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AOD-9604 Dosage Guide: Protocols, Timing & How Much to Take (2026)

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Dosage Protocols

AOD-9604 dosing in clinical trials and community use differs substantially. All dosage information below describes unapproved, off-label use.

Clinical trial dosing:

  • Phase IIa (METAOD005): 1, 5, 10, 20, or 30 mg/day oral administration for 12 weeks (n=300, 50 per dose group)
  • Phase IIb (OPTIONS trial): 0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg/day oral administration for 24 weeks

Community subcutaneous protocols:

  • Starting dose: 300 mcg once daily
  • Standard range: 300 to 500 mcg per day
  • Some protocols escalate to 500 mcg split into two doses (250 mcg AM and 250 mcg before bed) if results plateau after 4 or more weeks

Cycling:

  • Standard cycle length: 12 weeks on, followed by 4 to 8 weeks off
  • Some users run continuous protocols of up to 16 weeks before taking a break

AOD-9604 should be administered in a fasted state, with a minimum of 2 hours since the last meal. Morning dosing after an overnight fast is most common. Fasting is thought to maximize the lipolytic effect by avoiding insulin-mediated suppression of fat breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Semaglutide is far more effective. Clinical trials show semaglutide produces 13 to 20% body weight reduction at maintenance doses, while AOD-9604 failed to produce statistically significant weight loss in its pivotal trial. Semaglutide is also FDA-approved, whereas AOD-9604 is not approved for any therapeutic use.

Clinical trials used oral doses of 250 to 1,000 mcg per day. In community use, subcutaneous doses of 300 to 500 mcg daily are most common, administered in a fasted state. These dosage protocols are not FDA-approved and are based on limited clinical and anecdotal data.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions.

References

  1. Heffernan MA, et al. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice. Endocrinology. 2001;142(12):5182-5189.
  2. Heffernan MA, et al. Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001;25(10):1442-1449.
  3. Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D. Safety and tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in humans. J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;3(1-2):7-15.
  4. Moré MI, Kenley D. Safety and metabolism of AOD9604, a novel nutraceutical ingredient for improved metabolic health. J Endocrinol Metab. 2014;4(3):64-77.
  5. Kok P, et al. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(2):455-459.
  6. Obesity Pharmacotherapy: Current Perspectives and Future Directions. PMC. 2013.
  7. Kwon DR, et al. Effect of intra-articular injection of AOD9604 with or without hyaluronic acid in rabbit osteoarthritis model. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2015;45(4):426-432.
  8. WADA Statement on Substance AOD-9604. World Anti-Doping Agency.
  9. FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee Meeting, December 4, 2024.
  10. PubChem Compound Summary: AOD-9604. CID 71300630.
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