AOD-9604: what it is and what the evidence says
A fragment derived from a portion of growth hormone, studied for its relationship with lipid-metabolism pathways.
Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 · How we verify this
The ground it plays on
Metabolism is not a single lever. Talk about metabolic compounds usually collapses three separate mechanisms into one word. Appetite regulation is one. How well cells respond to insulin is another, and largely independent of the first. Mobilising stored fat is a third. A compound may act on one and leave the other two untouched, so knowing which one is the difference between understanding a molecule and reciting its name.
What it is studied for
Body composition, lipid metabolism.
There is a distinction that almost always gets lost. A compound being studied for something is not the same as achieving it. And even where it works in a dish or in a mouse, that says little about whether it works in a person or whether the benefit is worth the risk. The section below therefore carries more weight than everything above it.
What the human evidence says
The evidence published on PubMed is essentially preclinical (obese mice, rabbit osteoarthritis models). There is no published phase 3 trial demonstrating weight loss in humans, and clinical development was abandoned after it failed to beat placebo.
The limitation that matters most
It was never approved for obesity because the clinical studies did not confirm the efficacy seen in mice. A good part of the recent literature comes from anti-doping control and analytical detection, not from therapeutics.
Regulatory status
Not approved. Also rejected as a supplement ingredient. Banned in sport (WADA S2).
Status can change and varies by country. Always verify the rules in force where you live before drawing conclusions.
Cautions and context
Limited human evidence; variable individual response.
With metabolic conditions, consult a professional before considering it.
What this page cannot give you
A reference page can take you this far. You know what AOD-9604 is and where its research stands, which already puts you ahead of most readers. Four questions remain that no encyclopedia can answer for you, because the answers depend on your own situation:
- What would you measure beforehand, so that later you could tell whether anything actually changed?
- What would you watch along the way, and how consistently?
- What would you ask a professional, and in how much detail, so you do not walk out with a textbook answer?
- What would make you stop?
That is what the course is for
PeptiXtreme is ${CIF.LECCIONES} lessons that hand out no numbers. Each one ends with your starting point, what to watch along the way, the specific questions you take to a professional and the signals that mean stop. It includes per-module exams, a diploma with a verifiable folio, a record to track how you progress, and a human advisor you can actually write to.
See the course → Or measure your judgment, freeReferences
Every entry links to its record on PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine database. Open them and check. We would rather have a reader who verifies than one who takes our word for it.
- Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormonepreclinical Horm Res · 2000 · PMID 11146367 →
- Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragmentpreclinical Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord · 2001 · PMID 11673763 →
- The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out micepreclinical Endocrinology · 2001 · PMID 11713213 →
- AOD-9604 Metabolicreview Curr Opin Investig Drugs · 2004 · PMID 15134286 →
- Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD9604 with or without Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Osteoarthritis Modelpreclinical Ann Clin Lab Sci · 2015 · PMID 26275694 →
- Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604preclinical Drug Test Anal · 2015 · PMID 25208511 →
- AOD-9604 does not influence the WADA hGH isoform immunoassaypreclinical Drug Test Anal · 2013 · PMID 24124033 →
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Frequently asked questions
What is AOD-9604?
A fragment derived from a portion of growth hormone, studied for its relationship with lipid-metabolism pathways. It is studied within the area of metabolic.
Is there human evidence for AOD-9604?
The evidence published on PubMed is essentially preclinical (obese mice, rabbit osteoarthritis models). There is no published phase 3 trial demonstrating weight loss in humans, and clinical development was abandoned after it failed to beat placebo.
Is it approved by any health agency?
Not approved. Also rejected as a supplement ingredient. Banned in sport (WADA S2).
What is the dose of AOD-9604?
We do not publish dosages. This is not an oversight. No single figure works for everyone: the regimen depends on a person's medical history, on whatever medication they already take, and on the goal they are chasing, which is something a professional weighs with the case in front of them. What you can build is the ability to walk into that appointment knowing what to ask.
Where can I learn to evaluate this properly?
This page tells you what AOD-9604 is and what the evidence says. The PeptiXtreme course teaches the other half: what you would measure before considering anything, what you would watch, the specific questions you would take to a professional and when you would stop.