AOD-9604: what the evidence shows

What the human research shows

The most useful compound on this site, for a reason that has nothing to do with what it does. AOD-9604 is the rare grey-market peptide with real human trials behind it — and they were negative. When someone says "there just aren't studies yet," this is the counter-example: sometimes there are studies, and that is why the drug is not on the market.

Evidence profile0–5

Metabolic & weightD0.0
Cardiovascular—0.0
Muscle & growth—0.0
Healing & repairD0.0
Neuro & sleep—0.0
Immune & inflammation—0.0
Sexual & hormonal—0.0
Skin & appearance—0.0
Ageing & longevity—0.0

No benefit outcome for AOD-9604 has both human evidence and a measurable effect, so the profile is empty. That is the finding, not a gap in the chart.

Outcome	Grade	Effect size	Human studies	Where the evidence comes from
Fat mass reduction	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	Pooled trials, 900+ participants	Early short studies suggested a signal; larger and longer trials did not replicate it. Pooled analysis found no significant difference versus placebo. Development terminated for lack of efficacy.1
Body weight	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	Pooled trials	No significant difference from placebo.1
Osteoarthritis / cartilage	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	None conclusive	A later development direction; no positive controlled human result.
Safety in humansadverse	CWeak	Not measurable	Trial programme	Generally well tolerated in the trials — which is the one thing a failed efficacy programme does establish.

AMultiple good human trials, consistentBSome human trials, mostly consistentCFew or weak human studiesDAnimal or anecdotal onlyeffect size · red = adverse

Literature searched to 2 September 2026. Human studies only; animal and cell work informs the mechanism section and nothing else.

What it is

Human growth hormone has a region — amino acids 176 to 191 — associated with fat breakdown. AOD-9604 is that fragment, isolated on the theory that it would produce growth hormone's fat-loss effect without the growth-promoting effects. Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia developed it through phase 2 as an anti-obesity drug.

It has since been marketed as a food ingredient in some jurisdictions and appears in supplements, which is a regulatory status rather than an efficacy claim.

How it is thought to work

In animal and cell models it stimulates lipolysis and inhibits fat formation without affecting IGF-1 or blood glucose. The mechanism was attractive precisely because it appeared to separate the useful part of growth hormone from the rest. In humans it did not produce the outcome.

What is still unknown

Little. This is one of the few peptides where the important question was asked and answered.

The molecule and how long it lasts

Identity

Formula: C78H123N23O23S2
Molecular weight: 1815.1 g/mol
CAS number: 221231-10-3
PubChem: CID 71300630

PubChem record, read 23 September 2026.

Pharmacokinetics

Route: Oral and intravenous in the human trials, which report no PK
Half-life: No human pharmacokinetic data. Pig intravenous half-life about 3 minutes

Animal data only — no human pharmacokinetic study: Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D. Safety and tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in humans. J Endocrinol Metab 2013;3:7–15

Regulatory status

European Union

Unauthorised medicinal product

No marketing authorisation in any member state. Supplying it for human use is an offence under national medicines law; 'research use only' labels do not change that.

United States

Not approved; compounding barred

The advisory committee voted 0–12 against AOD-9604 on 4 December 2024; the nomination is listed as withdrawn since April 2026.

United Kingdom

Unlicensed medicine

Not licensed by the MHRA. Selling or supplying it is an offence under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012; importing a small quantity purely for personal use is not itself an offence, but consignments are seized.

Australia

Schedule 4, unapproved

Prescription-only substance not on the ARTG. Possession without a prescription is an offence; imports without a prescription are seized.

Canada

Not authorised

No Drug Identification Number; selling it is illegal. Among the products Health Canada seized from a domestic vendor in August 2025. Residents cannot import prescription drugs by mail.

Sport (WADA)

Prohibited at all times

S2.2.3: growth hormone fragments, AOD-9604 named.

Questions people actually ask

Does AOD-9604 burn fat?

Not in humans, on the available evidence. Pooled trial data across more than 900 participants found no significant difference from placebo in fat mass or body weight, and development was stopped for that reason.

Why is it still sold if it failed?

Failing an efficacy trial does not remove a compound from the grey market. It gained food-ingredient status in some jurisdictions, which is often quoted as though it were an approval.

One page per claimed effect

DDoes AOD-9604 help with fat mass reduction?Pooled trials, 900+ participants
DDoes AOD-9604 help with body weight?Pooled trials
DDoes AOD-9604 help with osteoarthritis / cartilage?None conclusive
CHow common is safety in humans with AOD-9604?Trial programme

References

1
Pooled analysis of published and unpublished AOD-9604 human trials (900+ participants): no significant difference in fat mass or body weight versus placebo.Evidence review, 2025Secondary source summarising the trial programme and its termination for lack of efficacy.

Change log

2026-09-02Initial publication. Graded D on negative human trials — distinct from D for absence of trials.