AOD-9604 is a fragment of hGH, residues 176-191, isolated on the theory that this region carries the fat-metabolizing activity without the growth or glucose effects. The theory was tested in humans, and it did not hold.
Side by side
| AOD-9604 | HGH (Somatropin) | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | hGH C-terminal fragment | Recombinant human growth hormone |
| Status | Research compound (former obesity drug candidate) | FDA approved (somatropin brands); gray-market generics unapproved |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection |
| Typical vials | 2 mg, 5 mg | 10 IU, 12 IU, 24 IU, 36 IU |
| Dose range | 250 mcg to 500 mcg | 1 IU to 4 IU |
| Frequency | Once daily | Once daily, often 5 to 7 days per week |
| Half-life | No human data | ~3 hours |
| Dosing unit | micrograms | IU |
Pharmacokinetics
No curves are shown, on purpose.
No published human pharmacokinetics for AOD-9604. Drawing one curve against an absent one would imply a comparison that cannot be made.
What the evidence supports
These grade how well each outcome has been studied in humans, never how well either compound works. A strong grade can sit on a negative result.
Both top out at the same tier of evidence: Human RCT. Where they differ is in which outcomes have been asked about, not in how well either has been studied overall.
AOD-9604
| Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Weight loss in humans | Human RCT |
| Cartilage or joint repair | Animal only |
| Lipolysis in animal models | Animal only |
HGH (Somatropin)
| Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Body composition in diagnosed GH deficiency | Human RCT |
| Growth in GH-deficient children | Human RCT |
| Body composition in healthy adults | Human, observational |
| Anti-aging outcomes in healthy adults | No data |
How to choose
AOD-9604 was trialed for obesity and failed
It did not separate from placebo. This is a negative result, not an absence of evidence, which makes it one of the better documented compounds on this site.
hGH does change body composition
In people with a deficiency, reliably. Its problem is the population its evidence comes from, not whether it does anything.
A fragment inherits nothing from its parent
This pair is the clearest illustration on the site: being part of a molecule that works does not make a fragment work.
At the syringe
At the default setup on each compound's own page, a 5 mg vial in 2 mL puts 25 mcg on every insulin unit, while a 10 IU vial in 2 mL puts 0.05 IU on every unit. That is the number that decides whether a dose lands on a readable mark, and it is set by how much water goes in, not by the compound.