AOD-9604

Buy AOD-9604: a fragment with its own research profile

AOD-9604 is a synthetic fragment of the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. This segment is studied in connection with lipolysis and fat oxidation. What sets it apart is that research treats it as a substance in its own right, not as a smaller version of the intact hormone. This makes it possible to ask questions about fat metabolism without having to consider the full range of hGH activity.

A fragment with its own identity

Human growth hormone is a large signaling protein with many tasks. It acts on longitudinal growth, liver metabolism, insulin regulation and the formation of IGF-1. AOD-9604 replicates only a small part of the C-terminal region, specifically the area described in research as the lipolytic domain. This narrowing of focus is central to the concept: the fragment is not the same as recombinant hGH, and its structure does not automatically imply all the effects of the whole hormone.

The C-terminus refers to the terminal section of a protein. In human growth hormone, this region is associated with lipolytic activity, meaning the breakdown of fat stores. AOD-9604 replicates exactly this section, so it can be studied as a substance in its own right.

Lipolysis and fat oxidation in animal models

In a study of obese Zucker rats, lipolysis and other metabolic parameters were investigated (study in obese Zucker rats). Another study used obese mice and tracked fat oxidation and body weight over a longer treatment period. In that study, the animals gained less weight; the accompanying receptor and cell assays showed no competition at the growth hormone receptor (investigation in obese mice).

Lipolysis describes the breakdown of fat stores, while fat oxidation describes the oxidative utilization of fatty acids. Together, the two measures provide a more differentiated picture than a single weight measurement.

What the receptor finding changes

The growth hormone receptor is the classic entry point for many hGH signals. The fact that AOD-9604 did not compete with this receptor in an assay does not mean that the fragment has no biological effects of its own. Rather, it indicates that the observed metabolic changes probably cannot be explained simply by binding to the hGH receptor. For research, this separation is precisely what makes the fragment interesting: a single section of the hormone axis can be studied without pulling in the entire signaling cascade of the intact hormone.

The human reference point: OPTIONS

The step from animal model to humans changes the strength of the conclusions. In the OPTIONS study evaluated by the FDA, AOD-9604 was investigated over 24 weeks in people with obesity. The FDA's 2024 assessment states that weight loss did not differ statistically significantly from placebo (FDA assessment of the OPTIONS study).

According to the agency, the complete data were not published in the medical literature. The clinical finding therefore remains a clear reference point: the preclinical metabolic observations are interesting, but they do not demonstrate a weight-loss effect in humans.

The research profile at a glance

AOD-9604 brings together two lines of research: the regulation of lipolysis and fat oxidation, and the question of how selectively parts of growth hormone activity can be studied. The evidence ranges from cell and animal models to a human trial summarized by a regulatory agency. For basic research, this produces a clearly defined profile that differs from that of intact growth hormone.

Variants for the research project

AOD-9604 is offered in 5 mg and 10 mg per vial. Both variants contain the stated amount of AOD-9604. Buy AOD-9604 now and select the variant that suits your research project in the shop.