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Classes

Fat loss

Compounds targeting adipose tissue and energy metabolism outside the incretin pathway.

4 compounds in this class. 0 approved by the FDA for at least one indication. 1 have no published human trial data.

Guides in this class

All 4 fat loss compared

CompoundEvidenceReported rangeHalf-lifeStatus
5-Amino-1MQ
A small-molecule NNMT inhibitor studied for adipocyte metabolism. Not a peptide, despite how it is sold.
 Animal models only 50-150 mg ~4-6 hours Research only
Adipotide
A proapoptotic peptide that destroys the blood supply to fat tissue. Caused kidney tubule changes in a primate study.
 Animal models only 500 mcg - 1 mg ~30-60 minutes Research only
AICAR
An AMPK activator nicknamed exercise in a pill, and one of the earliest compounds added to WADA banned list as a metabolic modulator.
 Clinical trials 50-100 mg ~30 minutes Research only
AOD-9604
A modified growth hormone fragment developed specifically as an obesity drug, which failed to beat placebo in phase IIb.
 Clinical trials 300-600 mcg ~30 minutes Research only

Head-to-head comparisons

5-Amino-1MQ vs MOTS-c5-Amino-1MQ vs AOD-9604Adipotide vs AOD-9604Adipotide vs SemaglutideAICAR vs MOTS-c5-Amino-1MQ vs AICARAOD-9604 vs HGH Fragment 176-191AOD-9604 vs SemaglutideAOD-9604 vs Tesamorelin

Fat loss: common questions

What are fat loss?

Compounds targeting adipose tissue and energy metabolism outside the incretin pathway. This class has 4 compounds in our directory.

Which fat loss are FDA approved?

None of the 4 compounds in this class is FDA approved for any indication.

Which fat loss have the strongest evidence?

By evidence level and number of human studies: AICAR (clinical trials, ~12 human studies); AOD-9604 (clinical trials, ~6 human studies); Adipotide (animal models only, ~1 human studies).

Can compounding pharmacies make these?

5-Amino-1MQ, Adipotide, AICAR, AOD-9604 are not FDA approved and not on the 503A bulks list, so there is no routine legal path to compound them. Material sold online is labelled for research use only. Status checked against FDA lists in October 2026.

References

Regulatory and primary sources

  1. FDA: Bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks (Category 2 and withdrawn nominations) ↗ · content current as of April 22, 2026; checked October 18, 2026
  2. FDA: Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A ↗ · how the 503A categories work
  3. FDA: Unapproved drugs ↗ · status of products sold "for research use only"
  4. WADA Prohibited List ↗ · peptide hormones and growth factors, class S2
  5. PubMed (National Library of Medicine) ↗ · source of every literature reference on this site

Published literature

  1. Yang M, Wang B, Hou W, et al.. NAD(+) metabolism enzyme NNMT in cancer-associated fibroblasts drives tumor progression and resistance to immunotherapy by modulating macrophages in urothelial bladder cancer.J Immunother Cancer 2024.PubMed 39067875 · doi:10.1136/jitc-2024-009281
  2. Dimet-Wiley A, Wu Q, Wiley JT, et al.. Reduced calorie diet combined with NNMT inhibition establishes a distinct microbiome in DIO mice.Sci Rep 2022.PubMed 35013352 · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-03670-5
  3. Akar S, Duran T, Azzawri AA, et al.. Small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase shows anti-proliferative activity in HeLa cells.J Obstet Gynaecol 2021.PubMed 33645410 · doi:10.1080/01443615.2020.1854696
  4. Bora B, Das N, Bera A, et al.. Fluorinated High-Valent Sn(IV) Porphyrins Show Remarkable Photodynamic Activity in Cancer Cells.ChemMedChem 2024.PubMed 39017962 · doi:10.1002/cmdc.202400376
  5. Hu PL, Lin JS, Meng H, et al.. A novel "three-dimensional-printed individual guide template-assisted percutaneous vertebroplasty" for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: a prospective, controlled study.J Orthop Surg Res 2021.PubMed 34016139 · doi:10.1186/s13018-021-02471-w
  6. McGurgan PM, Olson-White D, Holgate M, et al.. Fitness-to-practise policies in Australian medical schools--are they fit for purpose?.Med J Aust 2010.PubMed 21143055 · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb04098.x
  7. El-Etreby NM, Ghazy AA, Rashad R. Prohibitin: targeting peptide coupled to ovarian cancer, luteinization and TGF-β pathways.J Ovarian Res 2017.PubMed 28427435 · doi:10.1186/s13048-017-0325-4
  8. Barnhart KF, Christianson DR, Hanley PW, et al.. A peptidomimetic targeting white fat causes weight loss and improved insulin resistance in obese monkeys.Sci Transl Med 2011.PubMed 22072637 · doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3002621
  9. Bora B, Das N, Sultana JP, et al.. Mn(III) porphyrins as photosensitizers: structural, photophysical and anticancer studies.Dalton Trans 2025.PubMed 40673971 · doi:10.1039/d4dt03432e
  10. Criscione L. Comment on "a peptidomimetic targeting white fat causes weight loss and improved insulin resistance in obese monkeys".Sci Transl Med 2012.PubMed 22539771 · doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3003760
  11. Laut KG, Foldspang A. The effects on length of stay of introducing a fast track patient pathway for myocardial infarction: a before and after evaluation.Health Serv Manage Res 2012.PubMed 22323669 · doi:10.1258/hsmr.2011.011021
  12. Penugurti V, Manne RK, Bai L, et al.. AMPK: The energy sensor at the crossroads of aging and cancer.Semin Cancer Biol 2024.PubMed 39197808 · doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2024.08.002
  13. Devis-Jauregui L, Eritja N, Davis ML, et al.. Autophagy in the physiological endometrium and cancer.Autophagy 2021.PubMed 32401642 · doi:10.1080/15548627.2020.1752548
  14. Moon HY, Becke A, Berron D, et al.. Running-Induced Systemic Cathepsin B Secretion Is Associated with Memory Function.Cell Metab 2016.PubMed 27345423 · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.025

Literature retrieved from PubMed on October 16, 2026, favouring human studies and reviews. Numbered markers in the text show which paper supports which statement; uncited entries are background reading.