IGF-1 comes up often in conversation and rarely with the context attached. Here we lay out the basics in order, then work through the practical considerations.
Updated 2026-08-01. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
Clinical development of AOD-9604 included trials in people with obesity. Reports from early-phase and mid-phase studies described modest or inconsistent changes in body weight. A phase IIb program did not meet its primary endpoint, and the compound was not approved for medical use. Differences in formulation, delivery route, and participant characteristics may explain some of the variation. Later investigations explored whether the peptide might have effects in other tissues, including cartilage.
Regulatory treatment of AOD-9604 is shaped by its classification as a peptide hormone. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists it as a prohibited substance, and many national anti-doping organizations adopt that list. It does not hold approval as a prescription medicine in the United States, the European Union, or other major markets. Products sold online are frequently labeled for research use only and may not undergo independent quality testing. Import and possession rules differ by country, so legal status depends on local law.
In the scientific literature, AOD-9604 appears in reviews of growth hormone fragments and in discussions of peptide-based metabolic research. Some sources distinguish it from growth hormone itself, while others group it with compounds marketed for weight management. The evidence base is small compared with approved obesity medications. Questions about long-term efficacy and clinical relevance remain open, and independent replication of key findings is limited. Most published reports are early-stage and exploratory.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide modeled on the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. It is often described as hGH fragment 176-191. Research interest arose because it was designed to isolate possible effects on fat metabolism from other actions of growth hormone. It is not a full growth hormone molecule. Its development history includes early laboratory and animal studies followed by human trials. The peptide has been examined in laboratory, animal, and limited human studies.
The compound has been studied as a potential treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions. Published trials have examined changes in body weight, fat mass, and safety markers over limited durations. Results have been mixed or modest, and no large-scale outcome trials are established. Regulatory agencies in several countries have not approved it as a therapeutic drug. Some commercial products have been marketed outside regulated pharmaceutical channels, which raises questions about quality and claims.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical storage temperature | -20 °C | Lyophilized peptide; protect from moisture and light. |
| Typical analytical method | HPLC and mass spectrometry | Used to confirm identity and estimate purity. |
| Common synonyms | AOD9604; hGH 176-191 | Naming varies by supplier and publication. |
| Disulfide bonds | One | Affects folded structure and stability. |
| Typical research purity | ≥95% | Value depends on supplier and analytical method. |
Stability of AOD-9604 depends on storage conditions. Lyophilized powder is generally more stable than reconstituted solution. Recommended storage is typically at -20°C or lower, protected from light and moisture. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause aggregation or degradation. In solution, the peptide may be susceptible to hydrolysis or oxidation, so aliquoting and cold storage are common practices. Researchers often add stabilizers such as mannitol or trehalose during lyophilization to improve shelf life.
Quality control for AOD-9604 involves verifying identity, purity, and concentration. Suppliers may provide a certificate of analysis listing HPLC purity and mass spectrometry data. Independent verification is advised because peptide products can vary in quality. Researchers should check for counterions, residual solvents, and microbial contamination. Proper documentation supports reproducibility and safety in laboratory studies. When sourcing, institutions often require third-party testing and detailed chain-of-custody records. These steps help ensure that experimental results are attributable to the peptide rather than impurities.
Early interest in AOD-9604 centered on whether a fragment of human growth hormone could influence fat metabolism without the broader effects of the full hormone. Cell and animal studies reported changes in fat storage and breakdown. Human trials followed, but the results were not strong enough to secure regulatory approval. The compound remains available for laboratory research, and its clinical potential is still described as uncertain. Studies continue to examine its activity and safety profile.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide that corresponds to a short section of human growth hormone. It is commonly identified as hGH fragment 176-191 because its sequence matches residues at the C-terminal end of the hormone. The molecule contains sixteen amino acids and is made by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Researchers study it for metabolic effects rather than for the growth-promoting actions associated with full human growth hormone. Its small size distinguishes it from the complete 191-amino-acid hormone.
In May 2013, Doug Matthews set an altitude record of 12,975 m (42,568 ft) in a P-51 named The Rebel for piston-powered aircraft weighing 3,000 to 6,000 kg (6,600 to 13,200 lb). Flying from a grass runway at Florida's Indiantown airport and over Lake Okeechobee, Matthews set world records for time to reach altitudes of 9,000 m (30,000 ft), 18 minutes and 12,000 m (39,000 ft), 31 minutes. He set a level-flight altitude record of 12,200 m (40,100 ft) in level flight and an absolute altitude record of 13,000 m (42,500 ft), breaking the previous record of 11,248 m (36,902 ft) set in 1954.
=== Minipreparation === Minipreparation of plasmid DNA is a rapid, small-scale isolation of plasmid DNA from bacteria. Commonly used miniprep methods include alkaline lysis and spin-column based kits. It is based on the alkaline lysis method. The extracted plasmid DNA resulting from performing a miniprep is itself often called a "miniprep". Minipreps are used in the process of molecular cloning to analyze bacterial clones. A typical plasmid DNA yield of a miniprep is 5 to 50 μg depending on the cell strain. Miniprep of a large number of plasmids can also be done conveniently on filter paper by lysing the cell and eluting the plasmid on to filter paper.
Phenol derivatives There are a number of glucosides found in natural phenols and polyphenols, as, for example, in the flavonoids chemical family. Arbutin, which occurs in bearberry along with methyl arbutin, hydrolyses to hydroquinone and glucose. Pharmacologically it acts as a urinary antiseptic and diuretic; Salicin, also termed Saligenin and glucose occurs in the willow. The enzymes ptyalin and emulsin convert it into glucose and saligenin, ortho-oxybenzylalcohol. Oxidation gives the aldehyde helicin.
