AOD-9604
Modified fragment of human growth hormone (hGH 176-191) that mimics fat-burning effects without growth-promoting side effects.
Last updated: August 2026
Category
Fat Burning / Metabolic
Frequency
Daily injection (community practice, no trial)
Research
Phase 2 CompletedWhat is AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 (Advanced Obesity Drug) is a synthetic peptide fragment derived from the C-terminus of human growth hormone, specifically amino acids 176 to 191. Researchers isolated this portion of hGH because it appears to be responsible for the fat-metabolizing properties of growth hormone without the growth-promoting or insulin-desensitizing effects. Browse the full peptide library for related compounds.
It was originally developed by Monash University in Australia and reached Phase 2b clinical trials for obesity treatment. Those human trial results were never published in a peer-reviewed journal, so the efficacy and safety figures that circulate for AOD-9604 in people trace back to company statements rather than to independently reviewed data. It did not receive FDA approval, and development for standalone obesity treatment was discontinued.
Unlike GLP-1 peptides, AOD-9604 does not suppress appetite, it works directly on fat tissue to stimulate lipolysis (fat breakdown) and inhibit lipogenesis (fat storage). For FDA-approved visceral fat reduction, see tesamorelin. AOD-9604 is particularly valued for targeting stubborn fat deposits.
How It Works
Lipolysis Stimulation: AOD-9604 binds to beta-3 adrenergic receptors on fat cells, stimulating the breakdown of stored triglycerides into free fatty acids that can be burned for energy. This process is called lipolysis.
Lipogenesis Inhibition: Simultaneously inhibits the conversion of food into stored fat, reducing fat accumulation particularly in adipose tissue.
No IGF-1 Elevation: Unlike full hGH, AOD-9604 does not stimulate IGF-1 production, meaning it does not cause muscle growth, bone density changes, or glucose dysregulation, making it significantly safer for long-term use.
Benefits
- Targeted fat reduction, particularly stubborn fat deposits
- Stimulates lipolysis (fat breakdown) directly in adipose tissue
- Does not cause insulin resistance or glucose issues
- No IGF-1 elevation: safer than full hGH
- Cartilage repair properties observed in some studies
- Daily injection is the commonly reported pattern (community practice, no trial: no approved label specifies a frequency)
- Reached phase 2b in obesity without approval; the development programme was discontinued for monotherapy
Dosing Described in Research and Labels
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigational | No established human dose | Subcutaneous (research) | Not established |
These figures summarise what published research and approved labels describe. They are educational, not a recommendation or a personal protocol. Any dose, schedule, or decision to use a compound belongs with a licensed prescriber.
Side Effects
Common
- ⚠Injection site redness or swelling (mild)
- ⚠Brief flushing or warmth post-injection
- ⚠Mild fatigue in first 1 to 2 weeks
Rare
- •Headache (typically transient)
- •Dizziness immediately post-injection
- •Nausea (uncommon at standard doses)
Who Should NOT Use AOD-9604
- ✕Active cancer or history of cancer (growth factors)
- ✕Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- ✕Under 18 years old
- ✕Active diabetes (monitor blood glucose)
- ✕Allergy to peptide components
What to Expect
Minimal visible changes. Body adapts to the peptide. Some users report reduced water retention early on.
Reported fat loss becomes more noticeable (community practice, no trial). The insulin-sensitive lipolysis mechanism is why a fasted window is described as where the compound has least resistance, though no trial has tested timing, and diet and activity drive the overall result either way.
Reported fat reduction continues, most often described around the abdomen and flanks (community practice, no trial). No human trial has measured regional fat distribution on this compound.
Cycles of roughly 12 weeks before a break are the commonly reported pattern (community practice, no trial). No trial has established a duration, and no approved label defines one.
