Comparison
AOD-9604 vs Tirzepatide
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and Tirzepatide. 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.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide for weight loss: dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound. SURMOUNT-1 showed 22.5% mean body-weight loss at 15 mg over 72 weeks.
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
Tirzepatide
- •Dual GIP plus GLP-1 receptor agonist with a ~5-day half-life supporting once-weekly subcutaneous dosing
- •SURMOUNT-1 reported ~22.5% mean body-weight loss at 15 mg over 72 weeks versus 2.4% on placebo
- •Lowers HbA1c by ~1.9 to 2.6 percentage points in type 2 diabetes across SURPASS trials
- •Outperformed semaglutide 1.0 mg head-to-head on weight loss and HbA1c in SURPASS-2
- •GI effects (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) drive most discontinuations and ease with slow titration
- •Lean-mass loss observed in body-composition substudies; resistance training and protein intake mitigate this
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | Mounjaro, Zepbound, LY3298176 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 120 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 10 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | weekly |
| Routes | subcutaneous | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 72 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 4813.45 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C225H348N48O68 |
| 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. | Synthetic 39-amino-acid peptide that activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and acts on hypothalamic and brainstem satiety circuits. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Prescription only; FDA-approved 2022 (T2DM, Mounjaro) and 2023 (chronic weight management, Zepbound) |
| WADA status | unknown | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Rx only (not a controlled substance) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Not recommended; discontinue 2 months before planned pregnancy |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 2023788-19-2 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 156588324 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q105099794 |
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)
Tirzepatide
Common side effects
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- injection-site reactions
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
Contraindications
- personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
- pregnancy
- history of pancreatitis (use caution)
- severe gastroparesis
Interactions
- insulin: additive hypoglycemia risk; insulin dose typically reduced(major)
- sulfonylureas (glipizide, glyburide): hypoglycemia risk, sulfonylurea dose often reduced(major)
- oral medications (general): delayed gastric emptying can alter absorption kinetics(moderate)
- oral contraceptives: reduced exposure after first dose; backup contraception recommended for 4 weeks after initiation and each dose escalation(moderate)
- warfarin: monitor INR due to altered absorption(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Tirzepatide comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, prescription-only, 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 body composition, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick Tirzepatide.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick Tirzepatide.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (AOD-9604 ~0.5 hr vs Tirzepatide ~120 hr). Tirzepatide reaches steady state faster; AOD-9604 is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Tirzepatide. 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 Tirzepatide?
AOD-9604 and Tirzepatide differ in category (peptide vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or Tirzepatide?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; Tirzepatide half-life is 120 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with Tirzepatide?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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