For laboratory research use only.
AOD-9604 is a modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone: Tyr-hGH 177–191. It is studied as its own peptide, not as a nickname for every “HGH frag 176–191” listing.
Sequence definition
Analytical work defines AOD-9604 as amino acids 177–191 of hGH with an added N-terminal tyrosine and describes metabolites formed in serum and urine (AOD9604 detection and metabolism). That definition is the cleanest public chemical anchor. Earlier fragment papers on hGH 177–191 without the tyrosine extension are related background, not automatic synonyms (hGH 177–191 antilipogenic fragment).
Preclinical metabolic findings
In obese mice, chronic AOD9604 (and hGH) reduced body weight and fat with increases in β3-adrenergic receptor RNA; in β3-AR knockout mice the chronic body-weight effect was lost even though acute energy-expenditure effects of AOD9604 could still appear, arguing against a simple direct β3-AR agonist mechanism for all actions (Heffernan et al., Endocrinology, 2001).
Human development context
AOD9604 entered clinical development for obesity; public trial communications later indicated that a Phase 2b weight-loss study did not meet commercial endpoints. Safety/tolerability summaries in the biomedical literature discuss absence of IGF-I elevation patterns typical of intact hGH in the reported trials. That history is useful context and still not a reason to market research material as an approved weight-loss drug.
Versus fragment 176–191
Related origin stories invite synonym collapse. Laboratory practice should do the opposite: require sequence identity before pooling AOD-9604 and unmodified fragment lots.
Sources
- The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice. (Endocrinology, 2001, PMID 11713213)
- Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604. (Drug Test Anal, 2015, PMID 25208511)
- Antilipogenic action of synthetic C-terminal sequence 177-191 of human growth hormone. (Biochem Mol Biol Int, 1993, PMID 8358331)