Growth Hormone Fragments

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Growth hormone fragments are short synthetic peptides copied from the C-terminal end of human growth hormone (hGH), a 191-residue protein [R1]. The best-studied is AOD-9604, hGH residues 177–191 with an added N-terminal tyrosine, a 16-residue peptide closed by one disulfide bond [R2]. In laboratory tests AOD-9604 did not affect hGH binding to the growth hormone receptor [R2], and it has been studied in rodent fat-tissue models and a rabbit cartilage model. Read the full guide: What are growth hormone fragments? HGH 176-191 and AOD-9604.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.

AOD-9604 10mg

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AOD 10mg is a research peptide available from Sequora Peptides for laboratory research and scientific studies. Researchers study AOD-9604 to learn more about its properties and activity. Order AOD 10mg for research purposes from Sequora Peptides.

$82.00

What Defines a Growth Hormone Fragment?

A growth hormone fragment is a peptide made from a short stretch of the hGH sequence rather than the whole protein. The fragments in this category come from the last 15–16 residues of hGH, a loop held together by the disulfide bond between Cys182 and Cys189 of the mature hormone [R1].

Research on this region began with a synthetic copy of hGH residues 177–191, which reduced lipogenesis in rat fat tissue in a way similar to the full hormone [R3]. AOD-9604 followed: the same 15 residues with a tyrosine added at the N-terminus [R2]. "HGH fragment 176-191" is a closely related name for residues 176–191, which starts with hGH's own phenylalanine at position 176 instead of tyrosine [R1].

The receptor that these fragments act on has not been identified. In mice, AOD-9604's effects did not depend directly on the β3-adrenergic receptor [R4], and in human trials it did not change serum IGF-1, a marker of growth hormone receptor signaling [R5]. That separates this class from GHRH analogues such as tesamorelin, which raise growth hormone release; see AOD-9604 vs tesamorelin.

Growth Hormone Fragments Compared

Peptide	Structure	Length	Target / pathway studied	CAS	MW (g/mol)
AOD-9604	Tyr + hGH(177-191): YLRIVQCRSVEGSCGF, disulfide Cys7–Cys14	16 aa	Lipid metabolism in adipose tissue (rodent); receptor unknown	221231-10-3	1815.1 (C78H123N23O23S2)
hGH fragment 176-191 (reference only, not sold)	hGH(176-191): FLRIVQCRSVEGSCGF, disulfide Cys7–Cys14	16 aa	Same C-terminal region; little indexed primary research under this name	—	≈1799.1 (calculated from sequence)
hGH(177-191) (reference only, not sold)	LRIVQCRSVEGSCGF, disulfide Cys6–Cys13	15 aa	Lipogenesis in rat adipose tissue	—	≈1651.9 (calculated from sequence)

Sources: sequences from the hGH record [R1] and FDA [R2]; AOD-9604 CAS and formula from FDA [R2] and PubChem [R6]; hGH(177-191) activity [R3]. Calculated weights use average residue masses with one disulfide bond.

Regulatory Status

No growth hormone fragment is an FDA-approved drug. AOD-9604 was removed from FDA's 503A "Category 2" list in September 2024 after its nomination was withdrawn [R7], and FDA's advisory committee voted 12–0 against adding it to the 503A bulks list on December 4, 2024 [R8]. Growth hormone fragments, named as AOD-9604 and hGH 176-191, are on the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2026 Prohibited List [R9]. Sequora sells these compounds for laboratory research only; see RUO peptides explained.

Growth Hormone Fragments FAQ

What is an HGH fragment?

An HGH fragment is a short synthetic peptide copied from part of the human growth hormone sequence. The common ones come from the hormone's C-terminal residues 176/177–191 [R1][R2].

Is AOD-9604 the same as HGH fragment 176-191?

No. Both have 16 residues and share the last 15. AOD-9604 starts with tyrosine; fragment 176-191 starts with phenylalanine, hGH's natural residue 176 [R1][R2].

Are growth hormone fragments the same as growth hormone?

No. Full hGH has 191 residues; these fragments have 15–16. In human trials AOD-9604 did not change serum IGF-1, unlike growth hormone itself [R5].

Are growth hormone fragments FDA-approved?

No. None is approved, and FDA's advisory committee voted against AOD-9604 for the 503A compounding list [R8].

How are these peptides stored?

Store lyophilized powder at −20 °C, protected from light and moisture, and follow the batch COA.

References

UniProt. P01241 · SOMA_HUMAN, Somatotropin (human growth hormone). uniprot.org
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Briefing Document: AOD-9604-related bulk drug substances. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting, December 4, 2024. fda.gov/media/183584/download
Wu Z, Ng FM. Antilipogenic action of synthetic C-terminal sequence 177-191 of human growth hormone. Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1993;30(1):187–196. PMID 8358331.
Heffernan M, Summers RJ, Thorburn A, et al. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and β3-AR knock-out mice. Endocrinology. 2001;142(12):5182–5189. doi:10.1210/endo.142.12.8522. PMID 11713213.
Stier H, Vos E, Kenley D. Safety and tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in humans. J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;3(1-2):7–15. doi:10.4021/jem.v3i1-2.157.
PubChem. Aod-9604, CID 71300630. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/71300630
Reed Smith LLP. FDA removes certain peptide bulk drug substances from Category 2 and schedules PCAC review. Client Alert 2024-208, October 2024. reedsmith.com
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Final summary minutes of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting, December 4, 2024. fda.gov/media/185642/download
World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List 2026, section S2.2.3 (published in Tractatenblad 2026, nr. 25). officielebekendmakingen.nl