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May 5, 2026 · Research use only

What Is AOD-9604? Research Overview

AOD-9604 is a fragment of the human growth hormone molecule (residues 176-191) studied in lipid-metabolism research. Here's what it is.

AOD-9604 sits in the metabolic cluster but comes from an entirely different place than the incretin agonists. It is a fragment of the human growth hormone (HGH) molecule, isolated to study one specific part of growth hormone's activity without the rest. This overview explains what AOD-9604 is, where it comes from, and what lipid-metabolism research examines. For in-vitro laboratory research only.

Research-use-only: AOD-9604 is supplied as a research-grade reference standard for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not a drug, supplement, or product for human or veterinary use.

What is AOD-9604?

AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 176-191 of the human growth hormone molecule — often called the HGH fragment 176-191. This C-terminal fragment represents the portion of growth hormone associated with lipid-metabolism activity, studied in isolation from growth hormone's other actions. The AOD-9604 research kit is supplied lyophilized in multi-vial research kits.

What does HGH fragment 176-191 mean?

The full growth hormone molecule is a long chain of amino acids with several functional regions. Residues 176-191 are the segment at the C-terminus. Researchers isolated this fragment to study the lipid-metabolism-related portion of growth hormone's signaling separately from its other regions. AOD-9604 is a modified version of that fragment used as a stable reference standard.

What pathways is AOD-9604 studied in?

AOD-9604 research centers on lipid metabolism. Common in-vitro research themes include:

  • Lipolysis pathways — the breakdown of stored lipids at the cellular level
  • Lipid-metabolism and fat-cell (adipocyte) signaling models
  • How the isolated 176-191 fragment behaves versus the full growth-hormone molecule

How AOD-9604 relates to the rest of the cluster

AOD-9604 is one of the non-incretin metabolic peptides, grouped with mitochondrial-derived MOTS-c rather than the GLP-1 agonists. It also has a conceptual link to the growth-hormone axis covered by tesamorelin, a GHRH analog — see what is tesamorelin. For the mitochondrial side, see what is MOTS-c.

What is AOD-9604 studied for?

As a reference standard, the AOD-9604 fragment is used in lipid-metabolism and adipocyte-signaling models and in research comparing the isolated fragment's behavior to that of the intact growth-hormone molecule. It frequently appears in the non-receptor-agonist tier of metabolic-research roundups.

How the research kit is supplied

AOD-9604 ships lyophilized in multi-vial research kits from our US facility within 48 hours with tracking. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water using the reconstitution calculator. Order the AOD-9604 reference standard directly.

Frequently asked questions

What is AOD-9604?

AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 176-191 of the human growth hormone molecule — the HGH fragment 176-191. It is studied in lipid-metabolism research and supplied as a research-use-only reference standard.

What does HGH fragment 176-191 mean?

It refers to the segment at the C-terminus of the growth-hormone molecule (amino acids 176 through 191), the portion associated with lipid-metabolism activity, isolated for study apart from growth hormone's other actions.

Is AOD-9604 a growth hormone?

No. It is a fragment of the growth-hormone molecule, not the full hormone, isolated to study the lipid-metabolism-related portion of its signaling in vitro.