regulatory status comes up often in conversation and rarely with the context attached. Here we lay out the basics in order, then work through the practical considerations.
Last reviewed on 2026-07-30. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Clinical development of AOD9604 included trials in people with obesity, but the results did not lead to approval as a prescription medicine in major markets. Interest later shifted to research settings and to unapproved products marketed for body composition. Regulatory agencies have questioned whether the peptide qualifies as a dietary ingredient, and some have issued warnings about its presence in supplements. Long-term human safety data are limited, and questions about efficacy, dosing, and target populations remain unresolved.
AOD9604 is a synthetic peptide modeled on the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. It corresponds to a short sequence near the end of the 191-amino-acid hormone, often described as residues 176–191 or a related fragment. Researchers designed it to separate metabolic effects from the growth-promoting actions of full-length growth hormone. Early work in the 1990s explored it as a candidate for weight and lipid disorders. It is not a naturally circulating hormone fragment produced in large amounts.
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.
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.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular class | Synthetic peptide | Derived from C-terminal region of human growth hormone |
| Approximate molecular mass | About 1.8 kDa | Varies with sequence length and counterions |
| Confirmed receptor target | None established | No confirmed growth hormone receptor agonism |
| Reported in vitro activity | Lipolysis stimulation and lipogenesis inhibition | Observed mainly in adipocyte models; human relevance uncertain |
| Regulatory status | Not approved as a drug in major markets | May be treated differently across jurisdictions; not a recognized dietary ingredient in some countries |
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.
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.
Researchers have studied the fragment in cell and animal models to understand its metabolic actions. Some experiments report effects on fat breakdown and fat storage pathways, but the underlying mechanism remains incompletely defined. AOD-9604 does not appear to stimulate the same broad growth hormone receptor signaling as full-length hGH. Whether its observed activities arise from direct receptor interactions or downstream metabolic changes is an open question. Results from different assays are not always consistent.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide modeled on the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. It corresponds to residues 176-191 of the 191-amino-acid hGH sequence. The fragment is not the full hormone and lacks the receptor-binding region associated with growth and metabolic effects of hGH. Researchers developed it to isolate a specific portion of hGH for study. Its exact sequence and length are often stated in peptide catalogs and patents.
The peptide is frequently described as a growth hormone fragment, although it is chemically distinct from full-length hGH. AOD-9604 contains 16 amino acids and includes two cysteine residues that can form an intramolecular disulfide bond. In solution, this structural feature can influence folding, aggregation, and stability. Published descriptions sometimes call it hGH 176-191 or AOD9604, with spacing and capitalization varying. Such naming differences can complicate literature searches, database entries, and product verification.
The MEROPS online database for peptidases and their inhibitors: I04.953 Archived 2019-10-16 at the Wayback Machine Angiotensins at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) Human AGT genome location and AGT gene details page in the UCSC Genome Browser. Overview of all the structural information available in the PDB for UniProt: P01019 (Angiotensin) at the PDBe-KB.
== Chemistry == The substance is a cross-linked polymer of 2-fluoroacrylic acid with divinylbenzenes and 1,7-octadiene. It is used in form of its calcium salt (ratio 2:1) and with sorbitol (one molecule per two calcium ions or four fluoroacrylic acid units), a combination called patiromer sorbitex calcium.
One month later, the Phillips group independently reported the wild-type GFP structure in Nature Biotechnology. These crystal structures provided vital background on chromophore formation and neighboring residue interactions. Researchers have modified these residues by directed and random mutagenesis to produce the wide variety of GFP derivatives in use since then. Further research into GFP has shown that it is resistant to detergents, proteases, guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) treatments, and drastic temperature changes.
=== Salts === Despite the reduction in relative permittivity, many salts remain soluble in superheated water until the critical point is approached. Sodium chloride, for example, dissolves at 37 wt% at 300 °C As the critical point is approached, solubility drops markedly to a few ppm, and salts are hardly soluble in supercritical water. Some salts show a reduction in solubility with temperature, but this behaviour is less common.
Typically identification is done by growing the organism in a wide range of cultures which can take up to 48 hours. The growth is then visually or genomically identified. The cultured organism is then subjected to various assays to observe reactions to help further identify species and strain.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Contraindications == The drug is contraindicated in subjects with known hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or to any of the inactive ingredients contained in the pharmaceutical formulation. It is also contraindicated in women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
== Chemistry == Lercanidipine is used in form of the hydrochloride, which is a slightly yellow crystalline powder and melts at 197 to 201 °C (387 to 394 °F) in crystal form I or 207 to 211 °C (405 to 412 °F) in crystal form II. It is readily soluble in chloroform and methanol, but practically insoluble in water. This high lipophilicity (compared to older dihydropyridines) is intentional because it causes the substance to bind to lipid membranes, allowing for a longer duration of action. The lercanidipine molecule has one asymmetric carbon atom. While the S-enantiomer is more effective than the R-enantiomer, marketed formulations contain a 1:1 mixture of both (i.e., the racemate).
=== Amphiphilic FSL Kode construct === The FSL Kode construct by nature of its composition in possessing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions are amphiphilic (or amphipathic). This characteristic determines the way in which the construct will interact with surfaces. When present in a solution they may form simple micelles or adopt more complex bilayer structures with two simplistic examples shown in Fig. 5a. More complex structures are expected. The actual nature of FSL micelles has not been determined. However, based on normal structural function of micelles, it is expected that it will be determined in part by the combination of functional group, spacer and lipid together with temperature, concentration, size and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity for each FSL Kode construct type. Surface coatings will occur via two theoretical mechanisms, the first being direct hydrophobic interaction of the lipid tail with a hydrophobic surface resulting in a monolayer of FSL at the surface (Fig. 5b). Hydrophobic binding of the FSL will be via its hydrophobic lipid tail interacting directly with the hydrophobic (lipophilic) surface. The second surface coating will be through the formation of bilayers as the lipid tail is unable to react with the hydrophilic surface. In this case the lipids will induce the formation of a bilayer, the surface of which will be hydrophilic. This hydrophilic membrane will then interact directly with the hydrophilic surface and will probably encapsulate fibres.
== External links == JRT - Isomer Design LSD-Inspired Drug Reverses Psychosis Brain Damage Without Hallucinations - Neuroscience News Scientists Flip Two Atoms in LSD – And Unlock a Game-Changing Mental Health Treatment - SciTechDaily A New Form of LSD to Treat Schizophrenia - Psychology Today
In January 2021, The government of Kenya unanimously passed the anti-doping bill into law that will enable the country to comply with the World 2021 anti-doping code. In April 2021, The US Senate passes the "United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act of 2021" to reauthorize the United States Doping Agency.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
AOD9604 is a synthetic peptide based on a C-terminal segment of human growth hormone. It is manufactured by chemical peptide synthesis rather than extracted from human tissue. The sequence is often described as hGH fragment 176–191 or a close variant.
It is not approved as a prescription drug in the United States or the European Union for any indication. Regulatory status can differ by country, and it is often sold as a research chemical or in unapproved products. Such products are not equivalent to an approved medicine.
In the studies reported so far, AOD9604 does not appear to act through the growth hormone receptor and has not shown the typical IGF-1 increase caused by full-length hGH. Human data are limited, so this remains an area of uncertainty. It should not be assumed to have the same effects as hGH.
No major regulatory agency has approved AOD-9604 as a medicine. It is treated as an experimental peptide in research settings. Some countries restrict its sale or import.