Educational content only — this is not medical advice. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, obtain, or use AOD-9604. Talk to a licensed clinician before making health decisions.
What it is
AOD-9604 is a 15-amino-acid fragment of the C-terminus of human growth hormone (hGH 177-191). The hypothesis is that this region retains hGH's lipolytic activity without its growth-promoting or glucose-raising effects. It is widely sold as a "fat-loss" research peptide, but published human data are minimal.
What the evidence shows
Most published evidence is preclinical. In rodent and in-vitro models, AOD-9604 has been reported to stimulate lipolysis and reduce fat accumulation without markedly affecting blood glucose or IGF-1. A small human trial in obese patients (Metabolic Pharmaceuticals, 2000s) did not demonstrate statistically significant weight loss at the doses tested, and development for obesity was discontinued. The available evidence does not support meaningful human fat-loss claims.
Risks & unknowns
Long-term safety in humans is not established. Because it is sold as an unregulated research chemical, purity, dosing, and sterility are uncertain. Theoretical concerns include off-target metabolic effects and immune reactions to the injected peptide.
Legal / regulatory status
AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any indication. In 2014 it was included in WADA's Prohibited List under S0 (non-approved substances). It is prohibited in sport at all times. Products marketed online are not authorized for human use.