=== Anaerobic oxidative decarboxylation === One well-studied example is HemN. HemN or anaerobic coproporphyrinogen III oxidase is a radical SAM enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of coproporphyrinogen III to protoporphyrinogen IX, an intermediate in heme biosynthesis. Evidence support the idea that HemN utilizes two SAM molecules to mediate radical-mediated hydrogen transfer for the sequential decarboxylation of the two propionate groups of coproporphyrinogen III. Hyperthermophilic sulfate-reducing archaen Archaeoglobus fulgidus enables anaerobic oxidation of long chain n-alkanes. PflD is reported to be responsible for the capacity of A. fulgidus to grow on a wide range of unsaturated carbons and fatty acids. A detailed biochemical and mechanistic characterization of PflD is still undergoing but preliminary data suggest PflD may be a radical SAM enzyme.
=== DEAE-D === DEAE-Dextran (DEAE-D) is a positively charged dextran derivative that can be used for vaccine production, gene therapy, protein stabilization, dyslipidemia prevention, flocculating agents, and many other applications. DEAE-D is also used for transfecting animal cells with foreign DNA. It is added to solution containing DNA meant for transfection. It binds and interacts with negatively charged DNA molecules and via an unknown mechanism brings about the uptake of nucleic acids by the cell. This procedure is highly suited for transient transfection used for various molecular biology studies.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Slovakia: Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the actions of the United States, stating that "International law does not apply, military power is used without the mandate of the UN Security Council, and everyone who is great and strong does what he wants to promote their own interests," and that "I resolutely reject such a disruption of international law, as I did in the Iraq war, in the denial of Kosovo as a sovereign state, or in the use of Russian military power in Ukraine." He also suggested that the European Union should apply the same standards that were used with Russia when it invaded Ukraine, saying that "Either the use of American military force in Venezuela will be condemned and be consistent with attitudes to the war in Ukraine, or, as usual, remain pharisaical." Spain: The Foreign Ministry called for "de-escalation and moderation", and for compliance with "international law and the principles of the UN charter" adding that the ministry was "prepared to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution". They reiterated that they did not recognize the results of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election and that Spain "has welcomed, and will continue to welcome, tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have had to leave their country for political reasons." On 4 January 2026, Brazil, Spain, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay issued a joint statement to express their "profound concern and firm rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally in Venezuelan territory" by the United States.
==== Political impact ==== A large generation, the baby boomers, came of age in the 1960s. Their social tendency to confront the law on specific issues, including illegal drugs, overwhelmed the understaffed judicial system. The federal government attempted to enforce the law, but with meager effect. Marijuana was a popular drug seen through the Latin American trade route in the 1960s. Cocaine became a major drug product in the later decades. Much of the cocaine is smuggled from Colombia and Mexico via Jamaica. This led to several administrations combating the popularity of these drugs. Due to the influence of this development on the US economy, the Reagan administration began "certifying" countries for their attempts at controlling drug trafficking. This allowed the United States to intervene in activities related to illegal drug transport in Latin America. Continuing into the 1980s, the United States instated stricter policy pertaining to drug transit through sea. As a result, there was an influx in drug-trafficking across the Mexico–US border, which increased the drug cartel activity in Mexico. By the early 1990s, as much as 50% of the cocaine available in the United States market originated from Mexico, and by the 2000s, over 90% of the cocaine in the United States was imported from Mexico. In Colombia, however, there was a fall of the major drug cartels in the mid-1990s. Visible shifts occurred in the drug market in the United States. Between 1996 and 2000, US cocaine consumption dropped by 11%.
== Health effects == Trifluoroacetic acid is a strong acid. TFA is harmful when inhaled, causes severe skin burns and is toxic for aquatic organisms even at low concentrations. Skin burns are severe, heal poorly and can be necrotic. Vapour fumes have an LC50 of 10.01 mg/L, tested on rats over 4 hours. Inhalation symptoms include mucus irritation, coughing, shortness of breath and possible formation of oedemas in the respiratory tract. Exposure damages the kidneys. TFA is also thought to be responsible for halothane-induced hepatitis. In 2024, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) formally requested that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reclassify TFA as "presumed" toxic to human reproduction, based on studies showing damage to animal fetuses. In June 2026, ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) concluded that TFA fulfils the criteria for toxic to the reproduction class 1B, persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) as well as very persistent and very mobile (vPvM). In July 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reduced the acceptable daily intake for TFA by 72%, from 0.05 mg/kg body weight/day down to 0.014. It also set the acute reference dose (ARfD) to 0.07 mg/kg body weight. These reductions were based on an assessment of new evidence, including changes in levels of the hormone thyroxine.
==== Australia ==== In Australia, both pure dextropropoxyphene capsules (as napsylate, 100 mg), marketed as Doloxene, and combination tablets and capsules (with paracetamol) all containing 32.5 mg dextropropoxyphene HCl with 325 mg paracetamol, which are currently available on prescription were supposed to be withdrawn from 1 March 2012, but Aspen Pharma sought a review in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which ruled in 2013 that the drugs could be sold under strict conditions.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
No. Major drug regulators have not approved AOD-9604 for weight loss or any other therapeutic indication. It remains an investigational compound studied in research settings.
The World Anti-Doping Agency classifies it as a prohibited peptide hormone. Athletes under anti-doping rules are not permitted to use it. Its presence can trigger a doping violation.
It is a fragment of growth hormone rather than a substance that signals the pituitary to release more hormone. Studies have not shown a consistent rise in IGF-1 or full growth hormone. Its metabolic effects, if any, appear separate from those of the complete hormone.
It is a synthetic peptide fragment derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone, commonly referred to as hGH fragment 176-191. It has been investigated for effects on fat metabolism, but it is not an approved medication in most jurisdictions.