Comparison · Updated
AOD-9604 VS Semaglutide
Short answer
Semaglutide has stronger published evidence than AOD-9604: tier S (Approved) vs tier A (Controlled human trials).
AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved; Semaglutide is FDA-approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, 2017).
AOD-9604 is prohibited in sport by WADA under section S2; Semaglutide is not on the WADA Prohibited List.
01
Side by side
| Field | AOD-9604 | Semaglutide |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence tier | A Tier A · Controlled human trials | S Tier S · Approved |
| Tier rationale | Six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials for obesity were run in the 2000s (pooled safety report, Stier et al. 2013); the program did not lead to approval. | Multiple phase 3 RCTs (SUSTAIN, STEP, SELECT); FDA-approved in 2017 (Ozempic), later as Wegovy and Rybelsus, and authorised by the EMA. |
| FDA status | Not approved | Approved (2017) Ozempic, Wegovy, RybelsusApproved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, 2017) and chronic weight management (Wegovy, 2021). |
| Other approvals | None listed | None listed |
| WADA | Prohibited · S2Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics | Not on the Prohibited List |
| Family | Metabolic | Metabolic |
| Residues | 16amino acids | 31amino acids |
| Molecular weight | 1,815.1 Da | 4,113.6 Da |
| Formula | C78H123N23O23S2 | C187H291N45O59 |
| Discovered | 2000Developed from the lipolytic C-terminal domain of hGH at Monash University; first metabolic studies published 2000 (Ng et al.). | 2015Discovery published by Novo Nordisk scientists (Lau et al., J Med Chem 2015). |
| Routes studied | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Subcutaneous |
| Mechanism | AOD-9604 is human growth hormone residues 177-191 with an added N-terminal tyrosine. It was designed to mimic the lipolytic domain of GH; in obese mice it increased lipolysis and fat oxidation, effects linked to beta-3 adrenergic receptor expression and absent in beta-3 receptor knockout mice. | Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with 94% homology to native GLP-1, modified with a C18 fatty diacid chain enabling albumin binding and once-weekly pharmacokinetics. It activates GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas (enhancing glucose-dependent insulin secretion), the gut (slowing gastric emptying), and the hypothalamus (reducing appetite and food reward signaling). |
| Safety notes | A pooled safety report of six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials found no effect on serum IGF-1 or glucose tolerance and a tolerability profile similar to placebo. | FDA-approved with robust Phase III data. |
| Cited studies | 2 studies | 3 studies |
02
Questions
- Which has stronger evidence, AOD-9604 or Semaglutide?
- Semaglutide has stronger published evidence than AOD-9604: tier S (Approved) vs tier A (Controlled human trials). AOD-9604: Six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials for obesity were run in the 2000s (pooled safety report, Stier et al. 2013); the program did not lead to approval. Semaglutide: Multiple phase 3 RCTs (SUSTAIN, STEP, SELECT); FDA-approved in 2017 (Ozempic), later as Wegovy and Rybelsus, and authorised by the EMA. Tiers rate the strength of published evidence, not effectiveness.
- Is AOD-9604 FDA-approved?
- AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved.
- Is Semaglutide FDA-approved?
- Semaglutide is FDA-approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, 2017). Approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, 2017) and chronic weight management (Wegovy, 2021).
- Are AOD-9604 and Semaglutide banned in sport?
- AOD-9604 is prohibited in sport by WADA under section S2; Semaglutide is not on the WADA Prohibited List.
- How do AOD-9604 and Semaglutide work?
- AOD-9604 is human growth hormone residues 177-191 with an added N-terminal tyrosine. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with 94% homology to native GLP-1, modified with a C18 fatty diacid chain enabling albumin binding and once-weekly pharmacokinetics.