tesamorelin vs aod 9604
updated
tesamorelin (tier S) vs aod 9604 (tier D): what each is, why each got its grade, half-life and source counts side by side.
tesamorelin · tier S
the FDA-approved injection that targets visceral fat. the dangerous kind.
tier rationale
different mechanism than GLP-1s. tesa tells your pituitary to pulse growth hormone, which mobilizes visceral fat. clean, targeted, documented. FDA-approved since 2010 for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. long-term cardiovascular safety still uncertain. increasingly used off-label by men 40+ for body recomp. S because drug-tier human trial data exists. narrow indication and high cost keep it niche.
aod 9604 · tier D
HGH fragment. went to phase 2b for obesity. failed. the data says it doesn't work.
tier rationale
D-tier because the compound has the best human clinical data in its class and the data shows it doesn't work meaningfully for weight loss. Not F-tier because the compound is real, safe, and does what it claims pharmacologically (isolated lipolytic activity without broader GH effects). The problem is that the magnitude is too small to matter. This is the tier for 'we tested it properly and it failed.' It's more respectful than F-tier and more accurate than C-tier. The GLP-1 revolution has made the entire premise obsolete regardless.
at a glance
| tesamorelin | aod 9604 | |
|---|---|---|
| tier | S | D |
| category | weight loss / gh / growth | weight loss / gh / growth |
| sources | 28 | 15 |
| claims evaluated | 8 | 6 |
| half-life | ~26-38 minutes | plasma half-life extended versus unmodified fragment; lipolytic effects acute and dose-dependent |
| dosing data | yes | yes |
reptides grades the research record and cites the literature behind every call. research reference only; not medical advice.