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Comparison

AOD-9604 vs Tesamorelin

AOD-9604 is fat loss; Tesamorelin is GHRH analogs. They are compared here because they are frequently considered against each other, not because they act alike.

On published evidence alone, Tesamorelin is the better documented of the two (regulator approved). That is a statement about the state of the literature, not a recommendation.

AOD-9604 Tesamorelin
Class Fat loss GHRH analogs
Evidence Clinical trials Regulator approved
Human trials ~6 ~15
Half-life ~30 minutes ~26-38 minutes
Reported range 300-600 mcg 1-2 mg
Frequency Once daily, fasted Once daily
Routes Subcutaneous, Oral Subcutaneous
FDA approved No Yes
Research use only Yes No
Banned in sport Yes Yes
Studied for Fat loss research, Investigated for osteoarthritis HIV-associated lipodystrophy, Visceral fat reduction, NAFLD research
Reported side effects Injection-site reactions, Headache, Transient fatigue Arthralgia, Injection-site reactions, Peripheral oedema, Myalgia, Impaired glucose tolerance

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is the hGH 177-191 fragment with an added N-terminal tyrosine for stability. In preclinical models it increased lipolysis and inhibited lipogenesis without affecting IGF-1 or glucose metabolism, which made it an attractive obesity candidate. The phase IIb trial in obese adults did not separate from placebo on weight loss, and development for that indication was discontinued. It is worth stating plainly because the compound is still marketed on the strength of the preclinical data.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is GHRH(1-44) with a trans-3-hexenoyl group attached to the N-terminus, a modification that resists degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and extends its half-life relative to native GHRH. It stimulates pituitary release of growth hormone, raising IGF-1 and preferentially reducing visceral adipose tissue. The visceral-fat selectivity seen in the HIV lipodystrophy trials is the basis of its approval and the reason it is studied separately from other secretagogues.

AOD-9604 vs Tesamorelin: common questions

What is the difference between AOD-9604 and Tesamorelin?

AOD-9604 is fat loss and Tesamorelin is GHRH analogs, so they act on different pathways. AOD-9604: A modified growth hormone fragment developed specifically as an obesity drug, which failed to beat placebo in phase IIb. Tesamorelin: A stabilised GHRH analog and the only growth-hormone secretagogue with a current FDA approval for a body-composition indication.

Which has stronger evidence, AOD-9604 or Tesamorelin?

Tesamorelin has the stronger evidence base (regulator approved, about 15 human studies) compared with AOD-9604 (clinical trials).

Are AOD-9604 and Tesamorelin FDA approved?

Only Tesamorelin is FDA approved (Reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy). AOD-9604 is not approved for any indication.

References

Regulatory and primary sources

  1. PubChem compound record (CID 71300630) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  2. WADA Prohibited List ↗ · current year
  3. FDA: Unapproved drugs and "research use only" products ↗ · regulatory status of non-approved products
  4. CAS Registry Number 221231-10-3 ↗ · chemical identity
  5. PubChem compound record (CID 16137828) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  6. DailyMed: FDA-approved labeling for Tesamorelin ↗ · indications, dosing, warnings as approved
  7. FDA Drugs@FDA database ↗ · approval history
  8. CAS Registry Number 218949-48-5 ↗ · chemical identity

Published literature

  1. Wilding J. AOD-9604 Metabolic.Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2004.PubMed 15134286
  2. Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2026.PubMed 41490200 · doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00236
  3. Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance.Sports Med 2026.PubMed 41966639 · doi:10.1007/s40279-026-02437-0
  4. Halford JC. Obesity drugs in clinical development.Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2006.PubMed 16625817
  5. Thevis M, Schänzer W. Analytical approaches for the detection of emerging therapeutics and non-approved drugs in human doping controls.J Pharm Biomed Anal 2014.PubMed 24906629 · doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2014.05.020
  6. Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, et al.. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians.Am J Sports Med 2026.PubMed 41476424 · doi:10.1177/03635465251357593
  7. Badran AS, Helal A, Shata KS, et al.. Body composition, hepatic fat, metabolic, and safety outcomes of Tesamorelin, a GHRH analogue, in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Obes Res Clin Pract 2026.PubMed 41545261 · doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2026.01.002
  8. Dhillon S. Tesamorelin: a review of its use in the management of HIV-associated lipodystrophy.Drugs 2011.PubMed 21668043 · doi:10.2165/11202240-000000000-00000
  9. Spooner LM, Olin JL. Tesamorelin: a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.Ann Pharmacother 2012.PubMed 22298602 · doi:10.1345/aph.1Q629
  10. Renke G, Chinellato L. Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives.Int J Mol Sci 2026.PubMed 42123471 · doi:10.3390/ijms27093890
  11. Corley MJ, Letendre SL, Nightingale S. CROI 2024: Neuropsychiatric Complications in People With HIV.Top Antivir Med 2024.PubMed 39746672

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.

Read this first This page compares published reference data. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use either compound. Several compounds documented on this site are not approved for human use.