, and no regulator has approved it. Anti-doping laboratories have developed urine tests because it is banned in sport.

Risks and side effects

  • No proven benefit in humans and no regulatory safety review
  • FDA flagged possible immunogenicity (immune reactions) and a lack of human safety information
  • Sold as a research chemical: products may be mislabeled, under- or overdosed, impure, or contaminated, and are not made to pharmaceutical standards
  • Prohibited in sport under WADA S2 (growth hormone fragments)

Regulatory status

No regulator has approved this peptide for any use.

Status by country

JurisdictionStatusSource
USUnited StatesNo authorised medicineSource 7
EUEuropean UnionNo authorised medicineSource 10
UKUnited KingdomNo authorised medicineSource 11
AUAustraliaNo authorised medicineSource 12
CACanadaNo authorised medicineSource 13
Whether a medicine containing it is authorised, checked in each regulator’s records on Oct 1, 2026.

Status of every peptide by country

Sources

  1. 01AOD-9604 (CID 71300630)(opens the source in a new tab) PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine
  2. 02Somatotropin (P01241, SOMA_HUMAN)(opens the source in a new tab) UniProt
  3. 03Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604(opens the source in a new tab) Drug Testing and Analysis, 2015
  4. 04Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone(opens the source in a new tab) Hormone Research, 2000
  5. 05Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment(opens the source in a new tab) International Journal of Obesity, 2001
  6. 06Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD9604 with or without Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model(opens the source in a new tab) Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, 2015
  7. 07Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks(opens the source in a new tab) U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026
  8. 08FDA's Pep(tide) Rally! What compounders and industry need to know (Post 1 of 2)(opens the source in a new tab) FDA Law Blog (Hyman, Phelps & McNamara), 2026
  9. 09World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026(opens the source in a new tab) World Anti-Doping Agency, 2025
  10. 10Find medicine: centrally authorised medicines(opens the source in a new tab) European Medicines Agency, 2026
  11. 11MHRA Products: active substances beginning with A(opens the source in a new tab) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, 2026
  12. 12Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)(opens the source in a new tab) Therapeutic Goods Administration
  13. 13Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks(opens the source in a new tab) Health Canada, 2025
  1. In clinical trialsAmycretinUnimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonistNo single sequence68 WADA banned
  2. In clinical trialsCagrilintideLong-acting amylin analog (amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist)37 WADA banned
  3. ApprovedDulaglutideGLP-1 receptor agonist (Fc fusion protein)31
  4. ApprovedExenatideGLP-1 receptor agonist39
  5. ApprovedInsulin (human)Peptide hormone (insulin)51 WADA banned

Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.