AOD-9604
Also known as: Advanced Obesity Drug, Lipotropin, Tyr-hGH(177-191), hGH Fragment 177-191
Lower numbers = closer to natural. Higher numbers = more enhanced.
Why this rating?
AOD-9604 is a modified C-terminal fragment of HGH (amino acids 177-191) that isolates fat-burning properties. Per Ng et al. and human trials, an early 12-week trial showed ~2.6kg vs 0.8kg placebo fat loss at the 1mg dose, but the pivotal 24-week Phase IIb "OPTIONS" trial (~500+ subjects) failed to meet its primary weight-loss endpoint and development was discontinued in 2007 (never reached Phase 3). Does NOT increase IGF-1, blood glucose, or cause typical HGH side effects. WADA prohibited (S0/S2 categories). Provides a targeted lipolytic mechanism (beta-3 adrenergic stimulation of fat oxidation) without broader hormonal manipulation, but the clinical evidence for real-world fat loss is weak, the larger, more authoritative trial found no significant benefit over placebo. Rated 2: a genuine but marginal, largely unproven metabolic/fat-loss effect, real enough to sit above baseline, but below other fat-loss compounds in this dataset (e.g. yohimbine, rated 3) whose efficacy is actually confirmed in controlled trials.
Overview
A modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177-191 with N-terminal tyrosine) that isolates the fat-burning properties of hGH without metabolic or growth-promoting effects. Does NOT increase IGF-1 or affect blood glucose. An early 12-week trial showed ~2.6kg weight loss vs 0.8kg placebo at the 1mg dose, but the larger, pivotal 24-week Phase IIb trial (~500+ subjects) failed to meet its primary endpoint and development was discontinued in 2007. More stable than standard HGH Fragment 176-191. Not approved by the FDA, TGA, or any regulator for any therapeutic indication; in Australia it is a Schedule 4 restricted poison, not an approved medicine.
Important Warnings
- •Pivotal Phase IIb clinical trial FAILED to meet its primary weight-loss endpoint (never reached Phase 3)
- •Not FDA-approved for any indication (development discontinued for obesity in 2007)
- •WADA prohibited - covered under S0 and S2 categories
- •No regulator has approved AOD-9604 as a therapeutic good; in Australia it is a Schedule 4 restricted poison, not an approved medicine
- •Limited long-term safety data due to discontinued trials
- •Research chemical status in most countries
- •Fat loss results may be modest (the larger, pivotal trial showed no significant difference vs placebo)
- •Short half-life requires daily dosing
Purpose & Use Cases
Fat Loss
Primary intended use. An early 12-week trial reported 2.6kg mean weight loss vs 0.8kg placebo at the 1mg dose. However, the pivotal 24-week Phase IIb "OPTIONS" trial (~500+ obese subjects, oral dosing) failed to show a statistically significant weight-loss difference vs placebo, and development for obesity was discontinued in 2007.
Metabolic Fat Oxidation
Increases fat oxidation without affecting glucose metabolism. No insulin resistance (unlike hGH). No effect on blood glucose - potentially safe for pre-diabetic populations.
Cartilage Repair (Preclinical Only)
Animal studies (rabbit knee osteoarthritis model, intra-articular injection, 2015) showed cartilage regeneration, reduced joint inflammation, and increased proteoglycan synthesis, especially combined with hyaluronic acid. No published human trials for this indication exist, and no regulator has approved AOD-9604 for joint/cartilage use. This remains a preclinical finding, not a clinical one.
HGH Alternative for Fat Loss
Isolates lipolytic effects of hGH without growth effects, carpal tunnel, or diabetogenic issues. More stable than standard HGH Fragment 176-191.
Benefits
- No IGF-1 increase (unlike full hGH)
- No diabetogenic effects or blood glucose impact
- No carpal tunnel syndrome
- No antibody formation in clinical trials
- Phase 2 showed significant fat loss (2.6kg vs 0.8kg placebo)
- Well-tolerated with mild side effect profile
- More stable than HGH Fragment 176-191
- Potential cartilage repair properties
Good to Know
It is the fat-loss tail of HGH, minus the growth
AOD-9604 is a modified C-terminal fragment of growth hormone (the ~176-191 region, with an added tyrosine) engineered to keep the lipolytic (fat-mobilizing) action of HGH while NOT raising IGF-1, NOT affecting blood glucose, and NOT causing the water retention/carpal tunnel/organ growth of full HGH. That clean, non-anabolic profile is its entire selling point.
