Everything below concerns anti-doping analysis. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Updated 2026-01-19. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
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.
Proposed mechanisms for AOD-9604 focus on fat cells. Laboratory studies suggest the peptide can increase lipolysis, the breakdown of stored fat, and reduce lipogenesis, the formation of new fat. Unlike full human growth hormone, it does not appear to stimulate substantial IGF-1 production in the studies reported so far. Some evidence points to beta-adrenergic signaling, but the precise receptor targets and downstream pathways remain unresolved. The fragment is not thought to act through the classical growth hormone receptor.
Stability of AOD-9604 depends on storage conditions. Lyophilized powder is generally more stable than reconstituted solution. Recommended storage is typically at -20°C or lower, protected from light and moisture. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause aggregation or degradation. In solution, the peptide may be susceptible to hydrolysis or oxidation, so aliquoting and cold storage are common practices. Researchers often add stabilizers such as mannitol or trehalose during lyophilization to improve shelf life.
Quality control for AOD-9604 involves verifying identity, purity, and concentration. Suppliers may provide a certificate of analysis listing HPLC purity and mass spectrometry data. Independent verification is advised because peptide products can vary in quality. Researchers should check for counterions, residual solvents, and microbial contamination. Proper documentation supports reproducibility and safety in laboratory studies. When sourcing, institutions often require third-party testing and detailed chain-of-custody records. These steps help ensure that experimental results are attributable to the peptide rather than impurities.
| 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. |
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.
AOD-9604 has been investigated primarily as a potential treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions. Early laboratory work examined its effects on fat cells, and later studies moved into animal models and human clinical trials. Some trials reportedly reached Phase II, but the program did not lead to an approved medicine. Published summaries often note that weight-loss results were modest or inconsistent. The full trial data are not all publicly available in detail.
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.
AOD9604 is commonly supplied as a white to off-white lyophilized powder. The powder is typically stored at -20 °C or below, protected from light and moisture, because peptides can degrade through oxidation, hydrolysis, or aggregation. If it is reconstituted for laboratory use, an appropriate aqueous buffer or solvent is chosen, and the solution is kept cold and handled to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. These practices support stability but do not imply suitability for human use.
Identity and purity are usually assessed with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Reversed-phase HPLC separates the peptide from related impurities and can estimate purity by ultraviolet absorbance, while mass spectrometry confirms the molecular mass and detects modifications. Peptide mapping, amino acid analysis, and disulfide mapping may be used when the sequence or disulfide arrangement must be verified. Because AOD9604 contains cysteine residues, oxidation and disulfide isomers are possible quality concerns in synthetic batches.
AOD-9604 is typically supplied as a lyophilized white to off-white powder. In this form, it is relatively stable when kept cool, dry, and protected from light. Common storage recommendations place it at −20 °C or below for long-term retention. Reconstituted solutions are less stable and are often kept at 2–8 °C for short periods. Freeze-thaw cycles should be minimized because they can promote aggregation or loss of peptide content. Vials are usually sealed under inert gas to reduce oxidation.
Identity and purity are commonly checked with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. RP-HPLC separates the peptide from related impurities and can estimate purity by peak area. Mass spectrometry confirms molecular mass and helps detect sequence variants or truncations. Some laboratories use amino acid analysis or peptide mapping for additional characterization. No single method proves biological activity; these techniques establish chemical identity and purity only. They also require suitable reference standards for confident comparison.
Commercial AOD-9604 may vary in purity, counterion content, and residual moisture. Certificates of analysis often report HPLC purity, mass confirmation, and appearance, but testing methods differ between suppliers. Independent verification is sometimes used because labeled content may not match actual peptide amount. Stability under different pH and temperature conditions is not fully standardized across studies. Researchers generally treat lyophilized material as the reference form for weighing and reconstitution. Moisture content can affect accurate mass measurement.
In August 1988, the FDA approved minoxidil for treating baldness in men under the brand name "Rogaine" (FDA rejected Upjohn's first choice, Regain, as misleading). The agency concluded that although "the product will not work for everyone", 39% of the men studied had "moderate to dense hair growth on the crown of the head". "Men's Rogaine", marketed by Johnson & Johnson went off-patent on January 20, 2006. In 1991, Upjohn made the product available for women. "Women's Rogaine", marketed by Johnson & Johnson, went off-patent in February 2014.
In the deep sea, the COMARGE project has studied the biodiversity patterns along and across the Chilean margin through a complexity of ecosystems such as methane seeps and oxygen minimum zones, reporting that such habitat heterogeneity may influence the biodiversity patterns of the local fauna. Seep fauna include bivalves of families Lucinidae, Thyasiridae, Solemyidae (Acharax sp.), and Vesicomyidae (Calyptogena gallardoi) and polychaetes (Lamellibrachia sp. and two other polychaete species). Furthermore, in these soft reduced sediments below the oxygen minimum zone off the Chilean margin, a diverse microbial community composed by a variety of large prokaryotes (mainly large multi-cellular filamentous "mega bacteria" of the genera Thioploca and Beggiatoa, and of "macrobacteria" including a diversity of phenotypes), protists (ciliates, flagellates, and foraminifers), as well as small metazoans (mostly nematodes and polychaetes) has been found. Gallardo et al. (2007) argue that the likely chemolithotrophic metabolism of most of these mega- and macrobacteria offer an alternative explanation to fossil findings, in particular to those from obvious non-littoral origins, suggesting that traditional hypotheses on the cyanobacterial origin of some fossils may have to be revised. Cold seeps (pockmarks) are also known from depths of 130 m in the Hecate Strait, British Columbia, Canada.
