AOD-9604 vs Efpeglenatide
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: residues 177 to 191 of the hormone with an extra tyrosine added at the front, 16 amino acids in total. 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, development stopped after its big Phase IIb trial missed its weight-loss target, and it is banned in sport by WADA.
Also: Eppe, HM11260C
Efpeglenatide is a long-acting, once-weekly GLP-1 agonist from Hanmi Pharmaceutical, made by linking an exendin-4 analog to an antibody fragment so it lasts days instead of hours. Sanofi licensed it for diabetes in 2015 and handed it back in 2020 despite a positive heart outcomes trial. Hanmi relaunched it for obesity, and on 7 October 2026 South Korea approved it as Eppe, the country's first homegrown GLP-1 obesity drug. It is not approved by the FDA or EMA.
Key Comparison Insights
- Both peptides belong to the Weight Loss category, suggesting similar primary applications.
Detailed Comparison
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Efpeglenatide |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Efpeglenatide activates the GLP-1 receptor, which raises insulin release after meals, lowers glucagon, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. The active part is an exendin-4 analog (the same parent peptide as exenatide and lixisenatide) attached through a small linker to a human IgG4 Fc fragment, using Hanmi's LAPSCOVERY platform. The Fc piece makes the molecule big enough to dodge kidney clearance and lets it recycle in the body, which stretches its half-life to weekly dosing. Hanmi argues its lower brain penetration explains the milder GI profile; that is a company argument rather than an independently proven fact. |
| Common Dosing | 300 mcg daily Once daily, usually morning, fasted | 10 mg once weekly maintenance (Korean label) Once weekly |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection or oral (studied both) | Subcutaneous auto-injector once weekly |
| Typical Duration | 12-24 weeks in studies | Long-term (chronic weight management); 40-64 weeks in the Korean phase 3 |
| Best Time to Take | Morning (fasted) | Same day each week |
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 trial, a 24-week Phase IIb study in several hundred obese adults, failed to beat placebo on weight loss, and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals dropped obesity 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. | The strongest data come from Sanofi's AMPLITUDE-O trial (NEJM 2021), which enrolled people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular or kidney disease. Efpeglenatide 4 or 6 mg weekly cut major cardiovascular events by 27% versus placebo (7.0% vs 9.2%, hazard ratio 0.73) over a median of 1.8 years, and also reduced kidney outcomes. Sanofi still returned the rights in 2020 for business reasons. Hanmi then ran a Korean phase 3 obesity trial in 448 adults without diabetes (average BMI 32): at 40 weeks, weight loss was 9.02% versus 0.89% on placebo, and 75.1% lost at least 5%. That is less weight loss than semaglutide or tirzepatide in their pivotal trials, though trial designs differ, and GI side effects were somewhat lower (diarrhea 17.6%, nausea 16.6%, vomiting 11.6%). Korea's MFDS approved it for chronic weight management on 7 October 2026, with launch planned for late October. Bottom line: a solid, proven drug class member with real outcome data, but modest weight loss and no Western approval. |
Frequently Asked Questions: AOD-9604 vs Efpeglenatide
What is the difference between AOD-9604 and Efpeglenatide?
AOD-9604 is a weight loss peptide that aod-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone: residues 177 to 191 of the hormone with an extra tyrosine added at the front, 16 amino acids in total. 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, development stopped after its big phase iib trial missed its weight-loss target, and it is banned in sport by wada. Efpeglenatide is a weight loss peptide that efpeglenatide is a long-acting, once-weekly glp-1 agonist from hanmi pharmaceutical, made by linking an exendin-4 analog to an antibody fragment so it lasts days instead of hours. sanofi licensed it for diabetes in 2015 and handed it back in 2020 despite a positive heart outcomes trial. hanmi relaunched it for obesity, and on 7 october 2026 south korea approved it as eppe, the country's first homegrown glp-1 obesity drug. it is not approved by the fda or ema. The main differences lie in their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.
Which is better, AOD-9604 or Efpeglenatide?
Neither is universally "better" - the choice depends on your specific goals. AOD-9604 is typically used for weight loss purposes, while Efpeglenatide is used for weight loss. Always consult with a healthcare provider to determine which may be appropriate for your situation.
Can AOD-9604 and Efpeglenatide be used together?
Some peptide protocols combine multiple compounds for synergistic effects. However, using AOD-9604 and Efpeglenatide 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.