The short version of lyophilized powder fits in a sentence. The long version — which is the one that helps — is below.
This page was last updated on 2026-05-19 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
AOD-9604 is listed as a prohibited substance in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It falls under the peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics class on the prohibited list. Anti-doping organizations treat its presence in an athlete's sample as an adverse finding unless a therapeutic use exemption applies. The prohibition reflects concerns about performance enhancement in competitive settings and the difficulty of distinguishing exogenous peptide use from endogenous hormone fragments.
Detection of AOD-9604 in biological samples relies on analytical techniques capable of distinguishing a small synthetic peptide from related endogenous sequences. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry is commonly used for confirmatory analysis. Sample preparation may involve immunoaffinity enrichment or solid-phase extraction to concentrate the peptide. Because the molecule is small and may be present at low concentrations, assay sensitivity and specificity are ongoing analytical challenges. Laboratories also validate methods against reference materials when available.
Regulatory interest in AOD-9604 increased after high-profile anti-doping cases involving peptide products. In some cases, the substance was supplied under alternative names or in compounded preparations, complicating traceability. Sports tribunals and anti-doping panels have discussed whether the peptide was explicitly banned at the time of use, leading to clarifications by the World Anti-Doping Agency. For consumers and researchers, the legal status can vary by jurisdiction, and products marketed as research chemicals may lack independent quality verification.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide whose sequence matches the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, specifically residues 176 through 191. This region differs from the full hormone in its receptor interactions. The peptide is not a growth hormone secretagogue and does not bind the growth hormone receptor in the same manner. Researchers have examined it for effects on lipid metabolism, but its exact pharmacological profile remains an active area of study.
Development of AOD-9604 began in the 1990s as scientists sought to isolate metabolic effects of growth hormone without its growth-promoting actions. Early laboratory work focused on fat cells and animal models. Several human trials followed, examining changes in body composition and fat mass. Results have been mixed, and the peptide has not progressed to widespread clinical approval. Interest continues in research settings, particularly regarding its mechanism and potential metabolic targets.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory status | Prohibited in sport | Listed by WADA under peptide hormones |
| WADA class | S2 | Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics |
| Approved therapeutic use | Not established | Clinical research did not lead to broad marketing approval |
| Common detection method | LC-MS/MS | Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry |
| Sample preparation | Extraction and enrichment | Immunoaffinity or solid-phase extraction may be used |
AOD-9604 has been investigated primarily as a potential treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions. Early laboratory work examined its effects on fat cells, and later studies moved into animal models and human clinical trials. Some trials reportedly reached Phase II, but the program did not lead to an approved medicine. Published summaries often note that weight-loss results were modest or inconsistent. The full trial data are not all publicly available in detail.
Regulatory treatment of AOD-9604 has varied. In sports anti-doping, the peptide became widely discussed during a 2013 investigation into an Australian professional sports club. Authorities at the time debated whether it fell under prohibitions on growth hormone and related substances. Later clarifications and updated lists have addressed the compound in different ways. Anyone seeking current status should consult the latest applicable rules, and commercial supply for human use is not authorized in major markets.
Several names appear in scientific and commercial settings. AOD9604 and AOD-9604 are development codes used interchangeably, while hGH fragment 176-191 describes the same region. The peptide includes a disulfide bond between two cysteine residues, which helps shape its three-dimensional structure. Different suppliers may provide acetate or other salt forms, and purity can vary. These differences matter because analytical tests and biological assays can respond to the specific form being studied.
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.
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.
Analytical characterization of AOD-9604 typically employs reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to assess purity and identity. Mass spectrometry provides confirmation of molecular mass, while amino acid analysis can verify composition. These methods are standard for peptide research chemicals. Because the peptide lacks a distinct chromophore, detection often relies on ultraviolet absorbance at 214 nm or mass spectrometric response. Laboratories may also use capillary electrophoresis for separation. For example, size-exclusion chromatography can detect aggregates.
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.
