AOD-9604 is a synthetic, modified fragment of human growth hormone that Australia's Metabolic Pharmaceuticals developed as an obesity drug; a key trial failed in the mid-2000s and it was never approved anywhere. In December 2024 FDA's compounding advisers voted unanimously against letting pharmacies compound it, and WADA bans it by name. What's sold online today is a research-labeled chemical with no approval behind it.
Notice: Research peptides are sold for in-vitro laboratory research only. They are not FDA-approved, not for human or animal consumption, and this page is not medical advice. It contains no dosing or use guidance.
What AOD-9604 is
Human growth hormone (hGH) is a 191-amino-acid protein. Researchers looked at whether its C-terminal end, the last 15 or so residues, carried some of hGH's effects on fat metabolism without its other effects.
AOD-9604 came out of that work. A 2013 review by its developer describes it as "Tyr-hGH 177-191": residues 177-191 of hGH with an extra tyrosine added at the N-terminus, which the authors say stabilizes the peptide. That makes it 16 amino acids long, a "hexadecapeptide" (Stier et al., 2013).
Early work was in animals. A 2001 International Journal of Obesity study in obese mice reported that both hGH and the "modified C-terminal fragment" reduced body weight gain, and that, unlike hGH, the fragment didn't bind the hGH receptor or cause hyperglycemia (Heffernan et al., 2001).
The name "HGH Frag 176-191," sold as a separate product, refers to a closely related fragment. WADA names both together.
Who developed it, and what happened
AOD-9604 was developed at Monash University and commercialized by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals, a Melbourne company created around the compound in 1998 (Biotech Daily, April 19, 2007).
The obesity trials
According to that interview with CEO Roland Scollay:
- Late 2004: a phase 2b obesity trial produced what the article calls controversial results.
- Follow-up: the company ran "a larger different trial," which it called a "mini-phase III," with a different diet and exercise regime.
- Outcome: the trial failed. Scollay said the company was "clearly disappointed this trial was unsuccessful."
- Next steps: Metabolic said it wanted to move on from AOD-9604 for obesity and was considering a phase 2 study in osteoporosis.
We couldn't find a peer-reviewed paper reporting the efficacy results of those obesity trials, so we don't quote weight-change figures.
The published safety data
In 2013, authors including a Metabolic Pharmaceuticals employee published a review of six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with 893 adult participants, most of them clinically obese (Stier, Vos and Kenley, Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism). They reported:
- A safety and tolerability profile "indistinguishable from placebo," with no serious adverse events attributed to AOD-9604.
- No adverse effect on carbohydrate metabolism in glucose tolerance testing.
- No anti-AOD-9604 antibodies in the participants tested, and no change in serum IGF-1.
That review covers safety only. It doesn't establish that AOD-9604 works for anything, and it was sponsored in part by the developer.
FDA status: the 2024 compounding vote
AOD-9604 has never been an approved drug in the US. The open question in recent years was whether licensed pharmacies could compound it. FDA's process gave a clear answer:
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 2024 | FDA removes AOD-9604 from Category 2 "based on the nominators' withdrawal," effective Sept 27, 2024 | Reed Smith summary |
| Dec 4, 2024 | FDA proposes that AOD-9604 "NOT be included on the 503A Bulks List" | FDA voting questions |
| Dec 4, 2024 | The Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee votes 0 yes, 12 no on including AOD-9604 (free base and acetate) | FDA final summary minutes |
| Apr 22, 2026 | FDA's Category 2 page lists AOD-9604 among nominations "withdrawn by the nominators" | FDA |
FDA's Category 2 page notes that "Compounded drugs containing AOD-9604 may pose significant risk for immunogenicity," along with concerns about impurities and characterization. AOD-9604 wasn't among the seven peptides reviewed at the July 2026 advisory meeting.
Separately, FDA's 2020 warning letter to Tailor Made Compounding listed "AOD 9604" among bulk substances that weren't eligible for compounding.
Other agencies
- WADA: the 2026 Prohibited List names "growth hormone fragments, e.g. AOD-9604 and hGH 176-191" under S2.2.3, prohibited at all times (WADA; 2026 list text).
- DEA: not on DEA's controlled substances list dated August 27, 2026.
For how FDA treats "research use only" sales generally, see FDA peptide regulation in 2026 and are peptides legal?
Research-grade vials: what the market looks like
As of October 21, 2026, 65 vendors in our AOD-9604 price index had it in stock, at a median of $10.50 per mg. The cheapest in-stock listings per mg:
| Vendor | Listing | Price | $/mg | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hacker Peptides | AOD-9604 5mg | $24.00 | $4.80 | Review |
| Bulk Peptide Supply | AOD 9604 5mg | $25.00 | $5.00 | Review |
| Honest Peptide | AOD-9604 10mg | $50.40 | $5.04 | Review |
Prices are as listed on vendors' sites on October 21, 2026 and change often. We compare documentation, labs and prices in best AOD-9604 vendors.
How to check an AOD-9604 COA
- Confirm the molecule by mass spectrometry. AOD-9604 and HGH Frag 176-191 are often mixed up. The measured mass should match the product named on the label.
- Look for measured content, not just HPLC purity. Purity says what share of the material is the target peptide; it doesn't say how many milligrams are in the vial. See peptide purity vs net content.
- Match the lot number on the certificate to the vial.
- Verify the lab. A named lab with a lookup or verification key is worth more than "third-party tested." Our COA guide and COA checklist cover the details.
Bottom line
AOD-9604 had a real drug-development program, and it ended when a larger obesity trial failed. Its published human data is a developer-sponsored safety review, not proof of benefit. FDA's advisers voted 12-0 against compounding it in 2024, and WADA bans it by name. Research-labeled AOD-9604 is an unapproved chemical; judge any supplier by its documentation.
Sources are linked inline and were checked October 21, 2026.
