What is the difference between AOD-9604 and Ipamorelin?

AOD-9604: AOD-9604 stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis through mechanisms believed to be independent of the insulin-like growth factor pathway. Ipamorelin: Ipamorelin binds to the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) and stimulates dose-dependent GH release with a clean hormonal profile.

How is AOD-9604 administered in research settings?

In research settings, AOD-9604 is typically administered via the subcutaneous or oral routes. PeptideBase does not provide dosing or administration instructions.

How is Ipamorelin administered in research settings?

In research settings, Ipamorelin is typically administered via the subcutaneous route. PeptideBase does not provide dosing or administration instructions.

Home›Research›Compare›AOD-9604 vs Ipamorelin

Peptide Comparison

AOD-9604 vs Ipamorelin

Name: AOD-9604 vs Ipamorelin — Per-mg Price Comparison
Creator: PeptideBase
License: https://peptidebase.io/terms

Both are GH / IGF Axis peptides.

AOD-9604

Advanced Obesity Drug 9604

Fat LossResearch Only

Half-life: 30–60 minutes

197 providers listed

Full AOD-9604 profile →

Ipamorelin

NNC 26-0161

PerformanceUnder clinical reviewResearch Only

Half-life: 2 hours

463 providers listed

Full Ipamorelin profile →

Bottom line

Ipamorelin carries stronger published evidence (RCT, 5 key studies) than AOD-9604 (Animal, 1); both are research compounds.

Quick Verdict

AOD-9604

Half-life

30–60 minutes

Ipamorelin

Half-life

2 hours

Which One Should You Choose?

Your goal	Better option
Stronger clinical evidence	Ipamorelin
Less frequent dosing (longer half-life)	Ipamorelin
Oral administration option	AOD-9604
Lower typical price per mg	Ipamorelin
More provider options (197 vs 463)	Ipamorelin

Research summary only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified provider before making any decisions.

Side-by-Side Comparison

AOD-9604

Ipamorelin

Mechanism Family

GH / IGF Axis

Half-life

30–60 minutes

2 hours

FDA Status

nomination withdrawn

Under clinical review

Admin Routes

subcutaneous, oral

subcutaneous

Availability

Research Only

Providers

197 listed

463 listed

FDA Update

—

Under clinical review

Avail. Notes

HGH fragment 176-191. Drug development terminated 2007 (Phase 3 failure). FDA GRAS notice GRN 000792 for food ingredient use only — not a drug approval. No active NDA. Research chemical.

Selective GH secretagogue pentapeptide. Phase 2 by Helsinn (postoperative ileus) discontinued for lack of efficacy. No FDA approval. Not on FDA 503A bulks list. Research chemical.

Research Evidence

AOD-9604

Animal · 1 key study · dated evidence base — most recent 2001

Ipamorelin

RCT · 5 key studies · most recent 2026

Research Citations

AOD-9604

Animal2001 · Endocrinology

The effect of the growth hormone fragment AOD9604 on adipose tissue

Ipamorelin

RCT2014 · International Journal of Colorectal Disease

Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the managem…

Animal2000 · J Endocrinol

GH secretagogues increase bone mineral content in adult female rats

Review2026 · Int J Mol Sci

Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications…

Review2026 · JBJS Rev

Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Imp…

+1 more

About AOD-9604

AOD-9604 stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis through mechanisms believed to be independent of the insulin-like growth factor pathway. It appears to mimic the fat-metabolising action of growth hormone without triggering the proliferative effects associated with full GH or GH-releasing peptides. Oral bioavailability has been observed in some formulations, making it of interest for non-injectable protocols.

Research Areas

selective fat tissue lipolysis via GH C-terminal fragment mechanismadipose metabolism stimulation without IGF-1 elevationoriginally developed to isolate GH lipolytic effect from growth effectssubcutaneous injection — reconstitution with bacteriostatic water required

About Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin binds to the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) and stimulates dose-dependent GH release with a clean hormonal profile. Unlike GHRP-6 or hexarelin, it does not significantly stimulate appetite-related pathways or cortisol secretion at standard research doses. This selectivity makes it a frequently studied peptide for protocols where hormonal side-effect profiles are a consideration.

Research Areas

selective GH release without cortisol or prolactin co-stimulationpulsatile GH secretion — synergistic with CJC-1295 in combination protocolslean mass support and fat metabolism via GH/IGF-1 axis modulationsubcutaneous injection 100–300 mcg; minimal receptor desensitization vs other GHRPs

Safety Profile

Information below reflects published research data only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified provider before use.

AOD-9604

No established clinical contraindications. This is an investigational compound with limited human data and has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety in this context. Consult a qualified clinician.

Ipamorelin

Absolute Contraindications

Under clinical review

Being verified by our medical team before we display contraindications for this peptide.

Suggested Monitoring

IGF-1Fasting glucoseHbA1cInsulin

Research protocols routinely measure IGF-1 to track GH axis activity before and during use. Fasting glucose and insulin are monitored because GH elevation can reduce insulin sensitivity over time.

Regulatory Notes

global — WADA

This compound falls under WADA Prohibited List category S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics), prohibited at all times for competing athletes.

source

Used Together?

Ipamorelin

CJC-1295
Research suggests Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 may produce enhanced growth hormone release effects when combined. CJC-1295 provides sustained GHRH receptor stimulation while Ipamorelin provides pulsatile ghrelin receptor stimulation — complementary pathways studied in GH secretion research.
Sermorelin
Research suggests Sermorelin and Ipamorelin may produce complementary growth hormone release effects when combined. Sermorelin acts as a GHRH analogue via pituitary receptors, while Ipamorelin acts via ghrelin receptors — dual-pathway stimulation studied in GH optimization research.
GLP-1 agonists
Research notes metabolic pathway overlap between growth hormone-releasing peptides and GLP-1 agonists. Both compound classes influence metabolic signaling; limited research has studied their combined effects. Consult your prescriber before combining.

Price (per mg)

AOD-9604

$9.00/mg

$7.71 – $11.85 range

45 vendors

View price index →Find providers →

Ipamorelin

$6.48/mg

$4.88 – $8.05 range

51 vendors

View price index →Find providers →

Find Providers

Where to source these peptides

Providers offering

AOD-9604

197 listed

Browse directory →

Providers offering

Ipamorelin

463 listed

Browse directory →

PeptideBase lists providers for educational research purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before obtaining or using any peptide.

More GH / IGF Axis Comparisons

Browse all peptides →

Educational research tools — not medical advice.

Cite this page

Data last updated August 26, 2026

Free to reference and republish with attribution to PeptideBase. Choose a format:

PeptideBase. (2026). AOD-9604 vs Ipamorelin — Per-mg Price Comparison. Retrieved August 26, 2026, from https://peptidebase.io/peptides/compare/aod-9604/ipamorelin

https://peptidebase.io/peptides/compare/aod-9604/ipamorelin Methodology License Download JSON Download CSV