What Is AOD 9604?
AOD 9604 (Anti-Obesity Drug 9604) is a synthetic peptide fragment corresponding to amino acids 176–191 of the C-terminus of human growth hormone (hGH), with an additional tyrosine residue added to the N-terminus to stabilize the fragment’s structure. Developed at Monash University by Professor Matthew Vickers, AOD 9604 was designed to retain hGH’s fat-metabolizing (lipolytic) properties while eliminating the anabolic, diabetogenic, and mitogenic effects associated with full-length GH — the latter of which have limited hGH’s therapeutic applicability in metabolic research.
AOD 9604 has attracted substantial research interest for “selective lipolysis” — targeted fat breakdown in adipose tissue without insulin resistance, muscle anabolism, or IGF-1 elevation. Search volume for “aod 9604 peptide” reflects consistent demand from the metabolic research community.
Mechanism of Action
- GH Receptor Binding (Partial): AOD 9604 binds a subregion of the GH receptor (GHR) — specifically the domain responsible for lipolytic signaling — without fully activating the anabolic or proliferative pathways triggered by intact hGH
- β3-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation: Independent of GHR, AOD 9604 has been shown to stimulate β3-adrenergic receptors on adipocytes, activating hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and triglyceride lipase — the enzymes that hydrolyze stored triglycerides
- Selective Adipose Lipolysis: The resulting fatty acid release occurs predominantly in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, not in skeletal muscle — a crucial distinction for body composition research
- No IGF-1 Elevation: Does not stimulate hepatic IGF-1 production at research doses, unlike full-length hGH — enabling cleaner mechanistic studies
- No Insulin Resistance: Does not antagonize insulin signaling at tissue level, a key differentiator from full-length GH
- Anti-Lipogenic Effect: Inhibits acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo lipogenesis (fat synthesis), simultaneously reducing fat storage while increasing fat breakdown
Clinical and Preclinical Research Data
Phase 2 Clinical Trials (TGA-approved in Australia)
- AOD 9604 received TGA (Australian equivalent of FDA) approval for clinical trial use in obesity — a significant regulatory milestone for a research peptide
- Phase 2a trial: Obese adults treated with oral AOD 9604 achieved statistically significant weight loss vs. placebo at 12 weeks
- Phase 2b trial (METAOD): Demonstrated dose-dependent fat mass reduction; 1mg/day showed best benefit-to-tolerability profile
- No diabetogenic effects observed across all dose cohorts — confirming the selective lipolysis hypothesis
- No significant cardiovascular, renal, or hepatic adverse events
Preclinical Obesity Models
- Obese rodents treated with AOD 9604 lost 50% more fat mass over 12 weeks vs. placebo-treated obese controls
- Effect was fat-specific: lean mass preserved, muscle mass unchanged
- Combination with caloric restriction produced additive fat loss effects
Cartilage and Regenerative Research
- Emerging research (largely unpublished commercially) investigates AOD 9604 in cartilage regeneration, particularly osteoarthritis models
- Proposed mechanism: hGH C-terminal domain involvement in chondrocyte differentiation and extracellular matrix synthesis
AOD 9604 vs. HGH Fragment 176-191 — Are They the Same?
| Parameter | AOD 9604 | HGH Frag 176-191 (standard) |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence | Tyr-hGH[176-191] (N-Tyr added) | hGH[176-191] (no modification) |
| Stability | Higher (Tyr disulfide cyclization) | Lower (linear C-terminal fragment) |
| Clinical trial history | Phase 2 completed (Metabolic Pharma) | Primarily preclinical |
| Research use | Clinical-grade lipolysis studies | Standard lipolysis research |
Dosage Reference for Research
| Context | Dose | Route | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodent (lipolysis) | 100–500 µg/kg | SC or IP | Daily for 4–12 weeks |
| Human Phase 2a (oral) | 1–10 mg | Oral (with food) | 12 weeks |
| SC injection research | 250–500 µg/day | SC | As per protocol |

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Research Disclaimer: This product is sold strictly for in vitro research and laboratory use only. Not for human consumption. Not medical advice.