Question 1

What is AOD-9604?

Accepted Answer

AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal fragment (amino acids 176-191) of human growth hormone, with an additional tyrosine residue. It was developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia. The fragment retains the lipolytic (fat metabolism) activity of full-length GH without the growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects.

Question 2

How does AOD-9604 work in research models?

Accepted Answer

AOD-9604 stimulates lipolysis through beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling and inhibits lipogenesis (new fat formation). Liu et al. (2025, Peptides) documented the beta-3 adrenergic mechanism in adipose tissue models. Importantly, AOD-9604 does not affect IGF-1 levels or blood glucose, distinguishing it from full-length GH in metabolic research.

Question 3

What is the difference between AOD-9604 and full-length growth hormone?

Accepted Answer

Full-length GH (191 amino acids) has both metabolic and growth-promoting effects, including IGF-1 elevation, potential insulin resistance, and anabolic activity. AOD-9604 (16 amino acids) retains only the lipolytic portion of the GH molecule. Research shows it does not stimulate IGF-1, does not affect glucose metabolism, and does not promote long bone growth. This selectivity is the primary research interest.

Question 4

How does AOD-9604 compare to MOTS-C for metabolic research?

Accepted Answer

AOD-9604 and MOTS-C work through entirely different metabolic pathways. AOD-9604 acts on beta-3 adrenergic receptors to stimulate lipolysis directly. MOTS-C is a mitochondria-derived peptide that activates AMPK signaling, affecting glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Kim et al. documented that combining both pathways in preclinical models produced enhanced metabolic effects versus either alone. Source: /blog/aod-9604-vs-mots-c-fat-metabolism-comparison/

Question 5

What is the molecular weight of AOD-9604?

Accepted Answer

AOD-9604 has a molecular weight of approximately 1815.1 Da. The sequence is Tyr-Leu-Arg-Ile-Val-Gln-Cys-Arg-Ser-Val-Glu-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gly-Phe with a disulfide bridge between the two cysteine residues, matching the natural hGH C-terminal loop structure.

Question 6

What clinical research exists for AOD-9604?

Accepted Answer

AOD-9604 was evaluated in phase IIb clinical trials by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia. The trials examined oral and subcutaneous administration for body weight research endpoints. While the compound did not advance further in the pharmaceutical pipeline, the published clinical pharmacology data provides pharmacokinetic and safety characterization used in current preclinical research design.

Question 7

How is AOD-9604 stored for research use?

Accepted Answer

Store lyophilized AOD-9604 at -20 degrees Celsius for long-term stability. Reconstituted solutions should be refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and used promptly. The disulfide bridge in AOD-9604 makes it somewhat more sensitive to oxidation than linear peptides, so minimize air exposure during reconstitution.

Question 8

What purity should research-grade AOD-9604 meet?

Accepted Answer

Research-grade AOD-9604 should meet ≥98% purity by HPLC with mass spectrometry confirmation of the correct molecular weight and disulfide bridge integrity. Spartan Peptides provides AOD-9604 with full COA documentation. Source: /products/aod-9604/

Question 9

Does AOD-9604 affect insulin or blood glucose?

Accepted Answer

Published research consistently documents that AOD-9604 does not affect insulin levels or blood glucose homeostasis in preclinical and clinical models. This is a key differentiation from full-length GH, which can produce insulin resistance at higher doses. The metabolic safety profile is one of the primary research advantages of the fragment approach.

Question 10

What animal models are used in AOD-9604 research?

Accepted Answer

Published AOD-9604 research has primarily used obese rodent models (ob/ob mice and Zucker fatty rats) examining lipolysis endpoints, body composition changes, and metabolic marker panels. The Metabolic Pharmaceuticals team also conducted extensive work in normal-weight rodent models to characterize the lipolytic mechanism independent of obesity phenotype.

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