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AOD-9604

Metabolic & GLP-1Research-Grade

Last reviewed: September 20, 2026

Quick Facts

What it is
A modified fragment of the C-terminus of growth hormone (hGH 176-191), studied for fat loss without growth hormone's broader growth effects.
How it's taken
Subcutaneous injection, usually morning; historically also studied orally
Half-life
~30 minutes (subcutaneous)
Typical research dose
250–500 mcg subcutaneously once daily, in 8–12 week cycles
Research status
Not FDA-approved as a drug — research use only (holds limited GRAS food status).
On this page
  1. 1.Where to source AOD-9604
  2. 2.What is AOD-9604?
  3. 3.How does AOD-9604 work?
  4. 4.What is AOD-9604 used for?
  5. 5.How long does AOD-9604 take to work?
  6. 6.How is AOD-9604 dosed?
  7. 7.How is AOD-9604 administered?
  8. 8.What does AOD-9604 stack well with?
  9. 9.What are the side effects of AOD-9604?
  10. 10.Does AOD-9604 interact with other drugs?
  11. 11.How should AOD-9604 be stored?
  12. 12.What are the limitations of AOD-9604 research?
  13. 13.AOD-9604 FAQ
  14. 14.References
  15. 15.Published Studies

Where to source AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved and is sold only as a research-grade peptide through specialty vendors. In December 2024 the FDA proposed that AOD-9604 not be included on the 503A Bulks List; FDA now lists it as a withdrawn nomination. The vendors highlighted below have been vetted for transparent third-party testing, traceable batch documentation, and verified discount codes.

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What is AOD-9604?

AOD-9604 — also written AOD9604 and known as Anti-Obesity Drug 9604, the hGH Fragment 176-191, or Tyr-hGH 177-191 — is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone, specifically the 16-amino-acid C-terminal sequence (amino acids 176-191) with a stabilizing tyrosine added at the front. It was developed in Australia in the 1990s to capture growth hormone's fat-burning effects without the broader hormonal side effects of full-length growth hormone. Despite six clinical trials in approximately 900 participants, it failed to demonstrate consistent weight loss in larger Phase 2b studies and was discontinued as a drug candidate in 2007. It remains available as a research peptide and has renewed interest for cartilage repair applications. New to peptide research? Start with the basics

Reported benefits:

  • Stimulates lipolysis (fat breakdown) without raising blood sugar or IGF-1
  • Modest weight reduction reported in an early trial (2.6 kg vs 0.8 kg placebo over 12 weeks) — a company-disclosed result, not independently published
  • Selective fat-mobilization without growth hormone's broader endocrine effects
  • Well-tolerated safety profile across 900+ trial participants
  • Investigational interest in cartilage repair and joint applications
  • No negative effect on carbohydrate metabolism on oral glucose tolerance testing [3]. Insulin sensitivity itself was not measured in the human trials, so it is reported here as not established rather than as unaffected

Common research dose: Historical clinical trials used oral doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg daily, plus subcutaneous formulations. Research-grade injectable AOD-9604 is typically dosed at 250–500 mcg subcutaneously once daily.

Where to buy: PP maintains a vetted list of peptide vendors with verified discount codes. See Verified Discount Codes for current options.

How does AOD-9604 work?

AOD-9604 mimics the fat-burning portion of human growth hormone (amino acids 176-191) without activating receptor regions responsible for IGF-1 production or insulin resistance. It targets adipose tissue specifically — stimulating lipolysis through beta-3 adrenergic activation and inhibiting new fat cell formation. The selective design captures GH's lipolytic effect while avoiding the broader endocrine effects that complicate long-term obesity treatment.

  1. Selective Lipolysis [1]. AOD-9604 mimics the fat-burning portion of human growth hormone without activating the receptor regions responsible for IGF-1 production. It targets adipose tissue specifically, breaking down stored triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids.
  2. Beta-3 Adrenergic Receptor Activation [2]. In animal models, AOD-9604 appears to upregulate beta-3 adrenergic receptors expressed primarily in white and brown adipose tissue. Activating these receptors triggers a cAMP-dependent cascade that activates hormone-sensitive lipase.
  3. No IGF-1 Stimulation [3]. Unlike full-length growth hormone, AOD-9604 does not stimulate IGF-1 production in any tested system. This avoids the growth-promoting effects of growth hormone that complicate long-term obesity treatment.
  4. Carbohydrate Metabolism [3]. Across six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in approximately 900 adults, oral glucose tolerance testing showed AOD9604 had no negative effect on carbohydrate metabolism, in contrast with full-length growth hormone (Stier et al. 2013). The paper’s statement that AOD9604 does not affect insulin sensitivity is made about RATS AND MICE, citing animal work; the human arm of that programme measured glucose tolerance, not insulin sensitivity, so no human insulin-sensitivity finding is established here.
  5. Inhibits Lipogenesis [1]. In addition to stimulating fat breakdown, AOD-9604 has been shown to inhibit the formation of new fat cells in animal studies.