One visit to Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Belarus, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guinea, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Kazakhstan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Monaco, Niger, Norway, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vietnam. Two visits to Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Vatican City. Three visits to Brazil, the Central African Republic, China, Greece, Mali, Morocco, Slovakia and Tunisia. Four visits to Malta and Switzerland. Five visits to Russia, Spain and Saudi Arabia. Six visits to Poland. Seven visits to the United Kingdom. Eight visits to Italy. Ten visits to the United States. Twenty-two visits to Germany. Forty-two visits to Belgium.
=== Data breach === According to an October 2020 report, for months, the company stored hundreds of massive spreadsheets containing sensitive patient data in an Amazon Web Services storage bucket without a password. TechCrunch was the first news source to report the data breach.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Section A consists of a panel of multidisciplinary professionals and experts in sciences and technologies such as thermodynamics, condensed matter physics, materials science, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, vacuum and leak-tightness, instrumentation and process control, applied to the low-temperature domain.
In early 2010, Brigadier General Scott Miller took command of CJSOTF-Afghanistan and assigned virtually all SOF in the theatre to a new counterinsurgency role that would become known as the ALP/VSO Program (Afghan Local Police/Village Stability Operations), the SOF in Afghanistan were organised into battalion level SOTF (Special Operations Task Forces) each with a geographic area of responsibility. 1st SFG would have responsibility for southwestern Afghanistan, other Green Berets would have responsibilities in southern and eastern Afghanistan; In March 2012, Green Beret ODA teams suffered several casualties to Green on Blue attacks. On 13 September 2011 an ODA team from 1st Battalion 10th SFG, partnered with Hungarian Special Operations and Afghan National Police, carried out an operation to apprehend known insurgents in Maiden Shahr District, Wardak Province – an area traditionally used by insurgents to move undetected by opposing coalition forces. The main body of the force patrolled through a village from the north-east, whilst the ODA's team sergeant, MSG Danial Adams, led a small element, which convoyed through the mountainous area on the outskirts of a village via ATVs to provide necessary over watch and to facilitate radio communications from the high ground to the west. After approximately three hours of searching, they were unable to locate their target, so they began to withdraw from the village; it was at that time that they lost their aerial reconnaissance assets, which were pulled away to assist coalition forces in other parts of the country.
In 1887, a laboratory for the study of bacteria, the Hygienic Laboratory, was established within the Marine Hospital Service, which at the time was expanding its functions beyond the system of Marine Hospitals into quarantine and research programs. It was initially located at the New York Marine Hospital on Staten Island. In 1891, it moved to the top floor of the Butler Building in Washington, D.C. In 1904, it moved again to a new campus at the Old Naval Observatory, which grew to include five major buildings. In 1901, the Division of Scientific Research was formed, which included the Hygienic Laboratory as well as other research offices of the Marine Hospital Service. In 1912, the Marine Hospital Service became the Public Health Service (PHS). In 1922, PHS established a Special Cancer Investigations laboratory at Harvard Medical School. This development marked the beginning of partnerships with universities. In 1930, the Hygienic Laboratory was re-designated as the National Institute of Health by the Ransdell Act, and was given $750,000 to construct two NIH buildings at the Old Naval Observatory campus. In 1937, the NIH absorbed the rest of the Division of Scientific Research, of which it was formerly part. In 1938, the NIH moved to its current campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Over the next few decades, Congress would markedly increase funding of the NIH. Various institutes and centers within the NIH were created for specific research programs. In 1944, the Public Health Service Act was approved and the National Cancer Institute became a division of the NIH.
=== N05AH Diazepines, oxazepines, thiazepines and oxepines === N05AH01 Loxapine N05AH02 Clozapine N05AH03 Olanzapine N05AH04 Quetiapine N05AH05 Asenapine N05AH06 Clotiapine N05AH53 Olanzapine and samidorphan
Neumann and colleagues listed the ovulation-inhibiting dosage of oral non-micronized progesterone in women as 300 to 500 mg/day or as 400 mg/day but provided no other details. In a study of a progesterone vaginal ring alone or in combination with estradiol that released 1.5 to 3 mg/day progesterone and achieved mean progesterone levels varying between 0.7 and 1.6 ng/mL (mean 0.9 ng/mL) during anovulatory cycles, ovulation occurred in 18 of 30 (60%) menstrual cycles. A study of a vaginal progesterone ring that released almost 10 mg/day progesterone and maintained mean progesterone levels of 4.4 ng/mL (range 2.4–6.5 ng/mL) found that ovulation was inhibited in some but not all women. In another study, a progesterone vaginal ring that released about 10 mg/day progesterone and produced progesterone levels of around 4 ng/mL (range 3–5.2 ng/mL) resulted in ovulation occurring in 25% of treated breastfeeding women compared to a rate of 56% in a control group of breastfeeding women. A study in rhesus monkeys found that a vaginal ring delivering 0.235 or 1.77 mg/day progesterone inhibited ovulation in all monkeys at the higher dose and in a proportion of monkeys at the lower dose. A dose of progesterone of 5 to 10 mg/day by intramuscular injection has been found to prevent ovulation in women and has been considered effective as a progestogen-only injectable contraceptive. Short-term therapy with 300 mg/day oral progesterone had no effect on luteinizing hormone pulse frequency in women.
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.
Reversed-phase HPLC is used to assess purity, and mass spectrometry confirms molecular mass. Amino acid analysis can verify composition. These methods are standard for peptide characterization.