If you’ve been reading about weight-loss peptides, you’ve probably seen AOD-9604, promoted as a powerful fat-burning breakthrough or even a joint-healing miracle. Some websites hype it as the “future of weight loss,” while others compare it to powerful GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide. But here’s the problem: a lot of these claims are not backed up by peer-reviewed evidence. Let’s break down what AOD-9604 actually is, what the science says, and where marketing gets ahead of the facts.
This review is unbiased. I am not selling this peptide. I am not an employee of any supplement company or pharmaceutical company.
What is AOD-9604?
AOD-9604, also called LAT8881, is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (HGH) made from amino acids 177–191 with an added tyrosine for stability. Researchers developed it to target fat metabolism while avoiding HGH’s side effects, including insulin resistance. Although studies confirm its safety in short-term human trials, researchers have not produced peer-reviewed evidence showing that it causes meaningful weight loss or speeds injury recovery. The FDA has not approved AOD-9604 for medical use, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) bans it in all competitive sports.
What Is AOD-9604? Understanding This HGH Fragment Peptide
AOD-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is a 191-amino acid protein, and AOD-9604 is a modified sequence of amino acids 177–191 with a tyrosine added to stabilize it. Humans make growth hormone, but they do not naturally make AOD-9604.
The idea was simple: to preserve HGH’s ability to regulate fat metabolism while eliminating its harmful downsides, such as insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar, and other hormonal risks.
This “HGH fragment” has been around for more than 20 years, yet it has not received FDA approval for any medical use. That’s something many promotional websites fail to mention. In 2021, a company recalled several lots of 3 mg of the injectable peptide due to concerns that the vials may not be sterile.
How AOD-9604 Works and Why It Was Developed
The letters AOD are said to stand for Anti-Obesity Drug. According to animal studies, AOD-9604 seems to activate beta-3 adrenergic receptors in fat tissue. This may promote:
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Lipolysis: Breaking down stored fat
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Reduced lipogenesis: Lower fat accumulation
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Metabolic regulation: Without significantly impacting blood sugar or insulin levels
While this sounds promising, all of this mechanistic research comes primarily from mouse and cell studies. There’s no large-scale human evidence confirming that these effects translate into meaningful weight loss.
Early AOD-9604 Research: Mouse Studies and Fat Loss Data
The earliest data on AOD-9604 showed:
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Obese mice gained 56% less weight when treated with the peptide for 19 days compared to untreated mice.
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Another study showed that both lean and obese mice lost weight with AOD-9604, even though their calorie intake didn’t change.
Those findings are encouraging but limited—mice aren’t humans, and early data often doesn’t pan out in clinical trials.
Human Trials of AOD-9604: Safety and Side Effects
A pivotal company-sponsored safety trial summarized six randomized, placebo-controlled human studies:
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AOD-9604 did not increase levels of HGH or IGF-1.
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It did not worsen insulin resistance or trigger immune reactions.
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Doses up to 54 mg/day orally were well-tolerated, but higher doses sometimes caused mild gastrointestinal upset.
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No study showed clinically significant weight loss. The longest of those studies lasted 6 months.
Some peptide promoters emphasize weight-loss potential, but they don’t clearly state that peer-reviewed human trials failed to confirm fat-loss benefits. This is a crucial point: safety has been established, but effectiveness remains unproven.
To see the actual research, watch this video:
AOD-9604 vs. Semaglutide: Why Comparisons Are Misleading
Some websites compare AOD-9604 to semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), but that’s like comparing a pre-clinical experimental peptide to a fully FDA-approved drug with dozens of large-scale trials.
Semaglutide consistently produces 10–15% body weight reduction in humans, while AOD-9604 has no comparable data. Including this comparison without context risks misleading readers.
What is LAT8881? The Rebranding of the Peptide
If you’re researching this peptide, you will quickly come across a peptide called LAT8881. What's that? That’s not a new compound; it’s the same molecule as AOD-9604, just rebranded.