What is AOD-9604 used for?

AOD-9604's research history is largely a case study in failed drug development. Stier et al. 2013 confirms six real randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials (METAOD001-006, ~900 subjects) were conducted, establishing a genuine human RCT safety record; the two largest (METAOD005, N=300, and METAOD006, N=502) were designed to test weight-loss efficacy, but that safety-focused paper does not report their efficacy results. The specific weight-loss figures and the Phase 2b "failure" narrative circulated for this program come from company/industry disclosures, not a peer-reviewed publication — no such publication was found. Metabolic Pharmaceuticals terminated the obesity program in 2007. Subsequent research has explored cartilage repair applications and visceral fat reduction in metabolic syndrome contexts.

  1. Obesity (Failed Development) [4][5]. Stier et al. 2013 (PMID/DOI 10.4021/jem157w) names two efficacy-focused trials: METAOD005 (Phase IIb, N=300, 12 weeks, oral doses 1-30 mg) and METAOD006 (Phase IIb, N=502, 24 weeks, oral tablets 0.25-1 mg) — both randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled. That paper is safety-focused and does not report their weight-loss results. The commonly reported efficacy figures (2.6-2.8 kg vs 0.8 kg placebo at 12 weeks; a larger 536-subject 24-week trial failing to show significant weight loss) come from company disclosures and secondary press reporting, not a peer-reviewed paper — no such paper was found, and the 536-subject figure does not match Stier 2013's own N=502 for METAOD006. Development was terminated in 2007.
  2. Cartilage Repair and Joint Health [6]. AOD-9604 has been investigated for cartilage regeneration and osteoarthritis applications. Some studies suggest it may stimulate cartilage matrix production. This research is preliminary.
  3. Visceral Fat Reduction [7]. A 2024 Phase 2b trial in metabolic syndrome patients reported 16.3% reduction in visceral adipose tissue over 12 weeks, without changes in fasting glucose or HbA1c.
  4. Safety Database [3]. Six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in approximately 900 adults — obese but otherwise healthy, male-only in the first four — using ORAL AOD9604 at single doses of 9, 27 and 54 mg and daily doses of 1 to 30 mg for up to 12 weeks. No effect on serum IGF-1, no negative effect on carbohydrate metabolism on oral glucose tolerance testing, no anti-AOD9604 antibodies, and no withdrawal or serious adverse event related to AOD9604 (Stier et al. 2013). This is reference [3], not [4]: the six-trial dataset is the published safety paper, and [4] is an unpublished company efficacy disclosure.
  5. Mechanism Research. AOD-9604 remains useful in laboratory research as a tool for studying selective lipolytic signaling without growth hormone's broader endocrine effects.

How long does AOD-9604 take to work?

AOD-9604 effects are gradual and modest. Most users report no immediate sensation. In the company-reported 12-week Phase 2a trial (not independently published in a peer-reviewed paper), weight loss averaged 2.6 kg (about 1% of starting weight) on the most effective dose. Real-world reports vary widely. Effects on visceral fat (abdominal fat around organs) appear to develop more reliably than total body weight loss. AOD-9604 is generally considered modest in efficacy compared to GLP-class drugs.

Most users report no immediate sensation. In the company-reported 12-week Phase 2a trial (not independently published in a peer-reviewed paper), weight loss averaged 2.6 kg (about 1% of starting weight) on the most effective dose. Real-world reports vary widely, with some users reporting modest fat loss over 8–12 weeks and others reporting no measurable change. Effects on visceral fat (abdominal fat around organs) appear to develop more reliably than total body weight loss — consistent with the lipolysis-targeted mechanism. AOD-9604 is generally considered modest in efficacy compared to GLP-class drugs.

How is AOD-9604 dosed?

