AOD9604 is a synthetic 16-residue peptide corresponding to the C-terminal region of human growth hormone (residues 177 to 191) with an added N-terminal tyrosine, and is also described as Tyr-hGH(177-191). Earlier work had shown that the synthetic hGH 177-191 fragment had antilipogenic activity in rat adipose tissue identical to that of the intact hormone, and that a related synthetic fragment had lipolytic and antilipogenic activity in rodent models. Published research is preclinical and centres on lipid metabolism in rodent models of obesity, including obese Zucker rats, ob/ob mice and beta(3)-adrenergic receptor knockout mice. A separate study examined the peptide in a rabbit model of collagenase-induced knee osteoarthritis.