AOD-9604 raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.
This page was last updated on 2026-06-19 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
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.
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.
Regulatory treatment of AOD-9604 has varied. In sports anti-doping, the peptide became widely discussed during a 2013 investigation into an Australian professional sports club. Authorities at the time debated whether it fell under prohibitions on growth hormone and related substances. Later clarifications and updated lists have addressed the compound in different ways. Anyone seeking current status should consult the latest applicable rules, and commercial supply for human use is not authorized in major markets.
Research interest in AOD-9604 often focuses on whether it can influence lipid metabolism without the growth-promoting or glucose-related effects of full-length hGH. This question remains unresolved, and findings depend on model, dose, and measurement method. Some reviews treat the peptide as a historical obesity candidate rather than an active therapeutic. Others cite it in discussions of peptide fragments, metabolic signaling, and performance-enhancing substances. Clear conclusions are limited by the small number of rigorous, independent human studies.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | AOD-9604 | Development code used in scientific literature. |
| Chemical class | Synthetic peptide | Fragment of human growth hormone. |
| Amino acid length | 16 residues | Matches hGH region 176-191. |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typical lyophilized peptide solid. |
| Solubility | Soluble in water | Dissolves in aqueous media; exact behavior depends on salt form. |
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide whose sequence matches the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, specifically residues 176 through 191. This region differs from the full hormone in its receptor interactions. The peptide is not a growth hormone secretagogue and does not bind the growth hormone receptor in the same manner. Researchers have examined it for effects on lipid metabolism, but its exact pharmacological profile remains an active area of study.
Development of AOD-9604 began in the 1990s as scientists sought to isolate metabolic effects of growth hormone without its growth-promoting actions. Early laboratory work focused on fat cells and animal models. Several human trials followed, examining changes in body composition and fat mass. Results have been mixed, and the peptide has not progressed to widespread clinical approval. Interest continues in research settings, particularly regarding its mechanism and potential metabolic targets.
Regulatory status varies by country. In the United States, AOD-9604 is not approved as a prescription drug. It is sometimes sold as a research chemical or dietary supplement, though such marketing may fall outside legal frameworks. The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits its use in sport. Researchers must obtain it through legitimate suppliers and follow institutional rules. Its legal classification continues to evolve as authorities increasingly assess peptide products more broadly.
Detection of AOD-9604 in biological samples relies on analytical techniques capable of distinguishing a small synthetic peptide from related endogenous sequences. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry is commonly used for confirmatory analysis. Sample preparation may involve immunoaffinity enrichment or solid-phase extraction to concentrate the peptide. Because the molecule is small and may be present at low concentrations, assay sensitivity and specificity are ongoing analytical challenges. Laboratories also validate methods against reference materials when available.
Regulatory interest in AOD-9604 increased after high-profile anti-doping cases involving peptide products. In some cases, the substance was supplied under alternative names or in compounded preparations, complicating traceability. Sports tribunals and anti-doping panels have discussed whether the peptide was explicitly banned at the time of use, leading to clarifications by the World Anti-Doping Agency. For consumers and researchers, the legal status can vary by jurisdiction, and products marketed as research chemicals may lack independent quality verification.
AOD-9604 is listed as a prohibited substance in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It falls under the peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics class on the prohibited list. Anti-doping organizations treat its presence in an athlete's sample as an adverse finding unless a therapeutic use exemption applies. The prohibition reflects concerns about performance enhancement in competitive settings and the difficulty of distinguishing exogenous peptide use from endogenous hormone fragments.
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.
drug cartels in moving money to the U.S. While regulators have flagged money laundering problems at HSBC for nearly a decade, the bank continued to avoid compliance. In December 2012, HSBC settled for a $1.93 billion fine.
=== Post-Cold War === The first seizures of nuclear or otherwise radioactive material were reported in Switzerland and Italy in 1991. Later, reports of incidents of nuclear material occurred in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other central European countries. Nuclear forensics became a new branch of scientific research with the intent of not only determining the nature of the material, but also the intended use of the seized material as well as its origin and about the potential trafficking routes. Nuclear forensics relies on making these determinations through measurable parameters including, but not limited to chemical impurities, isotopic composition, microscopic appearance, and microstructure. By measuring these parameters, conclusions can be drawn as to the origin of the material. Identification of these parameters is an ongoing area of research, however, data interpretation also relies on the availability of reference information and on knowledge of the fuel cell operations. The first seizures of nuclear materials from trafficking in the early 1990s allowed the nuclear forensic methodology to be adopted by a wider scientific community. When scientific laboratories outside the weapons and intelligence community took an interest in this methodology was when the term "Nuclear Forensics" was coined. Unlike standard forensics, nuclear forensics focuses mainly on the nuclear or radioactive material and aims to provide knowledge of the intended use of the materials.