== Businesses and organizations == Korea Land and Housing Corporation, a South Korean state-owned housing company LabCorp (stock symbol LH), a clinical laboratory company Lernout & Hauspie, a former Belgium-based speech and language technology company Literary and Historical Society (University College Dublin) Lufthansa (IATA airline designator), large European airline
== Biological function == Enzymes serve a wide variety of functions inside living organisms. They are indispensable for signal transduction and cell regulation, often via kinases and phosphatases. They also generate movement, with myosin hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to generate muscle contraction, and also transport cargo around the cell as part of the cytoskeleton. Other ATPases in the cell membrane are ion pumps involved in active transport. Enzymes are also involved in more exotic functions, such as luciferase generating light in fireflies. Viruses can also contain enzymes for infecting cells, such as the HIV integrase and reverse transcriptase, or for viral release from cells, like the influenza virus neuraminidase. An important function of enzymes is in the digestive systems of animals. Enzymes such as amylases and proteases break down large molecules (starch or proteins, respectively) into smaller ones, so they can be absorbed by the intestines. Starch molecules, for example, are too large to be absorbed from the intestine, but enzymes hydrolyze the starch chains into smaller molecules such as maltose and eventually glucose, which can then be absorbed. Different enzymes digest different food substances. In ruminants, which have herbivorous diets, microorganisms in the gut produce another enzyme, cellulase, to break down the cellulose cell walls of plant fiber.
Peyronie's disease diagnosis is mostly clinical. Patient history and physical examination are crucial. The most prominent features are acquired penile curvature, palpable plaques, erectile dysfunction, and pain during erections. Penile ultrasonography is the imaging method of choice for plaque location, measurement, and confirmation of calcification. Doppler ultrasound can be utilized to assess vascular function, which is useful in the evaluation of associated erectile dysfunction. Imaging also helps to differentiate Peyronie's disease from congenital penile curvature, penile fracture, or neoplastic disease. MRI can be employed in severe ones, although it is generally not required.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Wong was also the first woman to be executed for murder in Singapore since its independence. 1975: Andrew Chou Hock Guan, David Chou Hock Heng, Peter Lim Swee Guan, Alex Yau Hean Thye, Stephen Francis, Richard James, and Konesekaram Nagalingam, who were hanged on 28 February 1975 for the Gold Bars triple murders. 1975: Lim Kim Huat and Neoh Bean Chye, the two Malaysian gunmen found guilty of shooting and killing wine shop proprietor Chew Liew Tea and hanged on 27 June 1975. 1980: Quek Kee Siong, a labourer who was found guilty of the rape and murder of ten-year-old Cheng Geok Ha and sentenced to death in March 1979. He lost his appeal in November 1980, and later hanged. 1982: Kalidass Sinnathamby Narayanasamy, a lance corporal of the Singapore Armed Forces who molested and killed his seven-year-old niece. He was sentenced to hang for murder on 27 March 1980 and lost his appeal in May 1982, and sometime afterwards, he was executed. 1982: Haw Tua Tau, a hawker who was found guilty of murdering Phoon Ah Leong and Hu Yuen Keng back in 1976. After losing his appeals, Haw was hanged sometime in 1982. 1983: Vadivelu Kathikesan, a Singaporean charged with the murders of two men between June and October 1979. Vadivelu was sentenced to hang in March 1982 for the October 1979 murder of cigarette stall owner Mohamed Dawood Abdul Jaffar, and he was hanged on an unknown date after the loss of his appeal in January 1983. His other charge of killing Abdul Rahiman Adnan in June 1979 was withdrawn after his conviction for the Mohamed Dawood murder.
==== Central nervous system ==== The central nervous system (CNS) consists of a bilobed brain (cerebral ganglia, or supra-pharyngeal ganglion), sub-pharyngeal ganglia, circum-pharyngeal connectives and a ventral nerve cord. Earthworms' brains consist of a pair of pear-shaped cerebral ganglia. These are located in the dorsal side of the alimentary canal in the third segment, in a groove between the buccal cavity and pharynx. A pair of circum-pharyngeal connectives from the brain encircle the pharynx and then connect with a pair of sub-pharyngeal ganglia located below the pharynx in the fourth segment. This arrangement means the brain, sub-pharyngeal ganglia and the circum-pharyngeal connectives form a nerve ring around the pharynx. The ventral nerve cord (formed by nerve cells and nerve fibers) begins at the sub-pharyngeal ganglia and extends below the alimentary canal to the most posterior body segment. The ventral nerve cord has a swelling, or ganglion, in each segment, i.e. a segmental ganglion, which occurs from the fifth to the last segment of the body. There are also three giant axons, one medial giant axon (MGA) and two lateral giant axons (LGAs) on the mid-dorsal side of the ventral nerve cord. The MGA is 0.07 mm in diameter and transmits in an anterior-posterior direction at a rate of 32.2 m/s. The LGAs are slightly narrower at 0.05 mm in diameter and transmit in a posterior-anterior direction at 12.6 m/s. The two LGAs are connected at regular intervals along the body and are therefore considered one giant axon.
