Comparison
AOD-9604 vs BPC-157
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and BPC-157. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
AOD-9604
AOD 9604 peptide: 16-amino-acid hGH fragment 176-191. Preclinical lipolytic activity, phase 2 obesity trial showed no weight loss vs placebo.
BPC-157
BPC-157 peptide profile: pentadecapeptide body protection compound 157. Preclinical data on tendon, gut healing, recovery. No human RCTs as of 2026.
Effects at a glance
AOD-9604
- •Modified 16-amino-acid synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191)
- •Preclinical models show lipolytic activity in adipose tissue without GH-axis growth effects
- •Phase 2 obesity trial (Heffernan 2001) showed no significant weight-loss difference versus placebo
- •Anecdotal protocols use 250 to 500 mcg subcutaneously daily on an empty stomach
- •No FDA approval; the obesity drug development program was discontinued in 2007
- •Granted GRAS status in some jurisdictions for compounded use; not validated for fat loss in humans
BPC-157
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon-to-bone and ligament healing after surgical or chemical injury
- •Rodent studies report mucosal protection and faster recovery from NSAID-induced and colitis-induced gut damage
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 250 to 500 mcg twice daily subcutaneously near the injury site
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026, so efficacy and long-term safety remain unestablished
- •Banned by WADA since 2022 under the S0 non-approved substances category for competitive athletes
- •Theoretical angiogenic concern means avoidance is prudent in active malignancy until human data exists
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | BPC-157 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 0.25 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | daily (anecdotal protocols) |
| Routes | subcutaneous | subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | - |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | - |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | - |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C62H98N16O22 |
| Mechanism | Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone proposed to stimulate beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling in adipocytes, increasing lipolysis and fatty-acid oxidation without engaging the GH receptor or activating IGF-1. | Proposed upregulation of VEGFR2 and nitric oxide pathways, modulation of growth-hormone receptor expression, and stabilization of gut-brain axis signaling. Mechanism remains largely preclinical. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA (2022) |
| WADA status | unknown | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient data |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 137525-51-0 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 9941957 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q4835418 |
Safety profile
AOD-9604
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- transient mild headache (anecdotal)
- minimal in clinical trials
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- no established human safety profile for chronic use
Interactions
- beta-blockers: theoretical antagonism of beta-3 adrenergic lipolytic signaling(minor)
BPC-157
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- nausea
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established safety profile in humans
Which Should You Take?
BPC-157 comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, oral dosing, with a Tier-C outcome catalogued. AOD-9604 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is body composition, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is gut barrier and microbiome health, pick BPC-157.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, BPC-157 is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: BPC-157. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for AOD-9604 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between AOD-9604 and BPC-157?
AOD-9604 and BPC-157 differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or BPC-157?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; BPC-157 half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with BPC-157?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper