# AOD-9604

A piece of the growth-hormone molecule that was developed as an obesity pill in the 2000s. The trials failed and the company dropped it. It is still sold as a fat-loss injection.

Also called: hGH fragment 177-191, Anti-obesity drug 9604
Source page: https://peplogue.com/peptides/aod-9604/
Updated: 2026-10-22. Not medical advice.

## How it works

- Where it acts: Thought to mimic the fat-burning tail of growth hormone without raising IGF-1.
- What it changes: More fat breakdown in animal studies.
- What people notice: In human trials, no more weight loss than placebo.

## What the evidence shows

- **Fat loss**: Failed. Six company trials covered 893 people. Early studies hinted at an effect, but the largest, a 24-week trial of 502 people, found no weight loss beyond placebo.

## Side effects and risks

- unknown: Side effects matched placebo in the trials. Nothing is known about repeated injections.
- unknown: FDA has identified serious adverse events that may be linked to AOD-9604, cause unclear, and cites the risk of immune reactions and impurities in compounded versions.

Who should avoid it: Athletes, and anyone expecting fat loss: the trials found none.

## How it has been given in studies

By mouth, 0.25 mg to 54 mg a day for up to 24 weeks. Two small early trials gave single doses into a vein. The under-the-skin injections sold online were never tested.

## Legal status

- United States: undefined. Its nomination for pharmacy compounding was withdrawn.
- European Union: undefined
- Spain: undefined. Research peptide. No authorised medicine in Spain (no CIMA entry found). Not lawful to sell to the public as a medicine, food or cosmetic.
- Germany: undefined. Not an approved medicine in Germany. Listed in the AntiDopG annex (GH fragments); unapproved sale is unlawful under the AMG.
- France: undefined. No French authorisation found. Not named by ANSM, but its Jul 2026 alert says peptides bought outside the official circuit are illegal.
- Italy: undefined. No Italian authorisation found. On the WADA banned list (GH fragments), so doping law can apply to athletes. Unverified research vials online.
- Netherlands: undefined. No Dutch marketing authorisation. Selling it as a medicine is illegal, even labelled research use. Banned in sport (WADA S2).
- United Kingdom: undefined
- Canada: undefined
- Australia: undefined. Schedule 4 and Appendix D of the Poisons Standard: possession without authority is illegal.

## Questions people ask

**Does AOD-9604 work for fat loss?**

The human trials say no. Six company trials covered 893 people, and the largest, a 24-week trial of 502 people, found no weight loss beyond placebo.

**Is AOD-9604 safe?**

Side effects matched placebo in the trials, which gave it by mouth. Nothing is known about repeated injections, and FDA has identified serious adverse events that may be linked to it, cause unclear.

**Were the AOD-9604 injections sold online ever tested?**

No. The trials gave it by mouth, and two small early trials gave single doses into a vein. The under-the-skin injections sold online were never tested.

**Is AOD-9604 legal?**

In the US its nomination for pharmacy compounding was withdrawn. In Australia it is Schedule 4 and Appendix D of the Poisons Standard, so possession without authority is illegal.

## Sources

- Stier et al.: safety summary of six AOD9604 trials: https://jofem.org/index.php/jofem/article/download/157/195
- More & Kenley: no weight loss in the final trial: https://jofem.org/index.php/jofem/article/download/213/279
- FDA: bulk substances that may present significant safety risks: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
- WADA Prohibited List: https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list