AOD-9604 vs Cagrilintide
Comprehensive side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, side effects, and research
Also: Anti-Obesity Drug 9604, Tyr-hGH Fragment 177-191
AOD-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone, copying just the last 15 amino acids of the hormone (residues 176 to 191) plus a tyrosine cap. The idea was to keep the fat-burning end of growth hormone while leaving out the part that raises IGF-1 or messes with blood sugar. It was developed by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals in Australia and tested as an anti-obesity drug, but it is not approved by the FDA or any major regulator, and development stopped after it missed its weight-loss targets.
Also: AM833, NN9838
Cagrilintide (also called AM833) is a long-acting synthetic analog of amylin, the gut-brain satiety hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells. It is an investigational once-weekly injectable being developed by Novo Nordisk for obesity, most prominently as the amylin half of CagriSema (cagrilintide plus semaglutide). It is not yet approved as a standalone drug, but it has cleared phase 2 trials and is in late-stage development.
Key Comparison Insights
- Both peptides belong to the Weight Loss category, suggesting similar primary applications.
Detailed Comparison
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Cagrilintide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Weight Loss | Weight Loss |
| FDA Status | Not FDA Approved | Not FDA Approved |
| Clinical Status | Pre I II III IV FDA | Pre I II III IV FDA |
| Mechanism of Action | In lab and animal studies, AOD-9604 appears to nudge fat cells toward breaking down stored fat (lipolysis) and away from making new fat (lipogenesis), echoing the lipolytic tail-end of the full growth hormone molecule. Unlike real growth hormone, it does this without meaningfully raising IGF-1, the downstream growth signal that drives growth hormone's anabolic and blood-sugar effects. The exact receptor it works through is not pinned down, and a clean, growth-hormone-receptor-independent pathway remains a working hypothesis rather than settled science. In short, the proposed selling point is fat-burning signaling without the classic growth hormone baggage, but the molecular details are still fuzzy. | Cagrilintide is a non-selective agonist of the amylin and calcitonin receptor family. It activates amylin receptors (which are calcitonin receptors paired with RAMP accessory proteins) to signal satiety in the brain, slow gastric emptying, and blunt the post-meal glucagon rise. Mechanistic work in mice shows it reduces body weight mainly through amylin receptors AMY1R and AMY3R acting in the hindbrain, with the area postrema as a key entry point and downstream signaling through the nucleus of the solitary tract and parabrachial nucleus. Notably, weight loss in those studies persisted even after the acute appetite-suppressing effect faded, hinting at effects on energy balance beyond simple food-intake reduction. Chemically it is built on a pramlintide-like 37-amino-acid backbone with substitutions and a fatty-diacid chain attached to extend its half-life to roughly a week, enabling once-weekly dosing. |
| Common Dosing | 300 mcg daily Once daily, usually morning fasted | 2.4 mg weekly Once weekly |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection or oral (studied both) | Subcutaneous injection once weekly |
| Typical Duration | 12-24 weeks in studies | Long-term / chronic use expected |
| Best Time to Take | Morning (fasted) | Any consistent time weekly |
Possible Side Effects May vary by individual |
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| Research Summary | The animal and cell data look encouraging, but the human story is where it falls apart. Across roughly six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving about 900 people, a safety review published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (Moré et al.) found AOD-9604 was well tolerated, did not raise IGF-1, did not harm glucose metabolism, and triggered no detectable antibodies. The catch: it did not deliver clinically meaningful weight loss. The largest Phase IIb obesity trial failed to beat placebo on its main endpoint, and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals halted clinical development around 2007. So the honest summary is a peptide with a clean safety record in humans and essentially no proven efficacy for fat loss in humans. | Cagrilintide has real human data, which sets it apart from most peptides in this category. In a 2021 Lancet phase 2 dose-finding trial (Lau et al.), once-weekly cagrilintide at 4.5 mg produced about 10.8% mean body weight loss over 26 weeks, beating both placebo (around 3%) and liraglutide 3.0 mg (around 9%), establishing that amylin agonism alone can drive clinically meaningful weight loss. Its bigger story is combination therapy: paired with semaglutide as CagriSema, it advanced into phase 3 REDEFINE trials for obesity and type 2 diabetes, with reported weight loss in the low 20% range, though final results came in somewhat below the most optimistic expectations. Side effects are dominated by the expected gastrointestinal effects (nausea, vomiting) common to gut-hormone drugs. As of 2026 cagrilintide is investigational and not FDA-approved on its own. The evidence is genuinely human and well-controlled here, which is rare, but it is still a drug under regulatory review rather than an approved therapy. |
Frequently Asked Questions: AOD-9604 vs Cagrilintide
What is the difference between AOD-9604 and Cagrilintide?
AOD-9604 is a weight loss peptide that aod-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone, copying just the last 15 amino acids of the hormone (residues 176 to 191) plus a tyrosine cap. the idea was to keep the fat-burning end of growth hormone while leaving out the part that raises igf-1 or messes with blood sugar. it was developed by metabolic pharmaceuticals in australia and tested as an anti-obesity drug, but it is not approved by the fda or any major regulator, and development stopped after it missed its weight-loss targets. Cagrilintide is a weight loss peptide that cagrilintide (also called am833) is a long-acting synthetic analog of amylin, the gut-brain satiety hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells. it is an investigational once-weekly injectable being developed by novo nordisk for obesity, most prominently as the amylin half of cagrisema (cagrilintide plus semaglutide). it is not yet approved as a standalone drug, but it has cleared phase 2 trials and is in late-stage development. The main differences lie in their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.
Which is better, AOD-9604 or Cagrilintide?
Neither is universally "better" - the choice depends on your specific goals. AOD-9604 is typically used for weight loss purposes, while Cagrilintide is used for weight loss. Always consult with a healthcare provider to determine which may be appropriate for your situation.
Can AOD-9604 and Cagrilintide be used together?
Some peptide protocols combine multiple compounds for synergistic effects. However, using AOD-9604 and Cagrilintide together should only be considered under medical supervision, as both compounds have their own side effect profiles and potential interactions. Research on their combined use may be limited.