AOD-9604

Also called AOD9604, Tyr-hGH(177–191), a growth hormone fragment¹

AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid piece of human growth hormone, made in the 1990s as an obesity pill. Its developer, Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia, tested it in six human trials. The largest, which randomized 502 adults for 24 weeks, found no significant weight loss beyond placebo, and the company stopped development in February 2007.¹ It later called the peptide "generally recognized as safe" for food, but that was its own expert panel's view, not an FDA decision.¹¹ In 2024 FDA's advisers voted 0–12 against letting pharmacies compound it.² It is still sold online, mostly as injections, a route never tested in a published human trial.¹

See every peptide's status in the regulatory tracker

At a glance

Where to get it

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Molecular structure

A chain of 16 amino acids. A bond between two cysteines closes the middle into a loop. The first amino acid, a tyrosine, was added to the growth hormone piece.

The added tyrosine (residue 1) and the disulfide bond

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YTyrLLeuRArgIIleVValQGlnCCysRArgSSerVValEGluGGlySSerCCysGGlyFPhe

Sequence

YLRIVQCRSVEGSCGF

Length

16 amino acids

Loop

Disulfide bond, Cys7 to Cys14

Formula

C78H123N23O23S2

Weight

1,815.1 g/mol

Acetate

C80H127N23O25S2, 1,875.1 g/mol

CAS

221231-10-3

FDA UNII

7UP768IP4M (free base)

Drawn from the sequence, with the disulfide bond, as FDA describes it. Formula, weight, CAS and UNII are FDA's; the formula we computed matches.¹

What it is

Growth hormone breaks down stored fat, among many other effects. In the 1990s, Australian researchers looked for the part of the hormone that drives fat loss, and settled on a piece of its last 15 amino acids. Metabolic Pharmaceuticals developed AOD-9604 from that piece, with a tyrosine added at the start.^{1, 10} FDA describes it as a "synthetic 177-191 fragment (15 amino acids) of hGH" with a tyrosine added.¹

The aim was an obesity drug with growth hormone's effect on fat but without its effects on growth or blood sugar. The company tested it by vein and by mouth. When its largest trial failed in 2007, it said the results did "not support the commercial viability of the drug as a treatment for obesity."¹

The company then turned to food. In 2012 it announced a "self-affirmed conditional GRAS status" from a panel of US experts it convened, for use in foods, drinks and dietary supplements at up to 1 mg a day per person.¹¹ In 2014 a trade report said it had been designated GRAS for the same uses.¹² GRAS covers food ingredients, not injected drugs, and neither report describes an FDA review.¹¹

WADA also names "hGH 176-191," a near-identical growth hormone fragment sold online under names such as Frag 176-191.¹³ It is a different molecule, and we found no human trial of it.

How it works

What's known comes from animal and lab work. FDA notes its molecular target is unknown.¹

• Fat breakdown in rodents. In obese rats and mice it cut fat-making, raised fat breakdown and burning, and slowed weight gain.¹
• A fat-cell receptor. In obese mice it raised levels of the beta-3 adrenergic receptor, which fat cells use to release fat. In mice lacking that receptor, long-term treatment didn't cause weight loss.¹⁰
• Not growth hormone's receptor. Its developers reported it doesn't bind the growth hormone receptor.¹
• IGF-1. The developer reported no change in IGF-1 in its human trials.⁸ FDA found no animal data to support the claim that it doesn't raise IGF-1.¹

No study has measured how the human body absorbs or clears it. In pigs, it lasted about 3 minutes in the blood after an IV dose.¹

Evidence map

Each claimed use is graded separately, because the evidence differs by use.

Scale: 5 FDA-approved, 4 strong human, 3 limited human, 2 animal or lab only, 1 anecdotal. Weight loss scores 3 for the amount of human testing, not for results: the results were negative.

Key studies

FDA found no AOD-9604 study on ClinicalTrials.gov.¹ The developer sponsored the trials, and its safety and toxicity papers list the company as sponsor and include a company author.^{8, 9} FDA concluded there is a "lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of AOD-9604" for obesity.¹

By goal and route

Pick your goal to see what the evidence supports.

Sources: FDA briefing and slides,^{1, 3} advisory vote,² HHS policy.⁷

How it's used

We don't give a dose. No dose worked in trials, and none has been approved.

