Explore BioBoost LabsAOD-9604
A short synthetic peptide fragment derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone, studied historically as a research tool for fat-metabolism signaling.
What the name means
AOD-9604 is a development code — “AOD” stands for anti-obesity drug, the research framing under which it was created, and the number is simply a compound identifier.
The name reflects the original research question rather than any established effect. In this log it is treated purely as a reference identifier for a specific peptide fragment.
What it actually is
AOD-9604 is a short synthetic peptide based on the tail end of human growth hormone (hGH). It corresponds to the C-terminal region of hGH (around residues 177–191) with an added tyrosine, so it reproduces a small functional fragment rather than the whole hormone.
Type hGH C-terminal peptide fragment
Length Short fragment (~15 residues)
Bonds Retains a disulfide-linked loop from the hGH C-terminus
Origin Human growth hormone (hGH 177–191 region)
Because it is only a fragment, AOD-9604 lacks the full receptor activity of intact growth hormone.
Where it came from
AOD-9604 came out of work in Australia (associated with Monash University and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals) investigating which part of growth hormone was linked to fat-metabolism signaling.
Rather than use the whole hormone, researchers isolated the C-terminal fragment thought to carry lipid-related activity and synthesized it as a standalone peptide — the origin of AOD-9604.
Why it was created — the thought process
The design logic was to separate a specific signaling region of growth hormone from the rest of the molecule, in the hope of studying fat-metabolism pathways without the broader systemic actions of the full hormone.
Isolating a small fragment was an attempt to create a more targeted research tool. This log describes that intent only and does not assert that the intended effect was established.
How it is made
AOD-9604 is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS): the short chain is built residue by residue on a resin, the disulfide loop is formed, and the product is cleaved, purified by HPLC, and confirmed by mass spectrometry.
Its small size makes it well suited to standard synthetic peptide manufacturing rather than recombinant expression.
What the research actually shows — honestly
Honestly framed: AOD-9604 was studied in laboratory and clinical settings as a candidate for fat-metabolism research, and the human obesity studies conducted did not deliver the results its developers hoped for — a candidate that did not clear the bar it was designed against.
This is research-use-only reference material. No benefit or health claim is made, and no dosing, timing, or protocol is provided. What can be said is limited to what was studied, not what was proven. Consult a physician and the primary literature for specifics.
Selected research & sources
The items below are drawn from the peer-reviewed literature (PubMed) and describe results observed in research models or reported in the clinical literature. They are listed so the evidence can be examined at its source — not to suggest any use.
- Cox HD, et al. Drug Test Anal. 2015. “Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604.” doi.org/10.1002/dta.1715
- Heffernan M, et al. Endocrinology. 2001. “The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and β3-AR knock-out mice.” doi.org/10.1210/endo.142.12.8522
- Ng FM, et al. Horm Res. 2000. “Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone.” doi.org/10.1159/000053183
Regulatory status: Not FDA-approved for obesity or any indication; WADA-prohibited. Research material, RUO.
◆ A reference, not a recommendation
This page explains what AOD-9604 is and where it came from — the science and the story — not who should use anything, or how. These are research materials for laboratory research only; nothing here is medical, dosing, or treatment advice.
Research-use-only educational content. Factual overview; claims of clinical benefit are not implied.