AOD-9604 — Lipolytic hGH Fragment

Background

AOD-9604 (Anti-Obesity Drug 9604) is a modified fragment of human growth hormone consisting of the C-terminal residues 177–191 with an added tyrosine residue. It was developed in the 1990s and 2000s by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (Australia) as an investigational obesity drug.

Mechanism

AOD-9604 is designed to retain the lipolytic activity of full-length growth hormone — stimulating fat oxidation and inhibiting lipogenesis in adipocytes — while removing the IGF-1-mediated effects on growth, glucose homeostasis, and insulin resistance.

What is proven

Stimulation of lipolysis and inhibition of lipogenesis is demonstrated in rodent adipose tissue and cultured adipocytes. Early human pharmacokinetic and tolerability data established a clean safety profile at tested doses, with no impact on IGF-1 or glucose.

What is NOT proven (and what trials actually showed)

Phase 2b human obesity trials sponsored by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals did not demonstrate statistically significant weight loss versus placebo over 24 weeks. Development as an obesity therapeutic was discontinued.

Claims that AOD-9604 produces meaningful fat loss in humans are not supported by the pivotal trial data.

Open research questions

Whether topical or local injection of AOD-9604 has any meaningful body-recomposition effect; combination effects with other lipolytic agents.

Regulatory status

Not approved as a drug by any regulator. The FDA granted AOD-9604 GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for use as a dietary-supplement ingredient in the US in 2014 — this is a food-safety determination, not a drug approval.

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