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AOD-9604 and MOTS-c Together: What Is Known

AOD-9604 and MOTS-c taken together: what each one is, how each is regulated, and what is known about combining them.

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 & metabolicMitochondrial-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
Interaction notes

Timing, interactions and safety

Evidence for the combination

No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 1 result, 2 Oct 2026).

MOTS-c is not FDA approved, and we have no sourced data on combining it with AOD-9604.
Each component

Side by side

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
Related tools

AOD-9604 vs MOTS-c

Choosing between the two rather than combining them? The comparison lines them up field by field.

Open the comparison
ComparisonAOD-9604 vs MOTS-c

What people search

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  • mots c and aod 9604 together10/mo

US monthly searches, Google Keyword Planner, Oct 2026. Shown so you can see which questions this page answers.

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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