AOD-9604's clinical development — the Metabolic Pharmaceuticals obesity program — centered on ORAL dosing, and there is no FDA-approved dose because the drug was discontinued before approval. The figures below are split into what the cited trials administered and, separately, community-reported injectable practice.

Prof. Peptide reports what trials established and what research communities practice, labelled separately. Neither is a recommendation.

Need to calculate a dose?

Use the Prof. Peptide dosage calculator for accurate reconstitution and dosing math.

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What the cited literature administered

Human RCTs, oral dosing (Stier et al., 2013, DOI 10.4021/jem157w) [3]. The safety paper Prof. Peptide has cited elsewhere on this page also reports the dose levels used across the six Metabolic Pharmaceuticals trials, even though it does not report weight-loss efficacy. METAOD005 (Phase IIb, N=300, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 5 Australian hospitals) gave 1, 5, 10, 20, or 30 mg AOD9604 as an oral capsule once daily for 12 weeks after a 2-week placebo run-in. METAOD006 (Phase IIb, N=502 of 534 enrolled, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 16 Australian hospitals) gave 0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg AOD9604 as an oral tablet once daily for 24 weeks after a 4-week placebo run-in. The two earlier oral trials, METAOD003 and METAOD004, used single and 7-day multiple oral doses of 9, 27, or 54 mg. The two intravenous trials, METAOD001 and METAOD002, used 25–400 mcg/kg by IV infusion, not a subcutaneous injection.

Adverse events at those doses [3]. In METAOD005, after treatment began 88.9% of subjects across all AOD9604 doses and placebo reported at least one adverse event (mainly headache and gastrointestinal complaints), a similar rate to the 70% seen during the placebo-only run-in; five serious adverse events occurred (three skin/soft-tissue growths in the 20 mg group, one breast cancer in the 5 mg group, one melanoma in the 10 mg group), none judged by investigators to be related to treatment. In METAOD006, 78.7% of subjects across all doses and placebo reported at least one adverse event after treatment began (mainly nasopharyngitis, headache, and back pain), versus 48.4% during the placebo run-in; none were deemed definitely treatment-related. IGF-1 levels did not change significantly in either trial at any dose, and no anti-AOD9604 antibodies were detected in any of the six trials.

Community-reported practice (unverified)

Reported research-community practice — attributed to where it circulates, not to the trials above, and not independently verified by Prof. Peptide — is 250–500 mcg subcutaneously once daily, with some protocols using 2–3 mg per week split into multiple injections. This diverges from every cited trial in route (subcutaneous injection versus the trials’ oral capsules/tablets or IV infusion) and in dose basis (a flat mcg figure versus the trials’ own mg-per-day oral doses); oral bioavailability is poor, which is the stated reason research use shifted to an injectable route the trial program never tested. A roughly 30-minute half-life when administered subcutaneously is commonly cited as the reasoning for daily or twice-daily dosing, but Prof. Peptide has not identified a published pharmacokinetic study establishing this figure for the subcutaneous route. A commonly reported cycle length is 8–12 weeks, though there is no established standard.

The Prof. Peptide dosage calculator converts between milligram figures and syringe units for a given reconstitution; it performs the arithmetic and does not set a schedule.

How is AOD-9604 administered?

AOD-9604 is given as a subcutaneous injection — under the skin, not into muscle — once or twice daily using a small insulin syringe. Morning empty-stomach dosing is the conventional protocol (though convention rather than evidence-based). For the practical mechanics of insulin syringes, units vs mcg conversion, and subcutaneous technique, see the syringes and injection technique guide.

  1. Route. Subcutaneous injection, once or twice daily. Common sites: abdomen, thigh, upper arm.
  2. Time of day. Research protocols typically use morning dosing on an empty stomach to maximize lipolytic effect — convention rather than evidence-based.
  3. With or without food. Subcutaneous AOD-9604 is unaffected by food.
  4. Site rotation. Rotating sites each day is the convention for limiting localized irritation.
  5. Missed dose. The reported practice is to administer if less than 12 hours late, and otherwise to skip to the next scheduled day.
  6. Cycle structure. 8–12 weeks is most common. No established break period.

Timing context. AOD-9604's ~30-minute half-life means each dose produces a brief lipolytic window. Morning empty-stomach dosing is convention rather than evidence-based — the rationale is that fasted state shifts substrate utilization toward fat oxidation, theoretically amplifying the lipolytic signal. No controlled study has compared timing protocols.

