AOD-9604 – Research & Chemical Profile
Description
AOD 9604 is a synthetic, research-grade peptide derived from the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 176–191) with a tyrosine substitution and a stabilizing disulfide bridge. This 16-amino-acid sequence (Tyr-Leu-Arg-Ile-Val-Gln-Cys-Arg-Ser-Val-Glu-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gly-Phe) retains the lipolytic domain of hGH while minimizing effects on insulin and IGF-1 levels. The disulfide bond increases stability and bioactivity under laboratory conditions.
Primary Research Focus
• Selective Lipid Metabolism: Preclinical studies show AOD 9604 promotes fat breakdown (lipolysis) and inhibits fat formation (lipogenesis), making it a focal point in metabolic research.
• β₃-Adrenergic Activation: Evidence indicates stimulation of β₃-adrenergic receptors in adipose tissue, enhancing fat oxidation.
• Cartilage & Connective Tissue: Animal models have explored its potential in cartilage regeneration and musculoskeletal health.
• Safety Profile: Trials confirm AOD 9604 is non-immunogenic and does not alter endogenous growth hormone levels.
• Oral Bioactivity: Unusually for a peptide, AOD 9604 has shown promising activity when administered orally in experimental models.
This combination of structural stability and targeted metabolic action has positioned AOD 9604 as a widely used tool for investigating lipid metabolism, connective-tissue repair, and peptide pharmacology.Chemical Structure / Identifiers
Property
Detail
Molecular Formula
C₇₈H₁₂₅N₂₃O₂₃S₂ (PubChem)
Molecular Weight
~1817.1 g/mol (Rocky Mountain Peptides)
CAS Number
221231-10-3 (Wikipedia)
PubChem CID
71300630 (free base) (PubChem)
Structural Modifications
Disulfide bond (between two cysteines), tyrosine substitution at the N-terminus; designed for stability in lab settings. (PubChem)
Known / Claimed Effects (From Preclinical & Some Clinical Research)
- Promotes lipolysis (fat breakdown) and inhibits lipogenesis (fat formation). (PubMed / PMC)
- Reduced weight gain in obese Zucker rats when given orally (500 µg/kg for 19 days), with increased lipolytic activity in adipose tissues, but without adverse effects on insulin sensitivity. (PubMed)
- Effects on lipid metabolism were also studied in mice, including β₃-adrenergic receptor involvement. (Oxford Academic)
Safety / Limitations
- Preclinical models show minimal effects on insulin / IGF-1, which is good for metabolic safety. (PubMed)
- Oral activity has been suggested in animal work. (PubMed)
- Clinical efficacy in humans has been modest; some trials did not show strong weight loss vs placebo after longer durations. (PMC)Key Publications
Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, Libinaka R, Jiang WJ, Gianello R. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Horm Res. 2000; 53(6):274-278. DOI:10.1159/000053183. PMID: 11146367 (PubMed)
Heffernan MA, Summers RJ, Thorburn AW, Ogru E, Gianello R, Jiang WJ, Ng FM. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and β(3)-AR knock-out mice. Endocrinology. 2001;142(12):5182-5189. (Oxford Academic / PMC)
Safety and Metabolism of AOD9604, a Novel Nutraceutical Ingredient for Improved Metabolic Health. More MI et al. J of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2014.
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