Synthetic fragment from the end of growth hormone, designed to burn fat without the hormone's other effects. Tested in humans for obesity, but never approved.
Regulatory status
Not approved
Family
Modified fragment of human growth hormone (C-terminal end)
Scientific evidence
Low
Number of findings
3
Where it acts
Digestive and weight · Hormones and metabolism · Bones and muscles
Also known as
AOD9604, Tyr-hGH 177-191, lipolytic fragment of growth hormone
Regulatory status
FDA (US): Not approved as a drug. The FDA warns of possible immunogenicity and impurity problems and of limited safety data.
EMA (EU): Not approved
Dose
There is no established dose in humans.
Safety
Long-term published safety data are lacking. The FDA records serious adverse effects of unclear cause with unregulated preparations. Its use only makes sense in research or under medical supervision; buying it is not recommended.
Effect by goal · level of evidence
Weight and fat in obese rats
reducesLowpreclinical (A)animals / laboratory
−55% weight gain
In obese Zucker rats, 500 µg/kg a day orally for 19 days reduced weight gain by more than half (15.8 g vs 35.6 g), without worsening insulin sensitivity.
Reproduces the part of growth hormone that stimulates lipolysis (release of fat from adipose tissue). In theory it does not raise IGF-1 or worsen insulin sensitivity, as the full hormone does.
What the evidence says
In people
Limited evidence in humans. Recent reviews classify it among the unapproved peptides whose benefits in humans have not been demonstrated and whose safety data are scarce. PubMed 41966639
In animals or the laboratory
Weight and fat in obese rats. In obese Zucker rats, 500 µg/kg a day orally for 19 days reduced weight gain by more than half (15.8 g vs 35.6 g), without worsening insulin sensitivity. PubMed 11146367
Weight and fat in obese mice. In obese mice, 14 days of AOD-9604 reduced body weight and fat, the same as full growth hormone. PubMed 11713213