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AOD-9604 vs MOTS-c: What the Research Shows

AOD-9604 and MOTS-c side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
HGH fragment analogNot FDA approved · research chemicalAOD-9604Fragment of human growth hormone studied only in animals; in rats, 19 days of oral treatment reduced body-weight gain by over 50%.[5]GLP-1 & metabolic+31% searchesMitochondrial-derived peptidePCAC voted 7–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)MOTS-cMitochondrial-derived peptide; human studies found only measured the body's own circulating levels (for example after repeated heat treatment), not administered MOTS-c.[8]GLP-1 & metabolic+437% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider AOD-9604 if…

No sourced contrast for this side yet. We add a point here only when it is tied to a study or label.

Consider MOTS-c if…

  • you are weighing human evidence that, in our search, only measured the body's own MOTS-c (none gave it as a treatment): exercise raised plasma MOTS-c in non-Hispanic White survivors but not Hispanic survivors[10]

What they have in common

  • Only animal or lab studies of AOD-9604 were found (e.g. rat): Oral AOD9604 for 19 days cut body weight gain by over 50% (15.8 g vs 35.6 g control) in obese Zucker rats.[5]
MOTS-c is not FDA approved. Both are prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 11 of 13 fields where the two differ. Category, Half-life are the same or both unknown.

FieldAOD-9604MOTS-c
ClassHGH fragment analogMitochondrial-derived peptide
Also calledAODmots
FDA statusNot FDA approved · research chemicalPCAC voted 7–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)
PCAC vote, Jul 2026Not on the Jul 2026 agendaPCAC voted 7–5 for the 503A list (Jul 2026); not finalized
WADAProhibited by WADA (S2.2.3)AOD-9604 is named as a growth hormone fragment in S2.2.3, prohibited at all times.Prohibited by WADA (S4.4.1)MOTS-c is named in S4.4.1 (metabolic modulators: AMPK activators), prohibited at all times.
Anti-doping detection
  • AOD9604 can be detected in urine at 50 pg/mL; a stable serum metabolite may lengthen the detection window.PMID 25208511
  • Screening for a stable metabolite may allow a longer detection window (no duration was given).PMID 25208511
  • A plasma (blood) test for MOTS-c has been validated to WADA standards.PMID 30394592
Evidence strengthAnimal evidence, 2 of 4Strongest: Annals of clinical and laboratory science 2015, PMID 26275694Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2025, PMID 40674654
Human studies we summarised0 human (0 randomized or controlled) of 4 summarised7 human (4 randomized or controlled) of 15 summarised
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg
US searches per month18,100 · +31% searches60,500 · +437% searches

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Taken together?

AOD-9604 and MOTS-c together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 1 result, 2 Oct 2026).

Open the stack page
StackAOD-9604 + MOTS-c, taken as separate injectionsStack page

Sources

  1. 1FDA gives notice that 12 peptides will be removed from Category 2 (nominations withdrawn)FDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604.Drug testing and analysis · 2015PMID 25208511Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Effect of Intra-articular Injection of AOD9604 with or without Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model.Annals of clinical and laboratory science · 2015PMID 26275694Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone.Hormone research · 2000PMID 11146367Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6PubMed search: AOD9604[tiab] OR "AOD-9604"[tiab] OR "AOD 9604"[tiab] (22 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Development of a mass spectrometry based detection method for the mitochondrion-derived peptide MOTS-c in plasma samples for doping control purposes.Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM · 2019PMID 30394592Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Repeated Heat Stress Modulates the Levels of the Mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in Active Men during Calf Muscle Immobilization.Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 2025PMID 40674654Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin.Aging · 2022PMID 36490309Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on the mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White breast cancer survivors.Scientific reports · 2021PMID 34413391Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) (262 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (humans[mh] OR human[tiab] OR participants[tiab] OR patients[tiab] OR volunteers[tiab]) (179 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR "clinical trial"[pt] OR "meta-analysis"[pt] OR "systematic review"[pt]) (5 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (mice[tiab] OR mouse[tiab] OR rat[tiab] OR rats[tiab]) AND (injection[tiab] OR treatment[tiab] OR administration[tiab] OR treated[tiab]) (72 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15PubMed search: ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (3 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16PubMed search: ("AOD-9604"[tiab] OR AOD9604[tiab]) AND ("MOTS-c"[tiab] OR MOTSc[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17Advisory committee backs 6 of 7 peptides for the 503A listNCPA · 2026ncpa.org

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