Where to Buy AOD-9604 in 2026: Sizes, Purity Reports & Verification

AOD-9604 is the smallest of the GRF-derived peptides in the GHRH category. It is also named on the FDA's significant-safety-risk compounding page, which makes labeling and documentation more important, not less. This guide covers the chemistry, how Pepta Labs lists it, how to read the analytical report, storage and US status.

What Is AOD-9604?

Structurally, AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone (hGH). Its 16 residues correspond to hGH residues 177-191 with an additional tyrosine at the N-terminus, which is why it is written Tyr-hGH(177-191) or [Tyr176]-hGH(176-191): the native fragment 176-191 begins with Phe176, and AOD-9604 has Tyr in that position instead. The two cysteines (positions 7 and 14 of the peptide; Cys182 and Cys189 in hGH numbering) are joined by an intramolecular disulfide bridge, giving a monocyclic structure with a free N-terminal amine and a C-terminal carboxylic acid. The two sulfur atoms in C78H123N23O23S2 come from those cysteines, and the formula corresponds to the oxidized, disulfide-bridged form; the reduced, open-chain form would be about 2 Da heavier. The AOD-9604 designation is a development code; match the descriptive names above against a database entry (see the CAS number and molecular weight reference).

How Pepta Labs Lists AOD-9604

Pepta Labs lists AOD-9604 at 5 mg per vial from $47.06 as a lyophilized powder in a sealed glass vial, in the GHRH category. The product page shows the reported purity by reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) for the production run we sourced; identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry on the same report, which also states the salt form (acetate or trifluoroacetate). The full analytical report (COA) is available by email request to support@peptalabs.com before purchase.

The report comes from an independent laboratory commissioned through a cooperative purchasing group, so the client field may name the group or the source rather than Pepta Labs, and supplier-identifying fields are redacted before the report is shared. Pepta Labs does not test in-house, and vials do not carry lot numbers. The report covers RP-HPLC purity and MS identity only. The Testing and Documentation page sets out the full policy.

How to Verify an AOD-9604 Listing

What an HPLC/MS report shows

The RP-HPLC section reports purity as the main-peak area as a percentage of total peak area, with the column, gradient, detection wavelength and retention time. The MS section reports the observed mass. At about 1.8 kDa, AOD-9604 appears in an electrospray spectrum mainly as [M+2H]2+ (about 908.6) and [M+3H]3+ (about 606.0), with the singly charged ion near 1816.1; the software deconvolutes these to a neutral mass.

Comparing observed mass to theoretical mass

Compare the deconvoluted neutral mass to the theoretical value. The average molecular weight is 1815.10 Da and PubChem's computed monoisotopic mass is 1813.86 Da; at this size a high-resolution instrument will usually report the monoisotopic value, so either figure is acceptable within about 1 Da. Three mismatches carry specific meanings for a disulfide peptide. A mass near 1817.1 Da (M+2) is the reduced, open-chain form with two free thiols rather than the bridged peptide. A mass near 1799.1 Da (M-16) is the native Phe176 fragment rather than AOD-9604. A peak at roughly twice the expected mass indicates a disulfide-linked dimer formed by thiol-disulfide exchange.

What the report does not show

The report does not give net peptide content: the 5 mg fill is gross lyophilized salt, including counter-ion and residual water; see the TFA vs acetate guide. Sterility, endotoxin, residual solvents and chiral purity are not covered unless they appear as separate tests. Standard RP-HPLC also does not by itself prove that the disulfide is correctly closed; the mass does. The COA verification guide and the HPLC vs mass spectrometry guide explain how to read the two sections together.

Production-run report vs lot-specific COA

A lot-specific COA is tied to a lot number printed on the vial. A production-run report, which is what Pepta Labs provides, describes the sourced batch and is not tied to a number on the vial. Ask which a vendor is offering, and confirm that the name, formula (C78H123N23O23S2) and molecular weight on the document match AOD-9604 rather than the native 176-191 fragment.

Storage and Shipping

• AOD-9604 ships as a lyophilized powder at ambient temperature; the dry solid does not need a cold chain in transit.
• Refrigerate sealed vials at 2-8 C on arrival; use -20 C for long-term storage.
• Keep the vial sealed, dry and protected from light. Disulfide-bridged peptides are sensitive to reducing conditions and thiol-disulfide exchange in solution; keep the dry solid sealed.
• Free US shipping; most orders ship the next business day. See the peptide storage guide for handling of sealed vials.

US Regulatory Status

AOD-9604 has no approved-drug history in the United States, and its compounding status has changed. The FDA's page on bulk drug substances for compounding that may present significant safety risks (content current as of 22 April 2026) now lists AOD-9604 in its table of substances nominated but withdrawn, which the FDA describes as substances previously in Category 2 of the interim policies whose nominations were withdrawn by the nominators. AOD-9604 therefore no longer appears in the current Category 2 table, although the FDA's safety text remains beside its name. Both tables concern pharmacy compounding under sections 503A and 503B, not the sale of a labeled research chemical; that distinction and the September 2023 history are explained at FDA Category 2 Peptides 2026 and Peptide Legal Status 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AOD-9604 the same as hGH Fragment 176-191?

Not identical. hGH Fragment 176-191 is the native 16-residue sequence beginning with Phe176. AOD-9604 has tyrosine in that position (Tyr-hGH 177-191), which changes the formula to C78H123N23O23S2 and the molecular weight to 1815.10 Da, and it carries its own CAS number, 221231-10-3.

Why does the AOD-9604 formula contain two sulfur atoms?

The peptide has two cysteine residues (positions 7 and 14) joined by an intramolecular disulfide bridge. The two sulfur atoms in C78H123N23O23S2 come from those cysteines, and the formula corresponds to the oxidized, disulfide-bridged form.

What does CAS 221231-10-3 identify?

It is the Chemical Abstracts Service registry number for the free AOD-9604 peptide; the salt actually supplied is stated on the analytical report.

Can I see the report before ordering?

Yes. Email support@peptalabs.com and the current production-run report for AOD-9604 will be sent, with supplier-identifying fields redacted.