AspectReported
FrequencyOnce or twice daily during the cycle
Best time of dayMorning empty stomach is conventional — not evidence-based
FoodSubQ unaffected by food (oral form historically required empty stomach)
Injection site rotationRotating between the abdomen, thigh, and upper arm without reusing the same site for the next injection is standard subcutaneous-injection practice — documented in FDA-approved injectable labels generally (e.g., Wegovy's and Mounjaro's own instructions to rotate with each dose), not specific to AOD-9604.
Half-life~30 minutes
Steady-statePer-pulse lipolytic effect — no traditional steady-state with short half-life

Reconstitution math. Water volume sets concentration: a lower volume yields a higher concentration and a smaller syringe draw for a given mg amount, and the reverse for a higher volume. AOD-9604 research vials are typically 5 mg. Because doses are small (250–500 mcg), 2 mL reconstitution is the common research convention. All units below are measured on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). The table assumes a 5 mg vial.

BAC waterConcentration100 mcg dose250 mcg dose500 mcg dose750 mcg dose
1 mL5 mg/mL2 units5 units10 units15 units
2 mL2.5 mg/mL4 units10 units20 units30 units
3 mL1.67 mg/mL6 units15 units30 units45 units

Units vs mcg. At a 5 mg vial, each unit drawn delivers 50 mcg of AOD-9604 at 1 mL reconstitution, 25 mcg at 2 mL, and 16.7 mcg at 3 mL — the reconstitution volume determines the mcg-per-unit conversion. For a primer on reading insulin syringes and choosing the right barrel size, see our guide on syringes and injection technique.

What does AOD-9604 stack well with?

AOD-9604 has been historically used as a standalone in clinical trials. Some users stack with GH secretagogues (CJC-1295, ipamorelin) for synergistic fat loss, though evidence is limited. Some clinics promote stacking with GLP-class drugs (semaglutide, tirzepatide), but no controlled human data supports this combination — and the GLP drugs' weight-loss effect substantially dwarfs AOD-9604's modest contribution.

  1. Standalone use. Historically the most common in clinical trials.
  2. Resistance training + caloric deficit. Reasonable theoretical synergy but not clinically validated.
  3. GLP-class drugs. Some clinics promote stacking with semaglutide or tirzepatide for additive fat loss, but no controlled human data supports the combination.
  4. GH secretagogues. CJC-1295 / ipamorelin sometimes combined for synergistic fat loss in research protocols, though evidence is limited.
  5. Conflicts: full-length growth hormone. Defeats the purpose of using AOD-9604 specifically to avoid growth hormone's systemic effects.

What are the side effects of AOD-9604?

In its Phase 2 program, AOD-9604 showed no meaningful elevation in IGF-1, blood glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, or other monitored parameters. The most-reported user effects are mild injection-site reactions. Long-term safety data beyond 24 weeks does not exist, and in December 2024 the FDA proposed that AOD-9604 not be included on the 503A Bulks List.

Common (most users)

  1. Mild injection site reactions. Redness or irritation at injection sites.
  2. No common systemic side effects. Reported in trials.

Less common (moderate)

  1. Headache. Reported infrequently.
  2. Mild dizziness. Uncommon.
  3. Fatigue. Uncommon.

Serious (rare)

  1. Severe allergic reactions. Rare. No anti-AOD-9604 antibodies were detected in any clinical trial, suggesting low immunogenicity.
  2. Long-term effects unknown. No data beyond 24 weeks exists.

In its Phase 2 program, AOD-9604 showed no meaningful elevation in IGF-1, blood glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, or other monitored parameters. However, long-term safety data beyond 24 weeks does not exist, and FDA's compounding safety list describes possible immunogenicity and peptide-impurity risks for AOD-9604. At a December 4, 2024 advisory committee meeting, the FDA proposed that AOD-9604 not be included on the 503A Bulks List.

Does AOD-9604 interact with other drugs?

AOD-9604 has no known significant drug interactions in trials. Beta-blockers raise a theoretical concern (could blunt beta-3 adrenergic receptor activation), but no clinical evidence exists. Diabetes medications don't require dose adjustment because AOD-9604 doesn't affect blood glucose. Should not be combined with full-length growth hormone (overlapping receptor pathway defeats the purpose).

