A practical reference on AOD-9604: what it is, how it behaves, what the literature reports, and where the honest uncertainties sit.
Reviewed 2026-02-05. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
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.
Regulatory bodies have taken different approaches to AOD-9604. It is not approved as a prescription medicine by major agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency. In sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances, and AOD-9604 has been treated as a prohibited substance. These regulatory decisions reflect concerns about safety, efficacy, and potential misuse rather than proof of benefit.
Research on AOD-9604 also examines how the peptide is measured in biological samples. Analytical methods may include liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, immunoassays, or both. Detection can be challenging because the peptide is small and may be present at low concentrations. Published methods vary in sensitivity and specificity, so comparative interpretation requires attention to validation details. The presence of related hGH fragments can complicate identification in some matrices.
AOD-9604 has been investigated mainly in the context of body fat and metabolic endpoints. Some early animal and small human studies reported changes in fat mass or lipid markers, but findings were not uniform. Larger, well-controlled trials that would establish efficacy are lacking in the public literature. As a result, claims about weight loss or metabolic benefit remain investigational rather than established. The distinction between a research finding and a proven clinical outcome is central to discussing this peptide.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | AOD-9604 | Development code used in scientific literature. |
| Chemical class | Synthetic peptide | Fragment of human growth hormone. |
| Amino acid length | 16 residues | Matches hGH region 176-191. |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typical lyophilized peptide solid. |
| Solubility | Soluble in water | Dissolves in aqueous media; exact behavior depends on salt form. |
Regulatory status: AOD-9604 is not approved as a therapeutic drug in the United States, European Union, or other major markets. It is listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a prohibited substance in sport, specifically under growth hormone fragments. Many jurisdictions restrict its sale for human consumption. Products marketed online may not meet pharmaceutical quality standards. The legal status varies by country and often depends on whether the material is presented as a research chemical, supplement, or drug.
Detection and characterization of AOD-9604 in research and anti-doping settings typically rely on mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography. These methods can identify the peptide by its mass and fragmentation pattern. Immunoassays may also be used in some screening contexts, but they can cross-react with related peptides. Because the molecule is small and may be present at low concentrations, sample preparation and method validation are important. Confirmatory analysis usually requires comparison with a certified reference standard.
In laboratory settings, AOD-9604 is commonly supplied as a lyophilized powder and stored cold to limit degradation. Reconstituted solutions are typically kept refrigerated or frozen, depending on the buffer and concentration, and protected from repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Stability can be influenced by pH, temperature, and the presence of proteases. Purity is usually assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. These practices support reproducibility, but they do not imply safety or efficacy for any human use.
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.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide whose sequence matches the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, specifically residues 176 through 191. This region differs from the full hormone in its receptor interactions. The peptide is not a growth hormone secretagogue and does not bind the growth hormone receptor in the same manner. Researchers have examined it for effects on lipid metabolism, but its exact pharmacological profile remains an active area of study.
=== Porosity === Porosity is defined as volume fraction of voids within the PS layer and can be determined easily by weight measurement. The porosity of PS may range from 4% for macroporous layers to 95% for mesoporous layers. A study by Canham in 1995 found that "a 1 μm thick layer of high porosity silicon completely dissolved within a day of in-vitro exposure to a simulated body fluid". It was also found that a silicon wafer with medium to low porosity displayed more stability. Hence, the porosity of PS is chosen according to its potential application areas. The porosity of PS is a macroscopic parameter and doesn't yield any information regarding the microstructure of the layer. It is proposed that the properties of a sample are more accurately predicted if the pore size and pore distribution within the sample can be obtained.
As lieutenant governor in 2016, Newsom was the official proponent of Proposition 63. The ballot measure required a background check and California Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition, among other gun control regulations. In response to the 2019 mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Newsom called for nationwide background checks on people purchasing ammunition. Later that year, he responded to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting by stating his support for the Second Amendment and saying he would like national cooperation controlling "weapons of goddamned mass destruction". He also said, "These shootings overwhelmingly, almost exclusively, are males, boys, 'men'—I put in loose quotes. I do think that is missing in the national conversation." On June 10, 2021, Newsom called federal Judge Roger Benitez "a stone cold ideologue" and "a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby of the National Rifle Association" after Benitez struck down California's statewide ban on assault weapons. While the ban remained in place as the state appealed the ruling, Newsom proposed legislation that would empower private citizens to enforce the ban after the United States Supreme Court declined to strike down the Texas Heartbeat Act, which empowers private citizens to report unauthorized abortions. In 2022, Newsom signed gun control bills passed by the California Legislature.
