Comparison
AOD-9604 vs Testosterone
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and Testosterone. 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.
Testosterone
Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadism: TRAVERSE 2023 cardiovascular data, cypionate dosing, body composition gains, Schedule III status.
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
Testosterone
- •Primary androgen; FDA approved for hypogonadism with confirmed deficiency and symptoms
- •Testosterone Trials (2016) showed sexual function and bone density improvements in older hypogonadal men
- •TRAVERSE 2023 (n=5,246) found non-inferiority on MACE versus placebo, with higher AF and PE rates
- •Schedule III controlled substance in US; WADA banned in sport
- •Aromatizes to estradiol; converts to DHT via 5-alpha reductase; both metabolites matter clinically
- •Erythrocytosis (HCT above 54%) affects 5 to 25% of users and is the most common dose-limiting effect
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Testosterone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | hormone |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | TRT, testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, Androgel, Testim |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 192 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 150 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | weekly to twice-weekly (cypionate/enanthate IM or SC); daily (topical, oral); every 3 to 6 months (pellet) |
| Routes | subcutaneous | intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, buccal, subcutaneous (pellet), oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 72 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 288.42 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C19H28O2 |
| 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. | Androgen receptor agonist driving anabolic gene transcription in muscle, bone, brain, and androgen-sensitive tissue. Aromatized to estradiol and 5-alpha-reduced to DHT, both with distinct downstream effects. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Schedule III controlled substance (US); WADA banned |
| WADA status | unknown | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Schedule III |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Category X; contraindicated in pregnancy (virilizing effect on female fetus) |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 58-22-0 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 6013 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q150726 |
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)
Testosterone
Common side effects
- erythrocytosis
- acne
- oily skin
- fluid retention
- increased body hair
- fertility suppression
- injection-site reactions
Contraindications
- active prostate cancer
- active breast cancer
- untreated severe sleep apnea
- untreated severe BPH
- uncontrolled heart failure
- polycythemia at baseline
Interactions
- warfarin: may potentiate anticoagulant effect; monitor INR(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity; monitor glucose in diabetics(moderate)
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride): blocks DHT conversion; reduces some androgen effects(moderate)
- aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole): lowers estradiol; risk of over-suppression(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Testosterone comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, controlled substance, oral dosing, with a Tier-A 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 hormonal optimization, pick Testosterone.
- → If your priority is sexual function, pick Testosterone.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Testosterone is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Testosterone. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, 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 Testosterone?
AOD-9604 and Testosterone differ in category (peptide vs hormone), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or Testosterone?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; Testosterone half-life is 192 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with Testosterone?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper