VialOwlLibrary / Weight and metabolic
AOD-9604
Also known as Advanced Obesity Drug 9604, hGH fragment 177-191 analogue, Tyr-hGH(177-191)
Failed trials
Modified fragment of the growth hormone molecule (amino acids 177 to 191) developed as an anti obesity drug. Development for obesity was stopped after it did not show meaningful weight loss in human trials.
Not an approved medicine. AOD-9604 is not an approved medicine for this use in Australia or the United States. This page summarises published research for information only. It is not a recommendation to use AOD-9604, and VialOwl does not sell or supply it.
Background
A modified fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 177 to 191 with an extra tyrosine) developed as an anti obesity drug by the Australian company Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in the late 1990s and 2000s. Development for obesity stopped after a large phase 2b trial did not show meaningful weight loss.
How it is thought to work
It was designed to copy the part of growth hormone thought to break down fat, without binding the growth hormone receptor or raising IGF-1. Human studies found no meaningful effect on IGF-1 or blood sugar, and only small, inconsistent effects on weight.
What is claimed, and the evidence
| Claim | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss and fat loss | Human trials Not supported | A 24 week oral trial in about 500 people failed its main weight loss endpoint. Results come mostly from sponsor reports rather than peer reviewed papers. |
| Joint and cartilage repair (osteoarthritis) | Animal studies only | Injection into the knee improved cartilage outcomes in a rabbit osteoarthritis model; no convincing human trials. |
| Muscle gain, body recomposition and athletic performance | No published evidence | Common online claims; no human evidence. |
Side effects
| Effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Headache, tiredness and injection site reactions | Frequency unknown | Described as mild and short lived in short human studies; exact rates not published in peer reviewed form. |
| Serious adverse events Serious | Case reports | The FDA says it identified serious adverse events that may be linked to AOD-9604, though causality is unclear. |
| Immune reactions to the peptide Serious | Frequency unknown | The FDA lists a significant risk of immunogenicity for some routes of administration. |
Warnings
- It failed to produce meaningful weight loss in human trials and is not approved anywhere.
- In Australia it is Schedule 4 and listed in Appendix D, so possession without authority is illegal.
- The FDA notes possible serious adverse events and impurity concerns; long term safety data do not exist.
- Unapproved products bought online are not checked by any regulator for purity, sterility or strength; they may be contaminated, underdosed, overdosed or contain a different substance to the label.
Regulatory status
- Australia
- Not included on the ARTG (unapproved). Schedule 4 (Prescription Only Medicine) in the Poisons Standard, also listed in Appendix D clause 5 (possession without authority is illegal).
- United States
- Not FDA approved. Previously in 503A Category 2 (significant safety risks); nomination withdrawn and removed from Category 2 in April 2026. Not on the 503A bulks list.
Sources
- Dominikowski et al. 2026, Performance enhancing peptides modulating the GH-IGF1 axis, Frontiers in Endocrinology (PMC full text)
- FDA: Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks
- Wilding 2004, AOD-9604 Metabolic (PubMed)
- Mendias and Awan 2026, Safety and efficacy of approved and unapproved peptide therapies, Sports Medicine (PubMed)
- Poisons Standard June 2026 (Federal Register of Legislation)
Also in Weight and metabolic
From the VialOwl library, reviewed 26 September 2026. For education and general information. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use AOD-9604.