== Function == Cavin-2 is required for blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) in humans and zebrafish and required also for the endothelial cell proliferation, migration and invasion in humans. Cavin-2 plays an important role in endothelial cell maintenance by regulating eNOS activity. Cavin-2 controls the generation of nitric oxide (NO) in human endothelial cells by controlling the activity and stability of the protein endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS).
The mendelevium separated by this method has the advantage of being free of organic complexing agent compared to the resin column; the disadvantage is that mendelevium then elutes very late in the elution sequence, after fermium. Another method to isolate mendelevium exploits the distinct elution properties of Md2+ from those of Es3+ and Fm3+. The initial steps are the same as above, and employs HDEHP for extraction chromatography, but coprecipitates the mendelevium with terbium fluoride instead of lanthanum fluoride. Then, 50 mg of chromium is added to the mendelevium to reduce it to the +2 state in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid with zinc or mercury. The solvent extraction then proceeds, and while the trivalent and tetravalent lanthanides and actinides remain on the column, mendelevium(II) does not and stays in the hydrochloric acid. It is then reoxidized to the +3 state using hydrogen peroxide and then isolated by selective elution with 2 M hydrochloric acid (to remove impurities, including chromium) and finally 6 M hydrochloric acid (to remove the mendelevium). It is also possible to use a column of cationite and zinc amalgam, using 1 M hydrochloric acid as an eluant, to effect the reduction. Thermochromatographic chemical isolation could be achieved using the volatile mendelevium hexafluoroacetylacetonate: the analogous fermium compound is known and similar.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Andrology and embryology laboratories and reproductive tissue banks === CLIA applies to sperm analysis and the postcoital test, but does not apply to andrology or embryology laboratories, to testing performed as part of an assisted reproductive technology (ART), or to reproductive tissue banks. There are no federal personnel requirements. The lack of CLIA applicability has been criticized noting how semen analysis is categorized as a high complexity test whereas the analysis of oocytes and embryos is unregulated, despite similar equipment and techniques in use. There are accreditation programs such as the CAP/ASRM Reproductive Laboratory Accreditation Program (RLAP), and TJC and CAP offer specialty accreditations, but these are voluntary in nature. In the summer of 1991, HHS notified the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) that in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) laboratories were to be covered under CLIA '88. However, when CLIA '88 was published on February 28, 1992, it did not explicitly mention andrology and embryology laboratories creating uncertainty in regulatory oversight. In 1992, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act (FCRCA), colloquially called the "Wyden bill", requiring the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a model program for the certification of embryo laboratories, to be carried out voluntarily by interested states. This created initial confusion as to whether CLIA was applicable.
For example, a CMAJ article noted that only two case reports and one small case series existed at the time of writing, and guidance documents typically state that micro-dosing is not yet a fully evidence-based alternative compared with standard induction. Furthermore, the phrase "without precipitating withdrawal" should be understood as "typically less likely to precipitate withdrawal" rather than guaranteed to avoid it. Clinicians adopting this method must do so with caution, informed consent, and close monitoring — particularly because many of the studies are small, heterogeneous, and variable in protocol.
== Prognosis == As of 2015, 5-year survival rates for small cell lung cancer (extensive and limited) range between 3.6% and 32.2% for women, and between 2.2% and 24.5% for men. Relative 5-year survival rate for both sexes has increased from 3.6% in 1975 to 6.7% in 2014. In limited-stage disease, the relative 5-year survival rate (both sexes, all races, all ages) is 21.3%; however, women have higher 5-year survival rates, 26.9%, and men have lower survival rates, 21.3%. The prognosis is far grimmer in extensive-stage small-cell lung carcinoma where 5-year relative survival rate (both sexes, all races, all ages) is 2.8%; however, women have higher 5-year survival rates, 3.4%, and men have lower 5-year survival rates, 2.2%. Small-cell carcinoma is very responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and in particular, regimens based on platinum-containing agents. However, most people with the disease relapse, and median survival remains low. The overall incidence and mortality rates of SCLC in the United States have decreased during the past few decades. Long-term survival of more than 5 years can be achieved with proper treatment. According to the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), "patients who received chest radiation and prophylactic cranial irradiation along with a mean of five chemotherapy cycles could achieve a median survival of more than 5 years." In some cases, long-term survival of 10+ years is achieved with chemotherapy and radiation alone. A 2023 article stated that the median overall survival is about 1 year, the worst of any lung cancer subtype.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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.
No. It contains only a small portion of the human growth hormone sequence. The full hormone has 191 amino acids and many additional actions that the fragment does not share.
The name refers to the amino acid positions in the human growth hormone chain. The fragment spans residues 176 through 191 at the C-terminal end. This naming convention helps distinguish it from full-length hGH.
No. It is not approved as a therapeutic drug by major regulators. It is sold for research purposes in many settings, which is not the same as clinical approval.