  1. No known significant drug interactions in trials.
  2. Beta-blockers. Theoretical concern that beta-blockers could blunt the beta-3 adrenergic receptor activation pathway, but no clinical evidence.
  3. Diabetes medications. AOD-9604 does not affect blood glucose, so dose adjustment is not typically required.
  4. Full-length growth hormone. Should not be combined; the receptor pathways overlap.

How should AOD-9604 be stored?

  1. Lyophilized (powder) form: Store at 2–8°C sealed; freeze at -20°C for long-term storage.
  2. Reconstituted solution: 2–8°C, refrigerated, is standard practice once dissolved. Prof. Peptide has not identified a manufacturer label, published study, or lab document establishing how long reconstituted research-grade AOD-9604 remains stable — this page does not state a duration as fact.
  3. Reconstitution uses bacteriostatic water for injection (BAC water). Swirl gently — do not shake.
  4. AOD-9604 is stored protected from light.
  5. A solution that is cloudy, discolored, or contains particles is discarded.

What are the limitations of AOD-9604 research?

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved by the US, EMA in Europe, or the TGA in Australia. Development as an obesity drug was terminated in 2007 after the Phase 2b trial failed to demonstrate statistically significant weight loss versus placebo. At a December 4, 2024 advisory committee meeting, the FDA proposed that AOD-9604 not be included on the 503A Bulks List, and the committee voted 12–0 against placing it; FDA now lists it as a withdrawn nomination. WADA-prohibited as a growth hormone fragment.

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved by the United States, EMA in Europe, or the TGA in Australia. Development as an obesity drug was terminated in 2007 after the Phase 2b trial failed to demonstrate statistically significant weight loss versus placebo when intensive diet and exercise were added.

The FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee considered AOD-9604 (free base and acetate) for the 503A Bulks List on December 4, 2024. The FDA proposed that neither form be included, and the committee voted 12–0 against placing them on the list. FDA now lists AOD-9604 under “nominated but withdrawn,” describing possible immunogenicity and peptide-impurity risks.

AOD-9604 received GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status conditional on publication of safety data for use in foods and dietary supplements at low doses, but this status does not authorize it for therapeutic use.

One nearby finding belongs here, because the two compounds are a tyrosine apart and are sold under names that published sources use interchangeably. AOD-9604 is the growth-hormone C-terminal fragment with a stabilizing tyrosine added; the bare fragment is sold separately as HGH Fragment 176-191. The only in-vivo study of that bare sequence, Ng and Bornstein 1978 in normal rats, is titled for a hyperglycemic action: hGH 176-191 raised blood glucose and plasma insulin, and the fragments containing 178-191 significantly reduced insulin sensitivity on tolerance testing. That is a rat study of a different molecule and it does not overturn AOD-9604's own human glucose-tolerance data — but a reader moving between the two products should see it rather than meet only the favourable half.

The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits AOD-9604 in sport as a growth hormone fragment. Research-grade material is sold for laboratory use only and is not approved for human consumption.

AOD-9604 FAQ

Does AOD-9604 actually work for weight loss?

Modestly, at best, and the specific numbers below come from company disclosures rather than a peer-reviewed paper. The original 12-week trial is reported to have shown about 2.6 kg average weight loss vs 0.8 kg placebo; a longer 24-week trial (reported as 536 participants, though the one peer-reviewed safety paper for this program lists 502 in the equivalent trial) did not show statistically significant weight loss when intensive diet and exercise were added. AOD-9604 produces real lipolysis in the safety trials that were published, but the magnitude of weight loss reported is far below GLP-class drugs (14–25%). It is not a substitute for semaglutide or tirzepatide for clinically meaningful weight loss.

Is AOD-9604 the same as growth hormone?

No. AOD-9604 is the C-terminal fragment of growth hormone with a stabilizing tyrosine — written as amino acids 176–191 in some sources and, in the safety paper cited on this page, as Tyr-hGH 177-191. It is designed to capture growth hormone's fat-reducing activity without its endocrine effects. Across six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in approximately 900 adults, oral AOD9604 had no effect on serum IGF-1 and, on oral glucose tolerance testing, no negative effect on carbohydrate metabolism [3]. Note the measure: that is glucose tolerance, not a direct measurement of insulin sensitivity, which was not established in humans in that work.

Why was AOD-9604 development discontinued?

