PeptideHormone

AOD-9604

A growth-hormone fragment marketed for fat loss; weak human data.

Research peptideLimited

Identity

Class
Modified hGH(176-191) C-terminal fragment
Source
Synthetic fragment of human growth hormone
Receptor
No established receptor; a proposed lipolytic action separate from GH's growth effects

Key properties

Molecular weight
≈ 1,815 Da

Approximate values for the native hormone. Engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting.

Mechanism

AOD-9604 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone's C-terminal region (residues 176-191, plus an added tyrosine) — the fragment linked to GH's lipolytic activity but not its growth-promoting or glucose effects. The design aim was to isolate fat metabolism from the rest of GH biology, but controlled human obesity trials did not show a significant weight benefit.

Reference notes

  • It is the 'lipolytic fragment' of GH, engineered to separate fat metabolism from GH's growth and glucose actions.
  • Human obesity trials failed to demonstrate significant efficacy, and it was never approved as a weight-loss drug.
  • It persists in the research-peptide market on claims that outrun the controlled data.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

  1. 1.AOD-9604 Metabolic · Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000), 2004 · PMID 15134286
  2. 2.Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026 · PMID 41966639
  3. 3.Obesity drugs in clinical development · Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000), 2006 · PMID 16625817