Notes from Ho Chi Minh City
AOD-9604 is a GH-fragment fat-loss peptide usually discussed as a GLP-1 complement rather than a standalone, because its phase 2b monotherapy programme was discontinued without approval. The standalone effect described in HCMC expat circles, on the order of a kilo or two over twelve weeks, is community practice with no trial behind it, and it is not transformational. The claim that adding it to a GLP-1 pulls more from lower-abdomen and hip fat is also community practice, no trial: nobody has tested that pairing. The mechanism is insulin-sensitive, so a fasted morning window is described as where it has least resistance and a carb hit blunts it, which is a mechanism argument rather than a tested schedule. On the Vietnam market, research-grade AOD-9604 is sourced through cold-chain importers rather than pharmacies, so what is being bought is a research compound with a discontinued development programme behind it, not a registered medicine. Dose, timing, and whether to combine it with anything are a prescriber's decision.
Sourcing in Vietnam
AOD-9604 has no FDA approval and no DAV-registered pharmaceutical brand in Vietnam. It is not stocked at Long Châu, Pharmacity, FV Hospital, or Vinmec. The material that circulates is research-grade, brought in by cold-chain importers and packaged in 5mg vials. That milligram figure describes how the product is packaged and sold, not a dose: no human dose has been established for AOD-9604 and there is no approved label. The original Monash University development reached Phase 2b but was discontinued for monotherapy obesity treatment. See the supplier list and COA guide before purchasing.
FAQ
Q: Should I take AOD-9604 fasted?
A: No human trial has established a schedule for AOD-9604, fasted or otherwise, and there is no approved label anywhere that specifies one. The reasoning behind the fasted habit is mechanistic: lipolysis is suppressed by insulin, so a fasted window is described as where a lipolytic agent has the least resistance and food as blunting it. That is a mechanism argument, not a measured result, and a fasted timing habit reported in the community is community practice, no trial. When and whether it would be used at all is a decision for a licensed prescriber.
Q: How does AOD-9604 compare to GLP-1 peptides for weight loss?
A: They are not in the same evidence category. GLP-1 receptor agonists have large randomised human trials with published weight change figures: 14.9 percent mean reduction on semaglutide 2.4 mg at 68 weeks and 20.9 percent on tirzepatide 15 mg at 72 weeks (trial doses, not a recommendation, PMID 33567185 and 35658024). AOD-9604 has nothing comparable. Its best known result is preclinical: human growth hormone and its C-terminal fragment both reduced body weight gain and increased fat oxidation in obese mice over 14 days of infusion (mouse study, not a human dose, PMID 11673763). Its own obesity development programme stopped at phase 2b without approval. On running the two together, no trial has tested that pairing, and this page does not publish combination guidance.
Q: Can AOD-9604 help with spot reduction?
A: No published human trial has shown AOD-9604 producing targeted or regional fat loss, and reports of preferential loss from the abdomen or hips are anecdotal rather than measured (community practice, no trial). The fat loss literature does not support spot reduction in general, and nothing in the AOD-9604 evidence base is an exception to it: the supporting data is preclinical, the compound is not approved in any market, and the phase 2b programme was discontinued for obesity monotherapy. Source from the community-verified supplier list.
Where to Get AOD-9604 in Vietnam
See our community-verified supplier list with COA verification and cold-chain shipping to Vietnam.
Related Peptides
Research & Sources
- Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone · Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, et al. · Hormone Research (2000) (PMID: 11146367)
Foundational mechanistic paper describing AOD-9604 lipolytic action without IGF-1 elevation.
- The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice · Heffernan M, Summers RJ, Thorburn A, Ogru E, Gianello R, Jiang WJ, Ng FM · Endocrinology (2001) (PMID: 11713213)
In vitro and in vivo data on adipocyte beta-adrenergic pathway activation by the hGH 176-191 fragment.
- Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD9604 with or without Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model · Kwon DR, Park GY · Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science (2015) (PMID: 26275694)
Animal model evidence supporting secondary cartilage repair indications beyond pure fat loss.
Important Disclaimer
Educational content only. Not medical advice. Peptides discussed on this page are not approved by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (Bộ Y Tế) or the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) for the indications described. Research peptides are not stocked at Long Châu, Pharmacity, or any retail pharmacy in Vietnam. Consult a licensed physician before any use.