# AOD-9604 vs tesamorelin

- Canonical: https://residue.info/vs/aod-9604-vs-tesamorelin/
- Compounds: AOD-9604 (https://residue.info/c/aod-9604/), Tesamorelin (https://residue.info/c/tesamorelin/)
- Updated: 2026-10-19 · Reviewed by: Residue Editorial Team

Both are linked to fat loss, on very different evidence. Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved GHRH analog (Egrifta) that reduced visceral fat by 15.4% versus placebo in pooled phase 3 trials of people with HIV [1][2]. AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of growth hormone's C-terminal region; its published efficacy data come from obese rodents [3][4], and it is not FDA-approved [5].

## Side by side
| | AOD-9604 | Tesamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Modified hGH C-terminal fragment [3] | GHRH analog [2] |
| Mechanism | Lipolytic; does not bind the GH receptor; needs β3-adrenergic receptors in mice [3][6] | Stimulates pituitary GH release; raises IGF-1 [1] |
| Best evidence | Rodent studies [4] | Two phase 3 RCTs, pooled [1] |
| Human results | Phase IIa reported underway in 2002; no results indexed [7] | Visceral fat −24 cm² vs +2 cm² at 26 wk [1] |
| FDA | Withdrawn nomination; serious adverse events listed [5] | Approved: Egrifta; not indicated for weight loss [2] |
| Evidence grade | D | A |

## How are the two molecules different?

Tesamorelin works upstream of growth hormone: as a GHRH analog it prompts the pituitary to release GH, and in pooled phase 3 data mean IGF-1 rose 108 ng/mL versus a 7 ng/mL fall on placebo [1]. AOD-9604 works downstream: it is an analog of the lipolytic C-terminal region of human GH that does not bind the GH receptor [3].

## What did animal studies of AOD-9604 find?

In obese Zucker rats, oral AOD-9604 at 500 µg/kg for 19 days cut body-weight gain by more than half compared with controls without impairing insulin sensitivity [4]. In obese mice, both hGH and AOD-9604 reduced weight gain and raised fat oxidation, but only hGH caused hyperglycemia [3]. The effect failed in β3-adrenergic-receptor knockout mice [6].

## What did human trials of tesamorelin find?

Two phase 3 trials in people with HIV and abdominal fat accumulation, pooled, showed visceral adipose tissue falling 24 cm² versus a 2 cm² rise with placebo at 26 weeks — a −15.4% treatment effect — without significant change in subcutaneous fat [1]. The effect persisted to 52 weeks but reversed after stopping [8].

## Are they FDA-approved?

Tesamorelin is approved as Egrifta [9]; its label notes long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established [2]. FDA lists AOD-9604 among withdrawn compounding nominations [5].

## Frequently asked questions
**Is tesamorelin a weight-loss drug?**
No. Its label limits the indication to excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy and states it is not indicated for weight-loss management [2].

**Has AOD-9604 been tested in humans?**
A 2004 development profile reported phase IIa trials underway by February 2002 [7], but we found no published results in PubMed.

**Does AOD-9604 act like growth hormone?**
In obese mice it reduced weight gain and increased fat oxidation like hGH, but it did not cause hyperglycemia, did not compete for the hGH receptor and did not induce cell proliferation [3].

**Can you take AOD-9604 and tesamorelin together?**
No published trial among the sources we cite tested them together. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved for a labeled HIV-lipodystrophy use [2]; AOD-9604 is not approved [5].


## Sources
[1] Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data. Falutz J et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20554713/
[2] EGRIFTA SV prescribing information: Indications and Usage. FDA-approved labeling via openFDA/DailyMed, version effective 2026-07-29. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224
[3] Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment. Heffernan MA et al. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11673763/
[4] Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Ng FM et al. Horm Res. 2000. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11146367/
[5] Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. U.S. FDA, content current as of 04/22/2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
[6] The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice. Heffernan M et al. Endocrinology. 2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11713213/
[7] AOD-9604 Metabolic. Wilding J Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15134286/
[8] Long-term safety and effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in HIV patients with abdominal fat accumulation. Falutz J et al. AIDS. 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18690162/
[9] Drugs@FDA: EGRIFTA (BLA022505). THERATECHNOLOGIES; original approval 2010-11-10; Prescription. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022505

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