Common adverse effects which have an incidence rate of 20% are fatigue, asthenia, diarrhea, nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, constipation, hypertension, skin discoloration, altered taste, stomatitis and mild bleeding. Sorafenib is a small molecule inhibitor of many tyrosine kinase receptors such as VEGFR-2. Side effects are in most cases mild to moderate such as rash, hand-foot skin reaction, diarrhea and dermatitis, and occur in about 33-38% patients using sorafenib. Other side effects are mild hypertension, leukopenia and bleeding. Uncommon side effects are cardiac ischaemia or infarction, gastrointestinal perforation, life-threatening haemorrhage and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. Hypertension is one of the most common side effects regarding inhibition of VEGF signalling. VEGF increases synthesis of NO through upregulation of endothelial NO synthase and therefore inhibition of VEGF diminishes NO synthesis. Decrease in NO causes vasoconstriction, increased peripheral resistance and increased blood pressure. Hypertension caused by VEGF inhibition can usually be treated with oral antihypertensive agents. Proteinuria is common when VEGF signalling is inhibited which shows how important VEGF is for normal renal function. VEGFR-2 can be found on the glomerular capillary endothelial cells and is activated by VEGF. Proteinuria is in most cases asymptomatic and usually decreases when treatment ends. Impaired wound healing can be an adverse effect of VEGF inhibition as angiogenesis is an important step in wound healing.
== Pharmacology == CTOP is described as a highly potent mu-opioid receptor antagonist. In mice, its analgesic effects are qualified as being more potent than naloxone's, a well-known opioid antagonist typically used as an antidote in humans. Additionally, CTOP appears to lack significant affinity at the delta and kappa opioid receptors, suggesting that this peptide is selective for the μ receptor.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Stroke === The role of IGF-1 in supporting recovery from stroke, which is a condition of vascular origin, is reported. A study in 34 stroke patients reported that patients with higher plasma concentration of cGP made better recovery within 3 months than those with lower cGP levels. Further, patients with higher cGP levels also showed lesser neurological deficits.
In 1869 Dmitrii Mendeleev reported that when he arranged the elements in a row according to their atomic weights, there was a certain periodicity to them. For instance, the second element, lithium, had similar properties to the ninth element, sodium, and the sixteenth element, potassium — a period of seven. Likewise, beryllium, magnesium, and calcium were similar and all were seven places apart from each other on Mendeleev's table. Using these patterns, Mendeleev predicted the existence and properties of new elements, which were later discovered in nature: scandium, gallium, and germanium. Moreover, the periodic table could predict how many atoms of other elements that an atom could bond with — e.g., germanium and carbon are in the same group on the table and their atoms both combine with two oxygen atoms each (GeO2 and CO2). Mendeleev found these patterns validated atomic theory because it showed that the elements could be categorized by their atomic weight. Inserting a new element into the middle of a period would break the parallel between that period and the next, and would also violate Dalton's law of multiple proportions.
==== Human rights violations at Abu Ghraib and Haditha ==== Hitchens criticised human rights abuses by US forces in Iraq but argued that conditions had improved considerably compared either to Saddam Hussein's previous regime or to previous US military actions in Vietnam. In 2005, Hitchens criticised the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib but argued that overall "prison conditions at Abu Ghraib have improved markedly and dramatically since the arrival of Coalition troops in Baghdad", arguing that "before March 2003, Abu Ghraib was an abattoir, a torture chamber, and a concentration camp." In a 5 June 2006 article on the alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines in Haditha, Hitchens argued that whether or not a massacre had taken place, comparisons with the My Lai massacre in Vietnam were "so much propaganda and hot air" that ignored substantial changes in the rules of engagement and US Army procedures and training designed to prevent and discourage such an event. He argued that lesson had been learned such that "as a consequence, a training film about My Lai – "if anything like this happens, you have really, truly screwed up" – has been in use for U. S. soldiers for some time".
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== 3D printing === In 2017, scientists from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden demonstrated cartilage tissue engineering using 3D bioprinting. They used two different bioinks with nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) to conduct the tests: NFC with alginate (NFC/A) and hyaluronic acid (NFC/HA). The bioinks were co-printed with irradiated human chondrocytes [8]. The team had success with NFC/A. In September 2021, researchers created cartilage repair implants utilizing a process of three-dimensional weaving to combine artificial materials with stem cells. The bioartificial implants are designed to partly dissolve over time, leaving only natural tissues in the repaired joints. As of October 2021, scientists have seen success in treating dogs but further research is required before the technique could move to clinical trials for humans. Also in September 2021, scientists from the Nakayama Lab at Saga University and Kyoto University in Japan fabricated 3D printed cartilage constructs from stem cells.
