AOD9604: Growth Hormone Fragment Research Guide (2026)
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Introduction (research-only scope)
AOD9604 is a synthetic fragment corresponding to the C-terminal region of human growth hormone, residues 176 to 191, with an added tyrosine. It was developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia on the hypothesis that the lipolytic activity of growth hormone could be separated from its effects on glucose metabolism and cell growth. This guide covers what it is, what the record actually contains, and its regulatory position.
Research use only. The material described here is a laboratory reagent for in-vitro research by qualified professionals. It is not a medicine, supplement, cosmetic ingredient or veterinary product, is not for human or animal use, and nothing on this page is medical advice or a claim of effect in any person.
What is AOD9604?
AOD9604 (molecular mass 1815.12, CAS 221231-10-3) reproduces a short segment of the growth hormone molecule rather than the whole hormone, which is the point: the fragment does not bind the growth hormone receptor in the way full-length hGH does. Peptra Labs supplies it as a lyophilised research reagent, 5 mg per vial.
How the reported mechanism works
Fragment rather than hormone
The research rationale was that this C-terminal region carries the lipid-metabolism-related activity of growth hormone without engaging the receptor pathway responsible for IGF-1 elevation and growth signalling.
Where it sits in the GH-IGF-1 landscape
A 2026 review in Frontiers in Endocrinology maps the peptides marketed as “research compounds” around the GH-IGF-1 axis, AOD9604 among them, and is a useful orientation to the class rather than to any single claim.
What the published evidence covers
This is one of the thinnest evidence bases in the catalog, and saying so is more useful than padding it. The clinical development programme did not produce an approved product, and the indexed peer-reviewed literature on the fragment itself is limited; most of what circulates online is promotional rather than experimental. Recent indexed work mentioning AOD9604 is largely analytical, concerned with detecting such peptides in doping control. Treat any strong claim about this compound as unsupported until you can point to the study.
How to verify a AOD9604 research peptide is real and pure
Two tests answer two different questions: mass spectrometry confirms identity (expected molecular mass 1815.12), HPLC quantifies purity. Our specification is at least 98%. Check the batch number printed on your vial against the lab reports archive: where a batch has been tested, its report is published there and links to the testing laboratory’s own verification page. If your batch is not listed yet, ask us for its documentation before use; a “typical” certificate is not evidence for a specific vial. See how to read a certificate of analysis.
Storage and reconstitution
Store the lyophilised material sealed, dry and protected from light at 2 to 8 °C for routine laboratory use, colder for long-term archiving. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, keep refrigerated and use within the window your protocol defines; repeated freeze-thaw cycles degrade peptides. General handling for all our reagents is in the peptide storage protocol.
Regulatory status
AOD9604 is not an authorised medicine in the European Union, the United Kingdom or the United States. It is named on the WADA Prohibited List (section S2, growth hormone fragments, listed together with hGH 176-191), prohibited at all times; the live list is the binding reference. Research-grade material supplied here is not a medicine and is for in-vitro laboratory use only. The wider framework, including anti-doping status, is described in the peptide risk profile.
Why labs choose our AOD9604
Batch-numbered vials, published reports where a batch has been tested, shipping from an EU warehouse with tracking (no customs inside the EU) and prices shown with VAT included. Product page: AOD9604 5 mg. Country-by-country sourcing questions are covered in the buyer guide Buy AOD9604 in Europe.
References
- Dominikowski A et al. The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration. Front Endocrinol. 2026. PubMed 42395176
- Rapid and harmonized analytical workflow for the determination of peptidic and non-peptidic doping agents. Analyst. 2026. PubMed 42328738