Anti-Obesity Drug 9604
Evidence Grade C — Moderate human evidence. 10 published studies, 10 human. 0 registered clinical trials.
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone that was investigated for obesity but failed a Phase IIb clinical trial. It received FDA GRAS status in 2014 as a food ingredient — this is not a drug approval and does not permit therapeutic claims. It is available through unregulated sources and is prohibited by WADA in sport.
10 published studies: 10 human, 0 animal, 0 in-vitro, 4 reviews
AOD-9604 has no pharmaceutical authorisation. A Phase IIb obesity trial (536 patients, 12 weeks) of oral AOD-9604 failed to demonstrate significant weight loss compared to placebo. The obesity development programme was discontinued. The developer subsequently pivoted to investigating intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis with preliminary Phase IIa data.
The FDA GRAS status (2014) applies exclusively to its use as a food ingredient and does not constitute pharmaceutical approval, authorise therapeutic claims, or establish safety for injectable use. Products available through unregulated channels lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
Research suggests a similar mechanism to HGH Fragment 176-191 — proposed fat metabolism effects through a non-growth-hormone-receptor pathway. Additional preclinical research has investigated potential effects on cartilage, but these observations are from animal and cell culture studies only. No mechanism has been validated through successful human clinical trials.
Research suggests the pivotal Phase IIb obesity trial (536 patients, 12 weeks) of oral AOD-9604 failed to demonstrate significant weight loss compared to placebo. The obesity development programme was discontinued. Subsequent research has pivoted to investigating intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis, with only preliminary Phase IIa data. The FDA GRAS status applies exclusively to use as a food ingredient and does not constitute drug approval, authorise therapeutic claims, or establish safety for injection. This distinction is frequently misrepresented in marketing from unregulated sources. Products from unregulated channels lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
No trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov for this compound.
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
Liraglutide is marketed as Victoza for type 2 diabetes (approved 2010) and Saxenda for weight management (approved 2014). The LEADER trial, involving over 9,300 patients followed for nearly four years, established that liraglutide reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 13% — a landmark finding that helped establish GLP-1 treatments as a class with heart benefits. Saxenda is also approved for adolescents aged 12 and older. While historically significant, liraglutide has been substantially surpassed by newer agents. In a direct comparison, semaglutide achieved 15.8% weight loss compared to liraglutide's 6.4%. Liraglutide remains relevant as a lower-intensity option and as a benchmark against which newer treatments are measured. It has over a decade of real-world safety data, making it one of the best-understood medications in this class.
Setmelanotide is marketed as Imcivree (Rhythm Pharmaceuticals; approved November 2020 for POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency; June 2022 for Bardet-Biedl syndrome; December 2024 expanded to patients aged 2 years and older). Genetic testing confirming an eligible mutation is required before treatment. In patients with POMC or PCSK1 deficiency, approximately 80% achieved at least 10% weight loss in clinical trials. In Bardet-Biedl syndrome, 32.3% achieved the same threshold. The most common side effects are injection-site reactions and skin darkening (due to the melanocortin pathway's connection to pigmentation). Setmelanotide exemplifies precision medicine — it is highly effective in the specific genetic populations it targets but is not indicated for common obesity.
HGH Fragment 176-191 has no marketing authorisation. A Phase IIa trial in obesity (approximately 300 patients) failed to demonstrate statistically significant weight loss at any dose tested. The clinical development programme was discontinued. The disconnect between animal data (which showed significant fat reduction in obese mice) and the failed human trial is the defining feature of this compound's development history. Products available through unregulated channels lack pharmaceutical quality assurance. The failed Phase II trial represents the highest level of clinical evidence available.