Here’s the backstory summary:
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Metabolic Pharmaceuticals originally developed the peptide in Melbourne, Australia.
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The company rebranded as Calzada in 2009, then to PolyNovo Biomaterials in 2014.
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In 2015, PolyNovo sold all intellectual property rights for the peptide to Lateral Pharmaceuticals, which renamed it LAT8881.
If you see LAT8881 in research papers or patents, know that you’re reading about the same peptide.
Topical AOD-9604 for Injury Healing & Recovery. Case Reports, Not Proof
Some of the most intriguing (and controversial) claims about AOD-9604 come from its patent filings. Reports suggest topical application helped heal muscle and tendon injuries in athletes:
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A soccer player reportedly recovered from a calf tear in two weeks with topical AOD-9604.
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Another player resolved a hamstring injury in three weeks using the same method.
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A third case described improvement in a shoulder tendon injury.
Dosages used to achieve these results were 1 ml of a 600 mcg solution applied topically twice daily.
Sounds impressive, right? The problem is these are case reports, not published studies. There’s no peer-reviewed research confirming the topical use or effectiveness of this treatment in humans. These types of rapid recovery claims raise eyebrows because, if proven, this peptide would be a household name by now.
Athletes Who Try It Are At Risk
If you’re an athlete, here’s a non-negotiable fact: WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) bans AOD-9604 at all times. There’s also a urine test to detect it. If you compete professionally or in drug-tested sports, stay away from this peptide or you’ll risk disqualification.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Regeneration Research
There’s also an interesting rabbit study showing that AOD-9604 injections might help regenerate cartilage in osteoarthritis. This could be a potential breakthrough for joint health, but again, there’s no comparable human data yet. This would be easy to test.
Regulatory Status: What You Need to Know
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FDA: Not approved as a drug or supplement; flagged in warning letters.
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WADA: Banned at all times in competitive sports. There is a urine test to detect this peptide so you've been warned.
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Australia: Classified as a prescription-only medicine by the TGA.
Any influencer who fails to highlight these restrictions is not giving a full picture.
Safety Summary
Human trials show AOD-9604 is generally safe in the short term, with side effects limited to:
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Mild gastrointestinal upset (at higher doses)
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Occasional fatigue or headaches (rare)
But we lack long-term safety data, and no trials have demonstrated meaningful fat loss.
AOD-9604 FAQ
Is AOD-9604 the same as HGH?
No. It’s a small fragment of HGH designed to focus on fat metabolism without HGH’s side effects. Humans do not make AOD-9604.
Does it improve sleep or recovery?
There’s no human data showing improvements in sleep or recovery times. The anecdotal reports are interesting but not scientific evidence.
Is topical application proven?
Not at all. No peer-reviewed human data confirm the effectiveness of topical AOD-9604. This would be very easy to test and verify.
Should you cycle it?
Probably. There’s no long-term safety data, so taking breaks would be wise.
How should it be stored?
Injectable forms should be kept refrigerated. Supplements or lozenges should be kept away from light and humidity.
How to Find a Legitimate AOD-9604 or LAT8881 (or Any Peptide)
If you’re set on experimenting, at least make sure you’re buying a real peptide.
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Look for a third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA) with the lab’s name, address, and the tester’s name.
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Verify the lab’s credentials independently.
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Avoid marketing claims like “Made in the USA” or “99% pure” without documentation.
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Any company refusing to share a COA should be avoided.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try AOD-9604?
Researchers have studied AOD-9604 (LAT8881) for decades and found it safe, but they haven’t published peer-reviewed evidence proving it works for weight loss or injury recovery in humans. Be skeptical of glowing supplement or peptide reviews, as many ignore the lack of clinical proof. If researchers confirm benefits, AOD-9604 could become a valuable therapeutic. For now, consider it an experimental compound, rather than a proven fat burner or healing agent.