Coninae Fleming, 1822 — synonyms: Conulinae Rafinesque, 1815 (inv.); Textiliinae da Motta, 1995 (n.a.) Clathurellinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1858 — synonyms: Defranciinae Gray, 1853 (inv.); Borsoniinae A. Bellardi, 1875; Pseudotominae A. Bellardi, 1888; Diptychomitrinae L. Bellardi, 1888; Mitrolumnidae Sacco, 1904; Mitromorphinae Casey, 1904; Lorinae Thiele, 1925 Conorbiinae de Gregorio, 1880—synonym: Cryptoconinae Cossmann, 1896 Mangeliinae P. Fischer, 1883—synonym: Cytharinae Thiele, 1929 Oenopotinae Bogdanov, 1987—synonym: Lorinae Thiele, 1925 sensu Thiele Raphitominae A. Bellardi, 1875—synonyms: Daphnellinae Casey, 1904; Taraninae Casey, 1904; Thatcheriidae Powell, 1942; Pleurotomellinae F. Nordsieck, 1968; Andoniinae Vera-Pelaez, 2002 † Siphopsinae Le Renard, 1995
According to The New York Times sources, in February 2021, Israel agreed to finance a supply of the Sputnik V vaccine to Syria in order to secure the release of an Israeli civilian held in Syria. Due to the delay in shipping of doses from Italy and the European Union, San Marino imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine (not approved by the EMA) and started a mass vaccination on 28 February of its healthcare workers. 14 April 2021, Armenia agreed with Russia on purchase of 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccines Sputnik V. This was the decision of Armenian health minister Anahit Avanesyan. The Armenian authorities have begun negotiations with Russia on the production of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine. Head of the Armenian Ministry of Health Anahit Avanesyan stated this at a press conference on 12 March 2021.
=== Drug trafficking cases === 1981: Ong Ah Chuan, a Singaporean national, hanged on 20 February 1981 for the trafficking of 209 grams of pure heroin. 1981: Low Hong Eng and her accomplice Tan Ah Tee, both Singaporean nationals, hanged on 9 October 1981 for the joint enterprise of trafficking 459g of heroin. Low was the first woman to be hanged for drug offences in Singapore. 1989: Lau Chi Sing, Hong Kong national, hanged on 17 November 1989 for smuggling 242 grams of heroin. Lau was the first drug mule to be sentenced to death for trafficking narcotics via Changi Airport 1992: Lim Joo Yin and his accomplice Ronald Tan Chong Ngee were both hanged on 3 April 1992 for smuggling heroin. 1994: Cheuk Mei Mei and her accomplice Tse Po Chung, Hongkongers, were hanged on 4 March 1994 for smuggling 2 kg of heroin each. 1994: Johannes van Damme, a Dutch engineer and the first European to be executed in modern-day Singapore, hanged on 23 September 1994 for smuggling 4.32 kg of pure heroin. 1994: Elke Tsang Kai-mong, Hong Kong National, was hanged on 16 December 1994 for smuggling 4 kg of heroin. 1995: Angel Mou Pui Peng, a Macau national hanged on 6 January 1995 for smuggling 4 kg of heroin. 1995: Daniel Chan Chi-pun, Hong Kong national, hanged on 10 March 1995 for smuggling of 464 grams of heroin. 1995: Tong Ching Man and her boyfriend Lam Cheuk Wang, both Hong Kong nationals, hanged on 21 April 1995 for smuggling 1.6 kg and 1.4 kg of heroin respectively. 1995: Poon Yuen Chung, Hong Kong national, hanged on 21 April 1995 for smuggling 3 kg of heroin.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone. It corresponds to the C-terminal region known as hGH 176-191 and is studied for metabolic effects. It is not an approved therapeutic drug.
No. It contains only a small portion of the human growth hormone sequence. The full hormone has 191 amino acids and many additional actions that the fragment does not share.
The name refers to the amino acid positions in the human growth hormone chain. The fragment spans residues 176 through 191 at the C-terminal end. This naming convention helps distinguish it from full-length hGH.
No major medicines regulator appears to have approved AOD-9604 for human therapeutic use. It has been studied in clinical trials, but those programs did not result in a marketed drug.