AOD-9604 10 mg — Quick Chart
Dosing & Reconstitution Overview
AOD-9604 is a modified C-terminal fragment (residues 176–191) of human growth hormone, studied for the lipolytic portion of the hGH molecule isolated away from its growth-promoting activity. The figures below are compiled strictly for laboratory and educational reference — they describe how the compound has been handled and dosed across published work, not a recommendation for use in humans or animals.
For a 10 mg vial, adding 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a concentration of 5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL). At that concentration, each 0.01 mL drawn on a U-100 insulin syringe equals 1 unit and delivers 50 mcg of material, which keeps the daily microgram math clean across the titration steps.
Standard (Gradual) Titration Schedule
The gradual schedule mirrors the slow ramp used to introduce the compound, holding an introductory daily amount for the first month before stepping up to the working dose for the remainder of the run.
| Phase | Daily Dose | Units (U-100) | Volume | Vials / Dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | 300 mcg | 6 units | 0.06 mL | — |
| Weeks 5–12 | 500 mcg | 10 units | 0.10 mL | — |
Reconstitution Steps
- Let the sealed lyophilized vial and the bacteriostatic water reach room temperature, then wipe both stoppers with an alcohol swab.
- Draw 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the vial — never directly onto the powder pellet, to avoid foaming.
- Swirl or roll the vial gently until fully dissolved. Do not shake; aggressive agitation can shear the peptide.
- The solution should be clear and colourless. Label the vial with the concentration (5 mg/mL) and the reconstitution date.
- Store upright under refrigeration between uses and draw each subsequent volume with a fresh sterile syringe.
Dosing Detail by Phase
Because AOD-9604 is dosed in micrograms rather than milligrams, the table below restates the same two phases against the 5 mg/mL fill so the per-injection volumes are unambiguous on a U-100 syringe.
| Phase | Daily Dose | mcg per Unit | Units (U-100) | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory | 300 mcg | 50 mcg | 6 units | 0.06 mL |
| Working | 500 mcg | 50 mcg | 10 units | 0.10 mL |
Human work reported the most consistent fat-mass signal in the daily microgram band shown here; larger amounts did not produce a proportional increase in effect, so the range stays modest in the literature.
Supplies Needed
- AOD-9604 vials (10 mg): ~3 vials for an 8-week run; ~4 vials for 12 weeks; ~6 vials for 16 weeks (daily dosing at the working amount).
- Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL): ~56 for 8 weeks, ~84 for 12 weeks, ~112 for 16 weeks (one fresh syringe per daily draw).
- Bacteriostatic water (10 mL): one bottle covers ~5 vials; a single bottle comfortably handles a 12-week run.
- Alcohol swabs: two 100-count boxes cover an 8–12 week schedule; three for 16 weeks.
Protocol Overview
- Research goal: model fat-mass reduction and fat oxidation via the isolated lipolytic hGH fragment.
- Schedule: once-daily subcutaneous administration in the published model.
- Dose band: 300 mcg introductory, 500 mcg working.
- Fill: 10 mg lyophilized, reconstituted to 5 mg/mL with 2 mL diluent.
- Storage: −20 °C dry; 2–8 °C once reconstituted.
Dosing Protocol Notes
- Begin at the 300 mcg step and hold it for about four weeks before moving to the working amount.
- Keep administration on a fixed daily cadence — many study designs favour a consistent time of day — for steady exposure modelling.
- Step up to 500 mcg only after tolerability is established at the introductory level.
- Because the compound is non-incretin, there is no gastrointestinal escalation pattern to manage as with GLP-1 agonists.
Storage Instructions
Keep sealed lyophilized vials at −20 °C, protected from light, where stability extends beyond a year in dry, dark conditions. Once reconstituted, refrigerate at 2–8 °C and use within about three to four weeks. Allow refrigerated solution to warm slightly before drawing, avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and aliquot if a vial will be sampled many times.
Important Handling Notes
- Use a sterile syringe for every draw and never re-enter the vial with a used needle.
- Roll rather than shake to keep the peptide intact and minimise foaming.
- Keep the reconstituted vial shielded from light and at a stable refrigeration temperature.
- Document each draw — date, volume, remaining material — for reproducibility.
How AOD-9604 Works
AOD-9604 corresponds to the C-terminal 176–191 sequence of human growth hormone — the segment that carries the molecule's fat-mobilising activity — with the growth-promoting regions removed. In the published mechanistic work it is described as binding adipose tissue, promoting the breakdown of stored triglyceride and limiting re-esterification (new fat storage). Chronic exposure has been reported to upregulate β3-adrenergic receptors in fat tissue, a pathway linked to the suppression seen in obesity. Unlike full-length hGH, AOD-9604 has been reported not to meaningfully raise IGF-1 or to worsen glucose tolerance, which is the basis for studying it as a lipolytic agent separated from growth-axis effects.
Reported Benefits & Side Effects
Benefits reported in research
- Reductions in fat mass and increases in fat oxidation over repeated administration.
- A 12-week human trial reported modest but statistically significant weight loss — roughly 2.6 kg versus about 0.8 kg on placebo at the studied dose.
- A preferential loss of abdominal fat, resembling the pattern seen with low-dose hGH.
- No meaningful rise in IGF-1 and a placebo-like safety profile in human studies, with no anti-AOD-9604 antibodies detected.
- Preclinical signals of possible cartilage and bone-health benefit in joint-focused models.
Side effects reported
- Generally well tolerated in the reported studies.
- Occasional mild injection-site reactions such as redness or itching with subcutaneous administration.
- No clinically meaningful effect on glucose tolerance was reported at studied doses.
Supporting Lifestyle Factors (Research Context)
- A hypocaloric, protein-forward diet in the study designs, with the compound framed as a supportive aid to fat loss rather than a stand-alone driver.
- Combined resistance and aerobic activity to reinforce metabolic adaptation.
- Adequate sleep and stress management as standard adherence and recovery controls.
Injection Technique (Reference Only)
- Clean the vial stopper and the site with alcohol swabs and let them dry fully.
- Pinch a skinfold and insert subcutaneously at 90° (or 45° where subcutaneous fat is minimal); aspiration is not required for subcutaneous work.
- Inject slowly and steadily, then withdraw and apply light pressure.
- Rotate sites systematically — abdomen at least two inches from the navel, thighs, upper arms — to avoid lipohypertrophy, and dispose of sharps in an approved container.
References
- Stier H, et al. Safety and tolerability of AOD9604 in humans. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (2013). jofem.org/index.php/jofem/article/view/157/194
- Safety and metabolism of AOD9604. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (2014). jofem.org/index.php/jofem/article/view/213/278
- Heffernan M, et al. Effects of the hGH fragment AOD9604 on lipid metabolism in obese mice. Endocrinology (2001). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11713213
- Chronic AOD9604 treatment and β3-adrenergic receptor upregulation in adipose tissue. Endocrinology (OUP). academic.oup.com/endo/article/142/12/5182
- Intra-articular AOD9604 in a model of osteoarthritis. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science (2015). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26275694