Everything below concerns anti-doping. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Updated 2026-07-30. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
Clinical development of AOD-9604 included trials in people with obesity. Reports from early-phase and mid-phase studies described modest or inconsistent changes in body weight. A phase IIb program did not meet its primary endpoint, and the compound was not approved for medical use. Differences in formulation, delivery route, and participant characteristics may explain some of the variation. Later investigations explored whether the peptide might have effects in other tissues, including cartilage.
Regulatory treatment of AOD-9604 is shaped by its classification as a peptide hormone. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists it as a prohibited substance, and many national anti-doping organizations adopt that list. It does not hold approval as a prescription medicine in the United States, the European Union, or other major markets. Products sold online are frequently labeled for research use only and may not undergo independent quality testing. Import and possession rules differ by country, so legal status depends on local law.
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.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical storage temperature | -20 °C | Lyophilized peptide; protect from moisture and light. |
| Typical analytical method | HPLC and mass spectrometry | Used to confirm identity and estimate purity. |
| Common synonyms | AOD9604; hGH 176-191 | Naming varies by supplier and publication. |
| Disulfide bonds | One | Affects folded structure and stability. |
| Typical research purity | ≥95% | Value depends on supplier and analytical method. |
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.
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 has been investigated mainly in the context of body fat and metabolic endpoints. Some early animal and small human studies reported changes in fat mass or lipid markers, but findings were not uniform. Larger, well-controlled trials that would establish efficacy are lacking in the public literature. As a result, claims about weight loss or metabolic benefit remain investigational rather than established. The distinction between a research finding and a proven clinical outcome is central to discussing this peptide.
Regulatory bodies have taken different approaches to AOD-9604. It is not approved as a prescription medicine by major agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency. In sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances, and AOD-9604 has been treated as a prohibited substance. These regulatory decisions reflect concerns about safety, efficacy, and potential misuse rather than proof of benefit.
=== Perceptual symptoms === Unawareness or denial of severity of condition (anosognosia), which may prevent some from seeking recovery Perception of self as heavier or fatter than in reality, i.e., body image disturbance Altered body schema, i.e., a distorted and unconscious perception of one's body size and shape that influences how the individual experiences their body during physical activities. For example, a patient with anorexia nervosa may genuinely fear that they cannot fit through a narrow passageway. However, due to their malnourished state, their body is significantly smaller than someone with a normal BMI who would actually struggle to fit through the same space. In spite of having a small frame, the patient's altered body schema leads them to perceive their body as larger than it is.
This led to endemic pellagra in poor populations throughout the southern US in the early 20th century. A more varied diet and fortification of wheat flour, the other staple food, have essentially eliminated this deficiency. Although maize cultivation spread far beyond the Americas via colonialism, the process of nixtamalization did not. For this reason, outbreaks of pellagra occurred in many areas of Europe, where corn often became a staple crop due to its high caloric efficiency relative to the land use required for its cultivation. A prominent example of endemic pellagra occurred in northern Italy in the late 19th century, from which the English term pellagra derives: "pel" meaning skin and "agra" meaning rough or sour in the Bergamo dialect.
