If you have been reading about AOD-9604 and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Updated 2026-07-15. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
Stability of AOD-9604 depends on storage conditions. Lyophilized powder is generally more stable than reconstituted solution. Recommended storage is typically at -20°C or lower, protected from light and moisture. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause aggregation or degradation. In solution, the peptide may be susceptible to hydrolysis or oxidation, so aliquoting and cold storage are common practices. Researchers often add stabilizers such as mannitol or trehalose during lyophilization to improve shelf life.
Quality control for AOD-9604 involves verifying identity, purity, and concentration. Suppliers may provide a certificate of analysis listing HPLC purity and mass spectrometry data. Independent verification is advised because peptide products can vary in quality. Researchers should check for counterions, residual solvents, and microbial contamination. Proper documentation supports reproducibility and safety in laboratory studies. When sourcing, institutions often require third-party testing and detailed chain-of-custody records. These steps help ensure that experimental results are attributable to the peptide rather than impurities.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide that corresponds to a short section of human growth hormone. It is commonly identified as hGH fragment 176-191 because its sequence matches residues at the C-terminal end of the hormone. The molecule contains sixteen amino acids and is made by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Researchers study it for metabolic effects rather than for the growth-promoting actions associated with full human growth hormone. Its small size distinguishes it from the complete 191-amino-acid hormone.
Several names appear in scientific and commercial settings. AOD9604 and AOD-9604 are development codes used interchangeably, while hGH fragment 176-191 describes the same region. The peptide includes a disulfide bond between two cysteine residues, which helps shape its three-dimensional structure. Different suppliers may provide acetate or other salt forms, and purity can vary. These differences matter because analytical tests and biological assays can respond to the specific form being studied.
Early interest in AOD-9604 centered on whether a fragment of human growth hormone could influence fat metabolism without the broader effects of the full hormone. Cell and animal studies reported changes in fat storage and breakdown. Human trials followed, but the results were not strong enough to secure regulatory approval. The compound remains available for laboratory research, and its clinical potential is still described as uncertain. Studies continue to examine its activity and safety profile.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Lyophilized form |
| Solubility | Soluble in water | Also soluble in aqueous buffers |
| Storage temperature | -20°C or below | Protect from light and moisture |
| Analytical method | RP-HPLC | Purity and identity assessment |
| Mass confirmation | Mass spectrometry | Verifies molecular mass |
AOD-9604 has been investigated primarily as a potential treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions. Early laboratory work examined its effects on fat cells, and later studies moved into animal models and human clinical trials. Some trials reportedly reached Phase II, but the program did not lead to an approved medicine. Published summaries often note that weight-loss results were modest or inconsistent. The full trial data are not all publicly available in detail.
Regulatory treatment of AOD-9604 has varied. In sports anti-doping, the peptide became widely discussed during a 2013 investigation into an Australian professional sports club. Authorities at the time debated whether it fell under prohibitions on growth hormone and related substances. Later clarifications and updated lists have addressed the compound in different ways. Anyone seeking current status should consult the latest applicable rules, and commercial supply for human use is not authorized in major markets.
Research interest in AOD-9604 often focuses on whether it can influence lipid metabolism without the growth-promoting or glucose-related effects of full-length hGH. This question remains unresolved, and findings depend on model, dose, and measurement method. Some reviews treat the peptide as a historical obesity candidate rather than an active therapeutic. Others cite it in discussions of peptide fragments, metabolic signaling, and performance-enhancing substances. Clear conclusions are limited by the small number of rigorous, independent human studies.
Development of AOD-9604 began in the 1990s as scientists sought to isolate metabolic effects of growth hormone without its growth-promoting actions. Early laboratory work focused on fat cells and animal models. Several human trials followed, examining changes in body composition and fat mass. Results have been mixed, and the peptide has not progressed to widespread clinical approval. Interest continues in research settings, particularly regarding its mechanism and potential metabolic targets.
Regulatory status varies by country. In the United States, AOD-9604 is not approved as a prescription drug. It is sometimes sold as a research chemical or dietary supplement, though such marketing may fall outside legal frameworks. The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits its use in sport. Researchers must obtain it through legitimate suppliers and follow institutional rules. Its legal classification continues to evolve as authorities increasingly assess peptide products more broadly.
=== Litigation === In 1965, the Banaban islanders, after decades of land disputes, royalty fees, and "exploitation," started legal litigation against the British Phosphate Commissioners in British court. After more than a decade, the case finally came to an end, with the Banabans only being awarded £1 and were still made to pay their own legal fees of more than £300,000. The Australian government through the B.P.C. offered £780,000 in reparations.
