AOD-9604 vs. GHRP-6

Category

Growth

Growth

CAS no.

221231-10-3

87616-84-0

Molecular weight

1815.09 g/mol

873.02 g/mol

Half-life

0.4 h

0.4 h

Sequence

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 corresponds to the C-terminal fragment 176-191 of human growth hormone with an additional N-terminal tyrosine. In animal models, lipolytic effects without GH-typical adverse events (insulin resistance, IGF-1 rise) were reported. In humans, these preclinical findings did not translate into clinically relevant weight reduction in the four phase-2 obesity trials. The exact human mechanism of action is unclear; the GH receptor is not classically activated by the fragment.

GHRP-6

GHRP-6 is a high-affinity agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR-1a) — the same receptor later shown to bind the endogenous hormone ghrelin. The identification of GHRP-6 as a pharmacological anchor led to cloning of GHSR in 1996 and the discovery of ghrelin itself in 1999. GHRP-6 stimulates pituitary GH secretion via a pathway independent of GHRH and can be combined synergistically with GHRH. Via GHSR in the hypothalamus it additionally activates NPY/AgRP neurons, producing an orexigenic (appetite-stimulating) effect in animal models.

Highest evidence

Studies

3

4

of which in humans

2

2

Effects recorded

3

4

Open conflicts

1

1

Documented adverse events

1

2