The trials gave it by vein or by mouth.¹ Clinics and websites sell it mainly as injections under the skin, and also as dissolving tablets.¹ FDA found no human exposure by injection under the skin or through the skin.¹ We report this as information, not instruction.

Side effects and who should avoid it

• Short trials only. The longest lasted 24 weeks. FDA said there is "insufficient information to support the long-term use of AOD-9604."³
• Reported side effects. FDA's summary of the trials lists headache, fatigue, low blood sugar and dizziness in a small IV study, spread similarly between drug and placebo, and chest tightness and diarrhea as serious events.^{1, 3}
• Cancers. In the 12-week oral trial, five people had serious events, including basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Investigators judged none related, but FDA said it has "concerns about the reports of various cancers."¹
• Animal findings. In rats, bone-marker changes that FDA said could suggest harm to bone. In monkeys, liver-cell changes in all high-dose females. DNA-damage tests were equivocal or positive, signals FDA said "cannot be regarded as biologically insignificant."¹ The developer's own paper judged these findings not significant.⁹
• Immune reactions. FDA "cannot rule out the potential for immunogenicity," especially by injection, because of impurities and clumping in peptide products.^{1, 6}
• Sterility. In 2021 a US compounder recalled lots of injectable AOD-9604, and of one other injectable peptide, over a lack of sterility assurance.¹⁵
• Who should avoid it. No label exists. It has not been studied in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, or people with cancer, diabetes or liver disease. Anyone tested in sport should avoid it.¹³

FDA found no adverse event reports for AOD-9604 in its databases, and said that "does not imply that the substance is safe."¹

Compared with

Sources: FDA briefing,¹ advisory vote,² developer's safety paper,⁸ Egrifta WR label.¹⁸ See our tesamorelin, MK-677 and sermorelin guides for drugs that raise growth hormone itself.

Stacks

Online sellers sometimes pair AOD-9604 with other growth hormone peptides, such as CJC-1295 or ipamorelin. We found no study of any combination. None of these is covered by the HHS policy, which in any case allows one active ingredient per product.^{5, 7}

Myths vs evidence

All options and prices

MoveWell sells no peptides. Some links may earn us a commission; that never decides what's listed or the order. Checked November 1, 2026

Licensed compounding, with a prescription

None. FDA's advisers voted 0–12 against adding AOD-9604 to the compounding list, and the HHS policy of October 28, 2026 doesn't include it.^{2, 7} We found no provider in our checks offering it through a lawful route.

Foods and supplements

The company's GRAS claim was for foods, drinks and dietary supplements.¹¹ We found no US food or supplement containing it that we could confirm is lawfully sold, so we list none.

Research use only products

We don't list sellers. These products are unapproved drugs when they're meant for people. In August 2026 FDA warned five peptide sellers that a "research use only" label is no defense.¹⁷

Legal status history

Newest first.

1. Current statusNov 1, 2026Not FDA-approved and not approved anywhere. No legal US compounding path. Banned in sport at all times.^{2, 7, 13}
2. Next · no dateNo FDA review, rule or trial is scheduled that we could find.
3. Oct 28, 2026HHS enforcement discretion policy covers six peptides. AOD-9604 is not one of them.⁷
4. Apr 22, 2026FDA's safety-risk page lists AOD-9604 under nominations withdrawn, noting it "may pose significant risk for immunogenicity."⁶
5. Dec 4, 2024FDA's compounding advisory committee votes 0–12 against both forms, for obesity, with no discussion.^{2, 4}
6. Nov 5, 2024FDA staff review recommends against: poorly characterized, no evidence it works, limited safety data.¹
7. Sep 27, 2024Removed from Category 2 after both nominators withdrew. FDA reviewed it anyway, on its own initiative.^{1, 5}
8. Jul 2021A US compounder recalls lots of injectable AOD-9604 over a lack of sterility assurance.¹⁵
9. Aug 2014A trade report says the developer has US GRAS status for foods, drinks and supplements.¹²
10. Apr 2013WADA confirms AOD-9604 is banned in sport, as a substance not approved anywhere.¹⁴
11. Jun 25, 2012The developer announces a "self-affirmed conditional GRAS status" from its own expert panel.¹¹
12. Feb 21, 2007Development as an obesity drug ends after the 24-week trial fails.¹

Australia's medicines scheduling committee recommended listing it with performance and image enhancing drugs, which can't be possessed without authority.¹ See every peptide's status in the regulatory tracker.

FAQ

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References