AOD-9604
unknown riskAlso: Anti-Obesity Drug 9604 · HGH Fragment 177-191
AOD-9604 is the lipolytic fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177-191), modified for stability. It specifically targets fat metabolism without the anabolic effects of full HGH, having completed a Phase 3 obesity trial that did not achieve primary endpoints.
Reported Benefits
Fat Metabolism
Activates lipolytic pathways in adipose tissue; inhibits lipogenesis in animal studies.
Weight Loss
Phase 3 trial (METRO) did not meet primary weight loss endpoints.
Cartilage Repair
Limited data suggests potential for osteoarthritis application.
Mechanism of Action
AOD-9604 activates beta-3 adrenergic receptors in adipose tissue, stimulating lipolysis (fat breakdown) without activating IGF-1 receptor or inducing insulin resistance — distinguishing it from full-length HGH. The mechanism is specific to the C-terminal fragment's interaction with adipocyte receptors.
Key Clinical Studies
White HM et al. (2009)
RCT · Phase 3 METRO trial
Failed primary weight loss endpoint vs placebo; secondary metabolic benefits noted
Overview
AOD-9604 represents an interesting case study in pharmaceutical peptide development: a fragment of natural HGH specifically engineered to retain only the lipolytic (fat-burning) activity while eliminating the diabetogenic and anabolic effects. It reached Phase 3 clinical trials but ultimately failed to demonstrate sufficient weight loss efficacy for regulatory approval.
Phase 3 Failure Context
The METRO trial enrolled over 500 participants but did not achieve statistically significant weight loss vs. placebo. This is a meaningful negative finding that distinguishes AOD-9604 from peptides with no human trial data. The failure does not rule out all potential applications — secondary endpoints showed metabolic improvements, and the cartilage repair indication remains under investigation.
Fragment 176-191 Confusion
The related compound “Fragment 176-191” refers to a slightly different numbering of the same HGH C-terminal region. These are often conflated in consumer markets but may have slightly different activity profiles. AOD-9604 includes a specific modification (tyrosine at position 177) that enhances stability.
Research Status
Despite Phase 3 failure for obesity, research continues for joint/cartilage applications. Nutraceutical status has been pursued in some markets with regulatory success as a food supplement ingredient.
Regulatory Status
Research OnlyFDA Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status sought but not granted; Phase 3 obesity trial conducted; no approval
Safety Profile
Side Effects
- •Injection site reactions
- •Headache (mild)
- •Transient nausea
Contraindications
- •Active malignancy
- •Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
- •Insulin
Primary Uses
Related Peptides
Weekly Briefing
Regulatory updates + new study breakdowns.
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