Head-to-head
Retatrutide vs AOD-9604
A field-by-field comparison of Retatrutide and AOD-9604 drawn from the PeptideIndex database: mechanism, evidence grade, half-life, administration route, reported dosing, side effects, storage and legal status. Both are indexed as metabolic compounds, so the useful question is how they differ within that category.
Retatrutide vs AOD-9604 at a glance
| Attribute | Retatrutide | AOD-9604 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Metabolic | Metabolic |
| Evidence grade | Strong | Limited |
| Also known as | LY3437943, Triple G | Anti-Obesity Drug 9604, hGH fragment 176-191 |
| Chain | 39 amino acid triple GIP / GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist | Fragment 176-191 of human growth hormone |
| Mechanism | Simultaneously activates GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors in a single peptide. The glucagon component increases energy expenditure and hepatic lipid oxidation, while GLP-1 and GIP suppress appetite, slow gastric emptying and improve glucose-dependent insulin secretion. | Represents the lipolytic C-terminal region of hGH. In adipocytes it stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis without binding the GH receptor, so IGF-1 and glucose remain unaffected. |
| Reported benefits | Up to ~24% mean weight loss at 12 mg over 48 weeks in phase 2 · Large reductions in HbA1c and liver fat · Improvements in blood pressure, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol | Fat mobilisation without IGF-1 elevation · No reported impact on insulin sensitivity · Good tolerability profile in trials |
| Reported side effects | Nausea and vomiting · Diarrhoea · Gallbladder issues · Mild resting heart-rate increase · Injection-site reaction | Generally well tolerated · Occasional injection-site reaction · Headache |
| Half-life | About 5–7 days | Under 30 minutes |
| Administration | Once-weekly subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection, often fasted in the morning |
| Dosing overview | Phase 2 started at 2 mg weekly and escalated to 12 mg over several weeks | Commonly cited at 300 mcg daily, 5 days on / 2 off |
| Storage | Investigational product; typically refrigerated as lyophilised or pen formulation | Refrigerate reconstituted vials; powder stable at room temperature briefly |
| Legal status | Investigational drug; not FDA-approved as of 2026. | Not approved as a drug; permitted as a food additive in some jurisdictions. |
Key differences between Retatrutide and AOD-9604
Both are metabolic compounds
Retatrutide and AOD-9604 are both indexed under metabolic, so they compete for the same use case rather than complementing each other. Retatrutide: "A once-weekly 'triple G' agonist that produced the largest weight reductions of any incretin-class molecule in phase 2 obesity trials." AOD-9604: "A GH fragment marketed for fat loss without the blood-sugar effects of full growth hormone — though human trials have been underwhelming."
Mechanism of action
Retatrutide: Simultaneously activates GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors in a single peptide. The glucagon component increases energy expenditure and hepatic lipid oxidation, while GLP-1 and GIP suppress appetite, slow gastric emptying and improve glucose-dependent insulin secretion. AOD-9604: Represents the lipolytic C-terminal region of hGH. In adipocytes it stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis without binding the GH receptor, so IGF-1 and glucose remain unaffected.
Evidence quality is not equal
Retatrutide carries a Strong evidence grade and AOD-9604 a Limited grade on this index. The grade describes the quality of published human data, not how well a compound works — Retatrutide has the better-documented record of the two, and claims made about AOD-9604 rest on thinner human evidence.
Half-life and dosing frequency
Retatrutide is listed at about 5–7 days; AOD-9604 at under 30 minutes. That difference is what drives the reported schedules: Phase 2 started at 2 mg weekly and escalated to 12 mg over several weeks versus Commonly cited at 300 mcg daily, 5 days on / 2 off
Route of administration
Retatrutide is administered by once-weekly subcutaneous injection. AOD-9604 is administered by subcutaneous injection, often fasted in the morning.
Legal and regulatory status differs
Retatrutide: Investigational drug; not FDA-approved as of 2026. AOD-9604: Not approved as a drug; permitted as a food additive in some jurisdictions. This is usually the most practical difference between two compounds, because it determines whether a supply chain is labelled and regulated at all.
Handling and storage
Retatrutide is stored investigational product; typically refrigerated as lyophilised or pen formulation. AOD-9604 is stored refrigerate reconstituted vials; powder stable at room temperature briefly.
What Retatrutide and AOD-9604 have in common
- Category: both listed as Metabolic
Each compound in brief
Retatrutide
Metabolic · Strong evidence
A once-weekly 'triple G' agonist that produced the largest weight reductions of any incretin-class molecule in phase 2 obesity trials.
Considerations: Still investigational; long-term cardiovascular and safety data are pending · Muscle-loss and GI tolerability concerns mirror semaglutide and tirzepatide · Dose must be escalated slowly to improve tolerability
AOD-9604
Metabolic · Limited evidence
A GH fragment marketed for fat loss without the blood-sugar effects of full growth hormone — though human trials have been underwhelming.
Considerations: Phase IIb trials failed to beat placebo for weight loss at 12 weeks · Popular in clinics despite weak efficacy data · Best viewed as adjunctive, not a primary fat-loss tool
Related comparisons and reading
Every figure on this page is reproduced from the compound profiles in this database and reflects published literature and commonly reported protocols. It is educational information, not medical advice, and not a recommendation to use either compound. See the medical disclaimer.