AOD-9604
Also known as: hGH fragment 176–191 analog, Tyr-hGH 177–191
AOD-9604 (also called hGH fragment 176–191 analog or Tyr-hGH 177–191) is a GH C-terminal fragment analog. AOD-9604 is a synthetic analog of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, residues 176 to 191, with an added tyrosine.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 221231-10-3
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 1815.1 g/mol
- Half-life
- ~20-30 minutes
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- Insufficient Evidence
- Human dose established
- No
- Administration Route
- Not established in humans
- Frequency
- Not established in humans
- Last updated
- Sep 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- Adipose lipolytic pathways
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected between Dec 2025 and Sep 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 29
- Listed offers
- 39
- Median price per mg
- $12.00/mg
- Typical $9.00–$16.00/mg
Research summary
Modified C-terminal hGH fragment studied for lipolysis without GH-receptor growth effects. Not FDA-approved. WADA prohibits GH fragments including AOD-9604 (S2).
Peptide Library's AOD-9604 profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
AOD-9604 dosage: no established human dose
AOD-9604 has no established human dosage. No trial of it is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, none is indexed in PubMed as a human clinical trial, and the roughly 22 indexed publications are mostly drug-development profiles, anti-doping detection methods and review articles rather than reports of a dose given to people.
No established human dosage.
Human clinical evidence: None identified.
Preclinical research: AOD-9604 is a fragment of human growth hormone (residues 177-191) developed for obesity by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in the 2000s. The programme did not lead to an approved product, and no results from it are indexed in PubMed as a human clinical trial or registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The published record is dominated by preclinical work, development summaries and anti-doping detection methods — the latter reflecting that the compound is monitored in sport rather than that its dosing is established.
Animal dosing is not converted into a human dose anywhere on this page. Where research figures appear below, they are reported as studied, not recommended.
| Human dosing established | No |
|---|---|
| Route | Not established in humans |
| Evidence level | Insufficient Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Human research reported
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development profile — Metabolic Pharmaceuticals obesity programmeResearch-reported · Drug development profile | Development-stage summary, not a reported trial result | No dose reported in the indexed record | Not specified | — | — | Obesity programme status | AOD-9604 Metabolic. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2004. |
| Review — unapproved peptide therapies for musculoskeletal injuryResearch-reported · Narrative review | Review of approved and unapproved peptides | No established human dose identified for AOD-9604 | Not applicable | — | — | Safety and efficacy assessment | Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injury. Sports Med. 2026. |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-doping detection methodologyPreclinical · Analytical chemistry study | In vitro metabolism | Not applicable — analytical method development | Not applicable | — | — | Detection and metabolism of AOD9604 | Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604. Drug Test Anal. 2015. |
Where sources disagree
- Protocols of 300–500 mcg daily subcutaneously are widely published for AOD-9604. No registered trial or indexed human study reports that dose, and no primary source for the figure could be identified.
- AOD-9604 is often described as having been through human obesity trials. Those trials are referenced in company development summaries, but no results are indexed in PubMed as human clinical trials and none is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, so no dose can be cited from them.
- The compound is sometimes presented as sharing growth hormone's fat-loss effects without its other actions. That is a mechanistic claim from preclinical work, not a human dosing finding.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 2 mg, 5 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mg | 2 mL | 1 mg/mL | 10 mcg per 0.01 mL |
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- 3 mL BAC water for 5 mg vial
- Injection Sites
- Abdomen
- Concentration Example
- 5 mg / 3 mL = ~1.67 mg/mL
- Timing Notes
- AM on empty stomach or pre-cardio; split if 2x
- Expected Onset
- 2-4 weeks
How to reconstitute AOD-9604
- Check the vial size and diluent volume. The profile example for AOD-9604 is: 3 mL BAC water for 5 mg vial.
- Swab both vial stoppers and draw the bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Add the water slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial so it does not jet onto the powder, then swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake.
- Record the resulting concentration: 5 mg / 3 mL = ~1.67 mg/mL.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, refrigerate it (see Storage & stability below), and use the calculator preset to convert a dose in mcg into syringe units.