The clinical evidence is weak
Early 12-week data looked promising (~2.6kg vs 0.8kg placebo), but the larger, pivotal 24-week Phase IIb obesity trial (~500+ subjects) FAILED to beat placebo and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals abandoned obesity development in 2007. It never reached Phase 3. Real-world fat loss is modest at best, treat the "HGH fat loss without sides" marketing with heavy skepticism; it failed to beat placebo in the trial that mattered.
It is a stabilized HGH Fragment 176-191. Do not stack the two
AOD-9604 is essentially a more stable version of HGH Fragment 176-191 and works by the same lipolytic mechanism, so running both together is redundant. Pick one.
Still WADA-prohibited despite weak efficacy
It falls under the S2 growth-factor/GH-fragment rules (and S0 as a non-approved substance), so it is a positive-test risk for tested athletes even though its fat-loss effect is marginal. It is not an approved medicine anywhere, in Australia it is only a Schedule 4 restricted poison, not a TGA-approved therapeutic good.
Dosage Guidelines
| Experience Level | Dosage Range |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 250 – 300 mcg/day |
| Intermediate | 300 – 500 mcg/day |
| Advanced | 500 – 1000 mcg/day |
Clinical trials used oral doses of 0.25-1mg/day or SC doses of 250-1000mcg/day for 12-24 weeks. Community protocols typically run 250-500mcg/day SC, with SubQ injection preferred over oral for bioavailability. Morning fasted administration is intended to optimize lipolysis. Short half-life (30-60 min) means it clears quickly.
Peak plasma concentration occurs 15-30 minutes post-injection.
Side Effects
Headache
common5-10% incidence in clinical trials. Usually mild.
Usually transient. Reduce dose if persistent.
Injection Site Reactions
commonRedness, irritation at injection site.
Rotate injection sites.
Flu-like Symptoms
uncommonOccasional mild flu-like symptoms reported.
Usually resolves without intervention.
Drowsiness
uncommonOccasional fatigue/drowsiness.
May subside with continued use.
Nausea
rareRarely reported in clinical trials.
Take with small amount of food if persistent.
General Mitigation Strategies
AOD-9604 has a notably favorable safety profile compared to hGH. No diabetogenic effects, no blood glucose changes, no carpal tunnel, no joint pain, and no antibody formation observed in clinical trials. Most side effects are mild and transient. Short half-life means effects clear quickly if discontinued.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Does not affect HPT axis or hormonal production. No PCT required. Does not increase IGF-1 or other growth factors.
How It Works
Stimulates lipolysis through beta-3 adrenergic receptor pathways, mimicking the fat-metabolizing region of hGH. Increases fat oxidation in adipose tissue, stimulates fatty acid release from adipocytes, and enhances mitochondrial fat oxidation. Also inhibits lipogenesis (transformation of non-fatty foods into body fat). Unlike full hGH, does NOT stimulate IGF-1, cause diabetogenic effects, or promote cell proliferation.
Fundamentals
Reference on the practices relevant to AOD-9604: how they are done and where they go wrong. Not a recommendation to use it.
Common Stacks
- AOD-9604 + T3 (cautiously) - additive metabolic/fat loss effects
- AOD-9604 + Cardarine - non-stimulant fat loss stack
- AOD-9604 + Ipamorelin/Mod GRF - different GH pathways, may complement
- Do NOT combine with HGH Fragment 176-191 (same mechanism)
- Morning fasted injection for optimal lipolysis
Legal Status
Not FDA-approved for any indication (obesity development discontinued in 2007 after failing Phase IIb; never reached Phase 3). WADA prohibited (S0/S2 categories). Scheduled as a Schedule 4 (Prescription Only Medicine) / Appendix D poison in Australia's Poisons Standard since 2015. This is a restricted-access classification, not a therapeutic approval. Sold internationally as an unapproved research chemical.
Legal status varies by country and changes over time. This is a general summary, not legal advice.
WADA Status
AOD-9604 (HGH Fragment 177-191) is explicitly prohibited as a GH fragment under S2.2.
References
- Ng FM et al. - Metabolic studies of AOD9604 (Horm Res 2000)
- Heffernan M et al. - hGH lipolytic fragment in obese mice (Endocrinology 2001)
- Stier H et al. - Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans (J Endocrinol Metab 2013)
- TGA Scheduling Delegate's Final Decision - AOD-9604 (Schedule 4, Appendix D, March 2015)
- WADA Prohibited List 2026