== Chemistry == Several chemical factors affect the ionophore activity. The activity of an ionophore-metal complex depends on its geometric configuration and the coordinating sites and atoms which create coordination environment surrounding the metal center. This affects the selectivity and affinity towards a certain ion. Ionophores can be selective to a particular ion but may not be exclusive to it. Ionophores facilitate the transport of ions across biological membranes most commonly via passive transport, which is affected by lipophilicity of the ionophore molecule. The increase in lipophilicity of the ionophore-metal complex enhances its permeability through lipophilic membranes. The hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of the complex also determines whether it will slow down or ease the transport of metal ions into cell compartments. The reduction potential of a metal complex influences its thermodynamic stability and affects its reactivity. The ability of an ionophore to transfer ions is also affected by the temperature.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Sources == This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (license statement/permission). Text taken from World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2025, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (license statement/permission). Text taken from The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde phosphate (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) (phosphorylating) GAPDH glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) (phosphorylating) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP) (phosphorylating) NADP-dependent glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase NADP-glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase NADP-triose phosphate dehydrogenase triosephosphate dehydrogenase (NADP)
Human skin shares anatomical, physiological, biochemical and immunological properties with other mammalian lines. Pig skin especially shares similar epidermal and dermal thickness ratios to human skin: pig and human skin share similar hair follicle and blood vessel patterns; biochemically the dermal collagen and elastin content is similar in pig and human skin; and pig skin and human skin have similar physical responses to various growth factors. Skin has mesodermal cells which produce pigmentation, such as melanin provided by melanocytes, which absorb some of the potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation (UV) in sunlight. It contains DNA repair enzymes that help reverse UV damage. People lacking the genes for these enzymes have high rates of skin cancer. One form predominantly produced by UV light, melanoma, is particularly invasive, causing it to spread quickly, and can often be deadly. Human skin pigmentation varies substantially between populations; this has led to the classification of people(s) on the basis of skin colour. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, comprising roughly 16% of body mass. The skin has the second largest surface area in the human body (the inner lining of the intestinal tract is 15 to 20 times larger). For the average adult human, the skin has a surface area of 1.5–2.0 square metres (16–22 sq ft). The thickness of the skin varies considerably over all parts of the body, and between men and women, and young and old. An example is the skin on the forearm, which is on average 1.3 mm in males and 1.26 mm in females.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Medications === The antifibrotics pirfenidone and nintedanib have been shown to slow the decline in lung function (as measured by forced vital capacity [FVC]) in those with ILD compared to placebo. Pirfenidone was associated with a 45% less decline in FVC at 52 weeks compared to placebo in a trial involving people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and was associated with a slower FVC decline in those with progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Nintedanib was also associated with a slower FVC decline and increased mean survival in people with ILD. The immunomodulator tocilizumab has a benefit in scleroderma associated ILD by helping to preserve lung function (as measured by FVC) at 48 weeks. The immunomodulators cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil and rituximab all showed improved lung function (as measured by % predicted FVC) compared to placebo in systemic sclerosis or scleroderma associated ILD. The inhaled vasodilator treprostinil (a synthetic prostacyclin which acts as a prostaglandin I2 analogue) is indicated in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension secondary to interstitial lung disease and is associated with improved exercise capacity as measured by a 6-minute walk test.
=== Allergies === Diphenhydramine is effective in the treatment of allergies. As of 2007, it was the most commonly used antihistamine for acute allergic reactions in the emergency department. By injection, it is often used in addition to epinephrine for anaphylaxis, although as of 2007 its use for this purpose had not been properly studied. Its use is only recommended once acute symptoms have improved.
== Early life == Originally from the small town of Somerville on the Mornington Peninsula, Hibberd played with the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup in 2008, where he managed to play only half the season due to a groin injury. He finished fifth in the best and fairest count and was awarded the Dandenong Stingrays coaches award. After being overlooked in the 2008 AFL draft, he joined the Frankston Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). His first year at Frankston saw him finish fifth in the best and fairest and claim the best first year player award. In his second year at the club, his season was rewarded with the senior best and fairest award and the Fothergill–Round Medal as the VFL's most promising young player.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
No. Major drug regulators have not approved AOD-9604 for weight loss or any other therapeutic indication. It remains an investigational compound studied in research settings.
The World Anti-Doping Agency classifies it as a prohibited peptide hormone. Athletes under anti-doping rules are not permitted to use it. Its presence can trigger a doping violation.
It is a fragment of growth hormone rather than a substance that signals the pituitary to release more hormone. Studies have not shown a consistent rise in IGF-1 or full growth hormone. Its metabolic effects, if any, appear separate from those of the complete hormone.
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.