AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid synthetic peptide corresponding to the lipolytic region of human growth hormone (amino acids 176–191). It was engineered to stimulate fat breakdown (lipolysis) and inhibit new fat storage (lipogenesis) without binding the main GH receptor, raising IGF-1, or causing insulin resistance. Phase II clinical trials showed modest fat loss; Phase III did not meet its primary endpoint.
Human growth hormone (hGH) is a 191-amino-acid protein. Within that sequence, researchers at Monash University identified that the C-terminal fragment — specifically amino acids 176 to 191 — is the region responsible for HGH's fat-metabolizing effects. This segment acts through a receptor pathway distinct from the main GH receptor.
Full HGH can burn fat but also grows tissue you may not want to grow and raises insulin resistance at high doses. AOD-9604 is the "fat only" slice of that molecule — isolated, stabilized, and targeted to a specific pathway.
AOD-9604's lipolytic activity is blunted by elevated insulin. Insulin's anti-lipolytic signaling competes with and overrides AOD-9604's activity. This is why fasted injection is mechanistically important — not merely conventional. The peptide works most effectively in a low-insulin environment.
AOD-9604 is one of the most clinically studied research peptides — it completed Phase I, II, and III human trials, which is unusual for compounds in this space.
| Use Case / Claim | Evidence Level | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Fat loss / lipolysis | Limited | Phase II: modest statistically significant fat loss vs. placebo (oral formulation). Phase III: primary endpoint not met. SC injection may differ. |
| No IGF-1 / GH receptor effect | Strong | Confirmed in all human trials — no IGF-1 elevation at any dose tested. |
| Glucose safety | Strong | No adverse glucose or insulin effects across all clinical trials. |
| Cartilage / joint repair | Preclinical only | Promising animal and in vitro data for chondrocyte proliferation. No Phase III human data yet. |
| Muscle preservation | Limited | Phase II showed no significant lean mass change. Not designed as anabolic. |
| Safety (adverse events) | Strong | No serious adverse events reported in Phase I, II, or III trials. Favorable safety record. |
Phase III obesity trials (~700 participants) did not meet the primary endpoint. No drug application was filed. AOD-9604 is not approved as a pharmaceutical. The GRAS designation (food ingredient, 2014) does not imply drug approval or efficacy.
| Vial Size | Bacteriostatic Water | Concentration | Draw for 300 mcg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mg | 2 mL | 1 mg/mL | 0.30 mL (30 units) |
| 2 mg | 1 mL | 2 mg/mL | 0.15 mL (15 units) |
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 0.12 mL (12 units) |
| 5 mg | 5 mL | 1 mg/mL | 0.30 mL (30 units) |
The WellSourced reconstitution calculator handles this automatically — enter your vial size and target dose to get the exact draw volume.
AOD-9604 is often paired with CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin for body recomposition:
The two mechanisms operate at different times and are complementary. Inject separately. Log both in your peptide journal.
AOD-9604 has one of the better-documented safety profiles of any research peptide — backed by three phases of human clinical trials. The safety story is a genuine strength.
Clinical trial safety used pharmaceutical-grade material under controlled conditions. Commercially available "research grade" AOD-9604 varies widely in purity and accurate dosing. Contamination in poorly manufactured peptides is a real risk the compound itself does not carry. Source carefully and verify third-party testing where available.
AOD-9604 is a scientifically legitimate peptide with a clean safety record and a real (if modest) fat-metabolizing mechanism. It is best understood as a metabolic assist — useful in the context of a structured deficit and a solid training protocol, not as a standalone transformation tool. If meaningful fat loss is the goal, GLP-1 agonists are orders of magnitude better supported by evidence.