Metabolic
An unapproved fragment of human growth hormone
Not FDA-approved · not available for sale or prescriptionAOD-9604 is not approved as a drug, and oral AOD-9604 failed its phase 2b obesity trial (OPTIONS); development stopped in 2007. It is a 16-amino-acid synthetic peptide (tyrosine plus human growth hormone residues 177-191) designed to reproduce growth hormone's fat-breakdown activity without its growth-promoting, IGF-1-raising effects. It is still sold as an unregulated research chemical. It has no lawful US compounding pathway: its bulks nominations were withdrawn in 2024, and FDA's compounding advisory committee voted 12-0 in Dec 2024 against adding it to the 503A bulks list.
Also known as Anti-Obesity Drug-9604 · AOD9604
Y-LRIVQCRSVEGSCGF (disulfide bridge between the two Cys residues)
AOD-9604 reproduces the C-terminal lipolytic domain of hGH (residues 177-191, with an added N-terminal tyrosine). It is proposed to activate beta-3 adrenergic receptors on adipocytes, upregulating hormone-sensitive lipase to break down stored triglycerides and inhibiting new lipogenesis, without engaging the GH receptor pathway that raises IGF-1.
Evidence · Early or small human studies
The OPTIONS phase 2b trial (about 500 adults with obesity; FDA cites 502) of oral AOD-9604 for 24 weeks with diet and exercise found no significant difference in weight loss vs placebo, and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals ended obesity development in 2007.
about 500 adults with obesity (FDA: 502), phase 2b, 24 weeks
In sponsor-funded safety data from six placebo-controlled IV and oral studies (Stier et al. 2013, summarized by FDA), AOD-9604 did not change serum IGF-1 vs placebo, and no anti-AOD-9604 antibodies were detected with up to 24 weeks of oral use.
participants in six placebo-controlled IV/oral studies
In a 12-week phase 2b trial, 300 adults with obesity took oral AOD-9604 (five dose arms) or placebo; the sponsor announced that the best-performing arm lost 2.8 kg vs 0.8 kg on placebo. FDA later noted the result rests on small between-group differences reported only in an abstract.
300 adults with obesity, phase 2b
FDA removed AOD-9604 from Category 2 of its interim 503A policy in September 2024 after the nominators withdrew, then evaluated it on its own initiative; on Dec 4, 2024 the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 12-0 against placing AOD-9604 (free base and acetate) on the 503A Bulks List.
n/a - regulatory
AOD-9604 is explicitly named as an example substance under WADA's S2 category (Growth Hormone fragments), making it prohibited in and out of competition.
n/a - regulatory/anti-doping
Based on: published clinical trials.
Checked 2026-09