Scientific context only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use.
At a glance
Synthetic 16-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (hGH 176-191). Originally developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals as an oral obesity therapy; all phase-2 trials missed the primary endpoint. No marketing approval. The Australian TGA Schedule 4 classification is often misunderstood.
Researched for
Obesity (phase-2 programme in the 2000s, failed)Adjunctive treatment of articular cartilage damage (small, preclinical)
Official status
US: Unapproved
No FDA approval. On the WADA prohibited list under S2 as a GH fragment.
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.
02
Evidence at a glance
Reading note. The distribution shows on which evidence tier each observation sits. Strong colours mark stronger evidence — weaker tiers are deliberately visible, not hidden.
3 observations · 3 tiers
Human RCT
1
Animal model
1
In vitro
1
03
What the studies show
Human RCT
Mensch
Ng FM. et al. 2010
No clinically relevant weight reduction in four phase-2 trials versus placebo in adults with obesity
What does NOT follow: Negative result from multiple phase-2 trials; the obesity programme was discontinued in 2007. Often not mentioned in black-market marketing.
Animal model
Maus / Zellkultur
Lipolytic effect in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and mouse models reproducibly documented
What does NOT follow: Animal-model finding; translation to humans failed in controlled phase-2 trials.
In vitro
Chondrozyten-Kultur
In small studies on osteoarthritis cartilage a modulating effect on chondrocytes in vitro has been reported
What does NOT follow: Very limited evidence; no controlled clinical trials for orthopaedic endpoints.
04
Where studies disagree
Open question
Does AOD-9604 have clinically relevant effects on body composition in humans?
POSITION A
Animal and in-vitro studies from the Metabolic Pharmaceuticals group showed lipolytic effects.
POSITION B
Four phase-2 human trials missed the primary endpoint; the manufacturer discontinued the obesity programme in 2007.
CURRENT STATE · The negative trials are robust and published by the manufacturer itself. Current marketing claims consistently ignore this evidence.
05
Pharmacokinetics
Theoretical concentration curve at a half-life of 0.4 h. Pure pharmacokinetic model — not a dosing recommendation.
Which routes of administration the available studies describe — neutral reporting, not a usage guide.
Oral
In the original phase-2 programme, AOD-9604 was investigated as an oral daily dose — a differentiator from other GH-axis substances.
Subcutaneous
In black-market use predominantly subcutaneous, based on conventions of other GH-axis peptides.
07
Known adverse events from studies
Factual reporting of what studies observed. Not a safety statement for individual use.
Human RCT
Safety profile well tolerated over the phase-2 period
Pharmacovigilance outside the phase-2 trials is practically non-existent; black-market risks are not captured.
in Phase-2-Studien überwiegend mild
07b
Interactions & combinations
Documented interactions and contraindications from studies, prescribing information and guidelines. Where no data exists, this is stated.
Reporting of risks, NOT a combination guide. The absence of an entry does not mean „safe to combine“ but „not sufficiently studied“.
No documented interactions recorded
We have not yet found robustly documented interactions for this peptide. This does NOT mean none exist — the data is limited.
08
Risks & hygiene aspects in the literature
What regulatory and scientific literature reports on risks, sterility and identity in non-pharmaceutical sources — descriptive, not a hygiene guide.
Misunderstanding of TGA Schedule 4 classification
Marketers sometimes argue that AOD-9604 is 'approved' in Australia. Correct is: it is a prescription-only substance (Schedule 4), but no medicine is approved for it — prescription-only status without an available product.
10
Anecdotal observations
Weakest evidence tier — not supported by studies
Reading note. This section gathers popular claims from communities and forums. They are explicitly marked as weakest-tier evidence. Unblinded self-reports are particularly prone to placebo, recall and confirmation biases.
Why no amounts or protocols are listed here. We deliberately show only WHAT communities report — not in what amount or how it is used. Anecdotal "doses" or "biohacker protocols" are neither verified nor standardised nor safe; publishing them would be a usage guide, which we do not provide on principle. Specific amounts belong in a conversation with a doctor, not in a forum.
In fitness forums AOD-9604 is described as a 'safe fat burner without GH side effects'.
common in English-language bodybuilding forums
Not supported by studies: This claim ignores the negative human phase-2 trials and the original manufacturer's discontinuation. Black-market products additionally carry purity and identity risks.
11
Legal status by country
Country
Status
Note
Checked
Australia
Restricted
TGA status: SUSMP Schedule 4 (prescription-only), but no product registered as a medicine in Australia. Sale as a cosmetic ingredient or dietary supplement is actively investigated and sanctioned by the TGA.
2026-05-22
United States
Unapproved
No FDA approval. On the WADA prohibited list under S2 as a GH fragment.
2026-05-22
Germany
Unapproved
No EMA approval. Sale as a 'research chemical' is not legally covered; WADA-prohibited.
2026-05-22
12
Reconstitution calculator
Pure mg/mL maths — works like a calculator. Not a usage recommendation.
Peptides ship as a dry powder. Once dissolved in a liquid (reconstitution), this calculator answers a single question: how much substance is in one millilitre of solution afterwards?
1Enter the vial's substance amount (printed on the label).
2Enter how much solvent you add.
3Result = concentration in mg per mL.
Printed on the label
/
Liquid you add
=
2.50
mg / mL
5 mg in 2 mL gives 2.50 mg/mL — each millilitre contains 2.50 mg of substance.