AOD-9604 is a modified peptide derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. It was developed to investigate whether some metabolic effects associated with growth hormone could be separated from its growth-promoting activity. Research has focused primarily on lipid metabolism, body-composition endpoints, and more recently cartilage and musculoskeletal models. Human obesity studies did not establish AOD-9604 as an approved weight-management drug, so the strongest way to present it is as an investigational research compound rather than a proven therapeutic.