Ashutosh Chilkoti is an Indian American biomedical engineer, academic, researcher and serial entrepreneur. He is the Alan L. Kaganov Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. Chilkoti has published over 350 papers, has been cited 48,000 times, has a Google Scholar H-index of 116 and has 62 US patents awarded. His research is focused on genetically encoded materials and biointerface science and he has pioneered the development of high-throughput and scalable methods for the recombinant synthesis of repetitive polypeptides, invented a method to purify protein drugs without chromatography, and developed a technology for point-of-care clinical diagnostics. He has founded five start-up companies, including PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals in 2002, Sentilus in 2011, Gateway Bio in 2017, Isolere Bio in 2018, and inSoma Bio in 2019. Chilkoti is a Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Inventors, Biomedical Engineering Society, Controlled Release Society, International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).
Decrease in testosterone Decrease in serum DHT and 5-alpha reductase Decrease 3AAG, a peripheral marker of DHT metabolism Increase in SHBG Decrease in androgen receptors, 5-alpha reductase type I and II activity, and aromatase in the scalp This decrease in androgens and androgen receptors, and the increase in SHBG, are opposite to the increase in androgenic alopecia with aging. This is not intuitive, as testosterone and its peripheral metabolite, DHT, accelerate hair loss, and SHBG is thought to be protective. The ratio of T/SHBG, DHT/SHBG decreases by as much as 80% by age 80, in numeric parallel to hair loss, and approximates the pharmacology of antiandrogens such as finasteride. Free testosterone decreases in men by age 80 to levels double that of a woman at age 20. About 30% of the normal male testosterone level, the approximate level in females, is not enough to induce alopecia; 60%, closer to the amount found in elderly men, is sufficient. The testicular secretion of testosterone perhaps "sets the stage" for androgenic alopecia as a multifactorial diathesis stress model, related to hormonal predisposition, environment, and age. Supplementing eunuchs with testosterone during their second decade, for example, causes slow progression of androgenic alopecia over many years, while testosterone late in life causes rapid hair loss within a month. An example of premature age effect is Werner's syndrome, a condition of accelerated aging from low-fidelity copying of mRNA. Affected children display premature androgenic alopecia.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Detection of protein phosphorylation === Phosphorylation means the posttranslational addition of a phosphate group to specific amino acids of proteins, and such modification can lead to a drastic change in the stability or the function of a protein in the cell. Protein phosphorylation can be detected on an autoradiograph, after incubating the protein in vitro with the appropriate kinase and γ-32P-ATP. The radiolabeled phosphate of latter is incorporated into the protein which is isolated via SDS-PAGE and visualized on an autoradiograph of the gel. (See figure 3. of a recent study showing that CREB-binding protein is phosphorylated by HIPK2.)
Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner. In February 2023, Circuit Judge David Mason found "clear and convincing evidence" that Johnson was not guilty and ordered his release in February 2023 after 28 years in prison. Schmitt also opposed the release Kevin Strickland, who served 43 years before his release in November 2021, on procedural grounds after Jean Peters-Baker, the prosecutor responsible for reviewing his case, publicly expressed her belief in his innocence. Schmitt's office took the position that the law allowing Peters-Baker to challenge the wrongful conviction required an adversarial process, in which the office of the Attorney General represented the state, as a check on local prosecutorial authority. A judge rejected a motion to retitle the case State of Missouri v. Jean Peters Baker. Despite their procedural argument, assistant attorney general Andrew Clarke said the office believed Strickland to be guilty and that he should remain incarcerated. In August 2021, Schmitt's office issued a subpoena requiring Peters-Baker to turn over any communication with third parties regarding the case, which she characterized as "harassment." After Strickland's release, Peters-Baker said Schmitt's handling of the case amounted to "prosecutorial malpractice" and referred to his procedural position as "profoundly idiotic".
=== Available forms === PSGAG is first administered as a series of injections over several weeks, and can be continued once or twice a month thereafter. It is normally injected intramuscularly, though can also be injected intra-articularily (directly into the joint) in horses or subcutaneously in off-label uses. Giving PSGAG intra-articularily requires it to be given aseptically, and is sometimes supplemented by the antibiotic amikacin to prevent infection. There are no generic or human-labeled equivalents of PSGAG in the US.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reversed-phase HPLC is used to assess purity, and mass spectrometry confirms molecular mass. Amino acid analysis can verify composition. These methods are standard for peptide characterization.
Lyophilized powder should be stored at -20°C or lower, protected from light and moisture. Reconstituted solutions are less stable and should be aliquoted to avoid freeze-thaw cycles. Always follow supplier instructions.
Variability in purity, counterion content, and residual solvents is possible. Independent testing and certificates of analysis help verify quality. Microbial contamination can occur if handling is not sterile.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone. It corresponds to the C-terminal region known as hGH 176-191 and is studied for metabolic effects. It is not an approved therapeutic drug.