=== More examples === acetaldehyde dehydrogenase alcohol dehydrogenase Delta12-fatty acid dehydrogenase glutamate dehydrogenase (an enzyme that can convert glutamate to α-Ketoglutarate and vice versa). lactate dehydrogenase (used to convert NADH back to NAD+ in anaerobic glycolysis, and in the back reaction to produce NADH) pyruvate dehydrogenase (A common enzyme that feeds the TCA Cycle by converting pyruvate to acetyl CoA, using NAD+. In this reaction, the substrate not only is oxidized but also loses a carbon dioxide molecule, and is attached to the CoA coenzyme.) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, producing NADPH) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (involved in glycolysis, uses NAD+) sorbitol dehydrogenase TCA cycle examples:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
polycyclic structures (e.g. tetrodotoxin) compounds with a strong electron-withdrawing group attached to the acyl carbon (e.g. N,N-dimethyltrifluoroacetamide) compounds with donor groups that are poorly conjugated with the potential carbonyl group (e.g. cyclol) compounds with sulfur atoms bonded to the anomeric centre (e.g., S-acylated-1,8-naphthalenedithiol) These compounds were used to study the kinetics of tetrahedral intermediate decomposition into its respective carbonyl species, and to measure the IR, UV, and NMR spectra of the tetrahedral adduct.
== Function == The trachea's main function is to transport air to and from the lungs. It also helps to warm, humidify, and filter the air before it reaches the lungs. The trachea is made up of rings of cartilage, which help to keep it open and prevent it from collapsing. The inside of the trachea is lined with a mucous membrane, which produces mucus to help trap dirt and dust particles. The cilia, which are tiny hairs that line the mucous membrane, help to move the mucus and trapped particles up and out of the trachea.
Even snRNAs and snoRNAs themselves undergo series of modification before they become part of functional RNP complex. This is done either in the nucleoplasm or in the specialized compartments called Cajal bodies. Their bases are methylated or pseudouridinilated by a group of small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs), which are structurally similar to snoRNAs.
=== High-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) === The most commonly applied methods are MS and HPLC, in which the glycan part is cleaved either enzymatically or chemically from the target and subjected to analysis. In case of glycolipids, they can be analyzed directly without separation of the lipid component. N-glycans from glycoproteins are analyzed routinely by high-performance-liquid-chromatography (reversed phase, normal phase and ion exchange HPLC) after tagging the reducing end of the sugars with a fluorescent compound (reductive labeling). A large variety of different labels were introduced in the recent years, where 2-aminobenzamide (AB), anthranilic acid (AA), 2-aminopyridin (PA), 2-aminoacridone (AMAC) and 3-(acetylamino)-6-aminoacridine (AA-Ac) are just a few of them. O-glycans are usually analysed without any tags, due to the chemical release conditions preventing them to be labeled. Fractionated glycans from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instruments can be further analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS(MS) to get further information about structure and purity. Sometimes glycan pools are analyzed directly by mass spectrometry without prefractionation, although a discrimination between isobaric glycan structures is more challenging or even not always possible. Anyway, direct MALDI-TOF-MS analysis can lead to a fast and straightforward illustration of the glycan pool. In recent years, high performance liquid chromatography online coupled to mass spectrometry became very popular.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Yes, the World Anti-Doping Agency classifies AOD-9604 as a prohibited peptide hormone and related substance. Its use by athletes is banned under the relevant anti-doping code.
Confirmatory detection typically uses liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Immunoassays may be used for screening, but mass spectrometry provides structural confirmation.
No widely approved therapeutic indication exists for AOD-9604. It has been investigated in clinical studies, but regulatory approvals for general medical use are not established.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone, corresponding to amino acids 176-191. It is studied for potential effects on fat metabolism, but it is not approved as a drug in most countries. Its exact mechanism remains under investigation.