A Phase 2b 24-week trial (company-reported as 536 participants) is reported to have failed to show statistically significant weight loss vs placebo when intensive diet and exercise were added — this efficacy result was never published in a peer-reviewed journal; it is known through company and press disclosures only. Without a clear efficacy signal, Metabolic Pharmaceuticals terminated the obesity drug program in 2007. The peptide was not unsafe in the published safety data — it was simply not effective enough to justify continued development as a drug.

Is AOD-9604 safe?

Short-term, yes. Six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in approximately 900 adults showed AOD-9604 is well-tolerated with no meaningful changes in IGF-1, blood glucose, blood pressure, or other monitored parameters. However, long-term data beyond 24 weeks does not exist, and the FDA cited unresolved concerns in 2024.

Can I take AOD-9604 with semaglutide or tirzepatide?

Some clinics promote this combination, but no controlled human data supports it. The mechanisms are different (lipolysis vs appetite suppression), so theoretical synergy exists. However, this would amount to paying for a peptide whose modest effects are dwarfed by the GLP-class drug's effects from semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Does AOD-9604 cause side effects?

Reported side effects in clinical trials are rare. The peptide is one of the better-tolerated compounds in obesity research. Mild injection site reactions are the most common report from real-world users.

Is AOD-9604 legal?

AOD-9604 is sold legally in the US as a research chemical for laboratory use only. It is not approved for human consumption. At a December 4, 2024 advisory committee meeting, the FDA proposed that AOD-9604 not be included on the 503A Bulks List, and the committee voted 12–0 against placing it. FDA now lists AOD-9604 as a nomination withdrawn by its nominator. Some non-US jurisdictions allow more flexible use.

Where can I buy AOD-9604?

AOD-9604 is sold through specialty research peptide vendors. PP maintains a list of vetted vendors with verified discount codes — see Verified Discount Codes .

References

  1. Heffernan MA, Thorburn AW, Fam B, et al. Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment. Int J Obes. 2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11673763/
  2. Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, et al. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Horm Res. 2000;53(6):274-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11146367/
  3. Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D. Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans. J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;3(1-2):7-15. DOI 10.4021/jem157w. https://jofem.org/index.php/jofem/article/view/157
  4. Wittert GA, Caterson ID, Bouchard C, et al. AOD9604, an orally active synthetic peptide derivative of human growth hormone, induced significant fat loss in obese subjects. Phase 2 trials, Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 2003-2007. No peer-reviewed publication of this trial's efficacy results was found — this citation is a company/industry disclosure, not a fetched paper.
  5. Misra M. Obesity pharmacotherapy: current perspectives and future directions. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2013;9:33-54. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3584306/
  6. Cartilage repair Phase 2 investigation. Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (Calzada Limited) program disclosures.
  7. AOD-9604 visceral adipose tissue 2024 Phase 2b metabolic syndrome trial. Industry research disclosure.

Published Studies

Plain-English summaries of the peer-reviewed studies behind the claims above. Click any title to read the source paper.

Hormone Research in Paediatrics · 2000Paywalled
Metabolic Studies of a Synthetic Lipolytic Domain (AOD9604) of Human Growth Hormone →

Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, et al.

One of the foundational animal studies establishing AOD-9604's lipolytic mechanism. Researchers confirmed that the C-terminal fragment of growth hormone specifically activates fat breakdown in adipose tissue without affecting IGF-1 levels. Animal work of this kind is also where the claim that AOD-9604 does not affect insulin sensitivity comes from — the human safety programme measured glucose tolerance rather than insulin sensitivity directly.

Endocrinology · 2001Paywalled
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 Mice →

Heffernan M, et al.

This study examined AOD-9604's fat-burning mechanism more deeply in obese mice — including mice without functioning beta-3 adrenergic receptors. The findings confirmed that AOD-9604 reduces fat accumulation and promotes fat oxidation through both beta-3 adrenergic and additional pathways.

Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2013Open Access
Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans →

Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D

The key human safety study of AOD-9604 (DOI 10.4021/jem157w), summarizing six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (METAOD001-006) totaling approximately 900 participants. AOD-9604 was found to be well tolerated with no significant effects on IGF-1 levels or glucose tolerance, and no anti-AOD9604 antibodies were detected. This paper covers safety and tolerability only — it does not report the weight-loss efficacy results of the two largest trials (METAOD005, METAOD006).

LipolysisFat LossResearch-GradeGH Fragment

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