Sequence & molecular data
| Amino acid sequence | Tyr-Leu-Arg-Ile-Val-Gln-Cys-Arg-Ser-Val-Glu-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gly-Phe |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C78H123N23O23S2 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.1 g/mol |
| CAS number | 221231-10-3 |
| Half-life | ~20-30 minutes |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
| Formulation | Lyophilized Powder |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 |
| FDA UNII | 7UP768IP4M |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
AOD-9604 is a synthetic analog of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, residues 176 to 191, with an added tyrosine. That region was identified as the part of the growth hormone molecule associated with fat metabolism, and the design intent was to separate lipolytic activity from the growth-promoting and glucose-altering effects of the intact hormone, which are mediated through the growth hormone receptor. In rodent models the fragment increased lipolysis and reduced lipogenesis without raising IGF-1 or impairing insulin sensitivity. Human obesity trials did not reproduce a meaningful weight effect, and development for that indication was not pursued to approval.
Origin
Synthetic analog of hGH residues 176–191 with an N-terminal tyrosine.
Targets
Studies
- AOD-9604 Metabolic
- Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
- Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance
- AOD-9604 does not influence the WADA hGH isoform immunoassay
- Analytical approaches for the detection of emerging therapeutics and non-approved drugs in human doping controls
Regulatory & research status
AOD-9604 is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Banned in Sport |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
Benefits
AOD-9604 side effects
AOD-9604 has no controlled human safety data. The effects below are reported, not established, and absence from the list is not evidence of safety.
Side Effects
- Injection-site reactions
- Headache
- Limited efficacy in human trials
Contraindications
- Cancer history
Stacking
Common stacking partners
Combinations that include AOD-9604, with the proposed rationale, an evidence grade and what is not established, are catalogued in the peptide stacks directory.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
AOD-9604: frequently asked questions
What is AOD-9604?
Modified C-terminal hGH fragment studied for lipolysis without GH-receptor growth effects. Not FDA-approved. WADA prohibits GH fragments including AOD-9604 (S2). AOD-9604 is a synthetic analog of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, residues 176 to 191, with an added tyrosine. That region was identified as the part of the growth hormone molecule associated with fat metabolism, and the design intent was to separate lipolytic activity from the growth-promoting and glucose-altering effects of the intact hormone, which are mediated through the growth hormone receptor.
What are the side effects of AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 has no controlled human safety data, so its side-effect profile is not well established. Effects recorded on this profile include injection-site reactions and headache. Cautions recorded on this profile: cancer history. It is on the WADA Prohibited List for athletes. This is reference information, not medical advice.
How does AOD-9604 work?
AOD-9604 is a synthetic analog of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, residues 176 to 191, with an added tyrosine. That region was identified as the part of the growth hormone molecule associated with fat metabolism, and the design intent was to separate lipolytic activity from the growth-promoting and glucose-altering effects of the intact hormone, which are mediated through the growth hormone receptor.
Is AOD-9604 FDA approved?
No. AOD-9604 is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
What is the half-life of AOD-9604?
Reported half-life for AOD-9604 is ~20-30 minutes. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
What is the amino acid sequence of AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 has the sequence Tyr-Leu-Arg-Ile-Val-Gln-Cys-Arg-Ser-Val-Glu-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gly-Phe, giving a chain of 16 amino acids. Its molecular formula is C78H123N23O23S2.
Is AOD-9604 banned in sport?
AOD-9604 is recorded here as prohibited in sport. Athletes subject to anti-doping rules should check the current WADA Prohibited List directly, since it is revised annually and classifications change.
How long does AOD-9604 take to show effects in research protocols?
The research protocol on this profile lists an expected onset of 2-4 weeks. This is a protocol note describing when studies and researchers report observing changes, not a measured clinical outcome, and it varies with the model, dose and endpoint studied.
Where is AOD-9604 administered in research protocols?
Research protocols on this profile use subcutaneous administration, with recorded sites including abdomen. Site rotation and sterile technique are standard practice in the research literature; this describes protocol conditions and is not guidance for use.
References
- WADA Prohibited List 2026External reference
- AOD-9604 Metabolic — Curr Opin Investig Drugs, 2004External reference
- Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions — J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev, 2026External reference
- Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance — Sports Med, 2026External reference
- AOD-9604 does not influence the WADA hGH isoform immunoassay — Drug Test Anal, 2013External reference
- Analytical approaches for the detection of emerging therapeutics and non-approved drugs in human doping controls — J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2014External reference
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Sep 26, 2026 · Version 5
This AOD-9604 profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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