AOD-9604 vs Tesamorelin
A GH fragment developed as an obesity drug versus an approved GHRH analogue for HIV-associated belly fat.
Research use only. A summary of published literature for educational reference — not medical advice and not a guide to human use.
The short version
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of growth hormone developed for obesity; its published human data are a pooled safety report, without a demonstrated weight-loss result. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, based on randomized trials. The evidence behind them is not comparable.
At a glance
Class
Modified C-terminal GH fragment
GHRH analogue
Approval status
No approved drug indication
FDA-approved (Egrifta) for HIV-associated abdominal fat only
Headline human data
Pooled safety of 6 RCTs (893 adults); no published efficacy result
412-patient RCT: visceral fat −15.2% vs +5.0% at 26 weeks
Effect on IGF-I
No significant increase reported
Raises IGF-I (about +81% in the trial)
Research vial sizes
2 / 5 mg
10 / 20 mg
The details · tap a section to open it
01
How they work
AOD-9604 was designed to mimic the fat-metabolism part of growth hormone without raising IGF-I. Its clinical target and a meaningful weight effect have not been established in published human trials.
01
How they work
AOD-9604 was designed to mimic the fat-metabolism part of growth hormone without raising IGF-I. Its clinical target and a meaningful weight effect have not been established in published human trials.
AOD-9604 was designed to mimic the fat-metabolism part of growth hormone without raising IGF-I. Its clinical target and a meaningful weight effect have not been established in published human trials.
Tesamorelin works upstream: it stimulates the pituitary to release the body's own GH, which raises IGF-I.
02
What studies measured
A published report pooling six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (893 adults, mostly obese) looked at safety: it reported no significant IGF-I rise, no harm to glucose tolerance, no antibodies in those tested and no treatment-related serious adverse events. It describes a 502-person efficacy study but gives no verifiable weight-loss result.
02
What studies measured
A published report pooling six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (893 adults, mostly obese) looked at safety: it reported no significant IGF-I rise, no harm to glucose tolerance, no antibodies in those tested and no treatment-related serious adverse events. It describes a 502-person efficacy study but gives no verifiable weight-loss result.
A published report pooling six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (893 adults, mostly obese) looked at safety: it reported no significant IGF-I rise, no harm to glucose tolerance, no antibodies in those tested and no treatment-related serious adverse events. It describes a 502-person efficacy study but gives no verifiable weight-loss result.
Tesamorelin's 412-patient trial in people with HIV measured visceral fat by CT: −15.2% versus +5.0% with placebo at 26 weeks.
03
Reported side effects
AOD-9604's safety report is sponsor-associated and does not establish long-term safety or the safety of every formulation.
03
Reported side effects
AOD-9604's safety report is sponsor-associated and does not establish long-term safety or the safety of every formulation.
AOD-9604's safety report is sponsor-associated and does not establish long-term safety or the safety of every formulation.
Tesamorelin's label warns about elevated IGF-I, glucose intolerance, fluid retention and injection-site reactions.
04
Evidence limits
No published primary report shows AOD-9604 causing clinically meaningful weight loss. Tesamorelin's results are specific to HIV-associated lipodystrophy and are not evidence for ordinary obesity.
04
Evidence limits
No published primary report shows AOD-9604 causing clinically meaningful weight loss. Tesamorelin's results are specific to HIV-associated lipodystrophy and are not evidence for ordinary obesity.
No published primary report shows AOD-9604 causing clinically meaningful weight loss. Tesamorelin's results are specific to HIV-associated lipodystrophy and are not evidence for ordinary obesity.
Citations
Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans
2 papers
Citations
Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans
- [1]Pooled safety report of six randomized controlled trials2013
Safety and Tolerability of the Hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in Humans
Stier H, et al. J Endocrinol Metab, 2013.
Read paper ↗ - [2]Randomized controlled trial2007
Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV
Falutz J, et al. N Engl J Med, 2007.
Read paper ↗
Research use only. A summary of published literature for educational reference — not medical advice and not a guide to human use.
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