AOD-9604 Dosage: Protocols & the Trial Reality
Last updated May 19, 2026 · Reviewed by Grey Peptides Editorial Board · ✓ Primary-sourced
← AOD-9604 encyclopedia entry · See also: Tesamorelin dosage · Regulatory tracker
AOD-9604 is investigational and was never FDA approved. Crucially, in its obesity clinical program it did not beat placebo for weight loss. There is no label or validated dose; the figure below is a community report, documented for education — not instructions for use.
The short version
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone — the C-terminal "lipolytic" region (around residues 176–191) — engineered on the theory that you could capture GH's fat-burning action while leaving out its growth-promoting and glucose effects. It is one of the more interesting "what should have worked" stories in the field, because the selective-fat-loss concept was appealing but the human results did not follow. That gap between mechanism and outcome is the most important context for any dose.
What community protocols report
| Parameter | Commonly reported |
|---|---|
| Amount | ~250–500 mcg/day |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Timing | Often fasted / morning |
| Pattern | Time-limited cycles |
The fasted-morning timing reflects a belief about maximizing lipolysis, carried over from how GH-axis compounds are used. As with the other research peptides here, this is reasoning from mechanism, not a schedule validated by positive human trials — and in AOD-9604's case the trials specifically did not validate the benefit.
Regulatory and evidence status
AOD-9604 has been explored both as a potential drug and as an ingredient in other contexts, but it is not an FDA-approved medicine for weight loss or anything else, and the pivotal obesity trials did not support efficacy. It is sold as a research compound; see the Regulatory Status Tracker for current US treatment of such peptides. Anyone weighing it against an evidence-backed option for fat loss should note that the approved GLP-1 medicines have human outcome data that AOD-9604 lacks.
Reconstitution basics
AOD-9604 is supplied as a lyophilized powder requiring reconstitution with bacteriostatic water. The Reconstitution Calculator converts vial strength and diluent volume into an exact syringe draw — but the math cannot create efficacy that the trials did not find, or verify what is in an unregulated vial.
Frequently asked questions
Does AOD-9604 raise IGF-1 or blood sugar like HGH?
The design intent was to avoid GH's growth and glucose effects by using only the fat-metabolism fragment; whatever the mechanism, it did not deliver meaningful weight loss in trials.
Is it banned in sport?
Its status has been the subject of anti-doping review; athletes should verify with their authority rather than assume it is permitted.
Why is it still popular?
Largely momentum and the appeal of the "selective fat loss" idea, not human efficacy evidence — which is the key thing to keep in view.
Sources
- Heffernan M, et al. Effects of the AOD-9604 hGH fragment on lipolysis and body composition.
- Metabolic Pharmaceuticals AOD-9604 obesity clinical program (Phase 2 outcomes).
Medical disclaimer: Education only, not medical advice. AOD-9604 is investigational, not approved, and did not meet weight-loss endpoints in trials. Dosing figures reflect community reports, not a recommendation. Consult a licensed clinician.