AOD9604 vs tesamorelin
Both are sold for fat loss, but neither has been shown to lower body weight. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is an approved drug that raises growth hormone and shrinks belly fat in adults with HIV; AOD9604, a growth hormone fragment, didn’t beat placebo for weight loss in its main trial.
- AOD9604
- Human studiesOnce daily
- Tesamorelin
- Approved drugOnce daily
- Head-to-head trials
- None published
The short answer
AOD9604 is a 16-amino-acid fragment from the tail end of growth hormone, designed to copy its effect on fat without raising IGF-1, a growth factor made mainly in the liver; FDA says its target in the body hasn’t been identified. Tesamorelin is a stabilized copy of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the brain signal that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone, so it raises growth hormone and IGF-1. Tesamorelin is an approved daily injection; AOD9604 was never approved.
In Phase 3 trials in 806 adults with HIV and excess belly fat, tesamorelin cut visceral fat, the fat packed around the organs, by about 15% more than placebo over 26 weeks while body weight barely changed; its label says it isn’t for weight loss. A 12-month trial in 60 adults with abdominal obesity also found less visceral fat. AOD9604 was well tolerated in six trials of 893 people, by mouth or IV, but in a 24-week trial of 502 adults with obesity it didn’t lower weight more than placebo, and it has never been tested as an injection under the skin.
At a glance
| Field | AOD9604Tyr-hGH (177–191) | TesamorelinEgrifta SV, Egrifta WR |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | Human studies | Approved drug |
| Class | Modified growth hormone fragment | GHRH analog |
| Approval | Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. | Approved in the US as Egrifta WR and Egrifta SV, to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. |
| Sport (WADA 2026) | Banned in sport | Banned in sport |
| Common dose | 300 mcg daily | 1–2 mg daily |
| Frequency | Once daily | Once daily |
| Cycle | 12 weeks on, 4 off | Continuous |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection (abdomen) |
| Half-life | – | about 8 to 11 minutes Label |
| Typical draw | 12 units5 mg with 2 mL, 300 mcg | 40 units10 mg with 2 mL, 2 mg |
| Vial sizes or form | 5, 10 mg | 2, 5, 10, 20 mg |
| Human studies | 2 listedLargest: 893 people (2013) | 5 listedLargest: 806 people (2010) |
| Main cautions |
|
|
| Open AOD9604 | Open Tesamorelin |
Doses shown are what labels, trials or community reports reference, not recommendations. Each compound’s page has the full detail and sources.
Key differences
What they are
AOD9604: 16 amino acids, a tyrosine plus residues 177 to 191 of growth hormone. Tesamorelin: all 44 amino acids of GHRH, with a stabilizing hexenoyl group added at the front.
How they work
Tesamorelin binds GHRH receptors on the pituitary, which then releases more of its own growth hormone in pulses, and IGF-1 rises. AOD9604 doesn’t bind the growth hormone receptor or raise IGF-1; in obese mice its fat-burning effect depended on the beta-3 adrenergic receptor, a switch on fat cells, and FDA says its molecular target hasn’t been identified.
Human evidence
TrialTesamorelin: Phase 3 trials in 806 adults with HIV (visceral fat 15.4% lower than on placebo at 26 weeks, returning after a switch to placebo) and a 12-month trial in 60 adults with abdominal obesity. AOD9604: six trials in 893 people, by mouth or IV, with side effects like placebo’s and, in 502 adults with obesity, no weight loss beyond placebo at 24 weeks.
Effect on weight
Tesamorelin’s label calls its effect on weight neutral: over 26 weeks weight changed by less than 1 kg, while trunk fat fell 0.8–1.0 kg and lean mass rose 1.2–1.3 kg. AOD9604’s trial found no significant weight loss compared with placebo.
Doses
Tesamorelin: 1.28 mg (Egrifta WR) or 1.4 mg (Egrifta SV) once a day under the skin of the belly (label); research vials are often used at 1–2 mg a day (community). AOD9604: 250–500 mcg once a day under the skin, most often 300 mcg (community), a route its trials never tested.
Side effects and cautions
Tesamorelin’s label lists injection-site reactions (25% vs 14% on placebo), joint pain, swelling, numbness and higher blood sugar, and rules it out in pregnancy, active cancer and after pituitary surgery or head radiation. AOD9604’s trials found side effects similar to placebo, headache being the most common; it has no label, and FDA flagged bone and liver changes in animal studies.
Status
Tesamorelin is approved in the US for excess belly fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. AOD9604 isn’t approved as a drug in the US or EU; FDA’s advisory committee voted 0 to 12 against it for pharmacy compounding in December 2024, and the nomination was later withdrawn. Both are banned in sport at all times.
Head-to-head studies
Taking them together
Open them in the stack check for sport status and one combined tracking checklist.
Questions
What is the difference between AOD9604 and tesamorelin?
AOD9604 is a 16-amino-acid fragment from the tail end of growth hormone, designed to copy its effect on fat without raising IGF-1, a growth factor made mainly in the liver; FDA says its target in the body hasn’t been identified. Tesamorelin is a stabilized copy of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the brain signal that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone, so it raises growth hormone and IGF-1. Tesamorelin is an approved daily injection; AOD9604 was never approved.
Does tesamorelin cause weight loss?
Not overall. Its label says it isn’t for weight loss because its effect on weight is neutral. In the HIV trials, visceral fat fell 14–18% and lean mass rose 1.2–1.3 kg over 26 weeks, while weight changed by less than 1 kg. A 12-month trial in adults with abdominal obesity also lowered visceral fat without changing fat under the skin.
Which one raises IGF-1?
Tesamorelin. IGF-1 rose by about 105–122 ng/mL more than on placebo over 26 weeks, and 47% of patients went above the normal range, so its label advises checking IGF-1 during treatment. AOD9604’s trials found no change in IGF-1 or in blood sugar control, which is what it was designed for.
Can AOD9604 and tesamorelin be taken together?
No overlap between them is documented. No published study has tested them together.
Which has more evidence in people, AOD9604 or tesamorelin?
AOD9604 isn’t approved anywhere; its page lists 2 key human studies. Tesamorelin is approved in the US; its page lists 5 key human studies. They haven’t been compared directly in a published trial.
Are AOD9604 and tesamorelin banned in sport?
AOD9604 and tesamorelin are banned at all times. This follows the WADA 2026 Prohibited List; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization.
Sources
- Egrifta WR and Egrifta SV prescribing information (DailyMed, rev. 07/2026)
- Falutz et al., pooled Phase 3 tesamorelin trials (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010) PMID 20554713
- Makimura et al., tesamorelin in abdominal obesity with reduced GH secretion (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012) PMID 23015655
- Stier et al., safety and tolerability of AOD9604 in humans (J Endocrinol Metab 2013) doi:10.4021/jem157w
- FDA briefing document: AOD-9604-related bulk drug substances, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (December 4, 2024)
- Heffernan et al., AOD9604 and beta-3 adrenergic receptors in obese mice (Endocrinology 2001) PMID 11713213
- WADA 2026 Prohibited List, in force January 1, 2026
Each compound’s page lists its full sources: AOD9604, Tesamorelin.