Which is better, AOD-9604 or 5-Amino-1MQ?
There is no winner on evidence or regulation. Both are graded animal only, and both lack any lawful US access path: AOD-9604's compounding nomination is listed by FDA as withdrawn, and 5-Amino-1MQ was never nominated and has no USP monograph. AOD-9604 is the more studied molecule, but the human trials that were run did not yield a published benefit and FDA cited serious adverse events of unclear causality; 5-Amino-1MQ has no human safety data of any kind. The honest answer is that neither should be chosen over an approved treatment. [2] [4] [6] [7]
How do AOD-9604 and 5-Amino-1MQ compare?
| Dimension | AOD-9604 | 5-Amino-1MQ |
|---|---|---|
| What it is [1] [4] | A 16 amino acid fragment of human growth hormone (residues 177 to 191 with an added tyrosine). | An oral small molecule (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium), not a peptide. |
| Mechanism [1] [2] [4] | Proposed to stimulate fat breakdown and inhibit fat synthesis through beta-3 adrenergic pathways without raising IGF-1 or glucose. | Inhibits nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), raising NAD+ and SAM in fat cells, reducing fat synthesis, and increasing energy expenditure in mice. |
| Animal evidence [2] [3] [4] [5] | Reduced weight gain and fat mass and increased fat oxidation in obese mice; effect lost in beta-3 receptor knockout mice. | In diet induced obese mice, 11 days of treatment reduced body weight, white fat mass, adipocyte size, and cholesterol; in aged mice it activated muscle stem cells and improved regeneration. |
| Human testing [4] [6] | Sponsor ran human obesity trials in the early 2000s; no indexed publication reports a weight loss benefit and the program was discontinued. | No human pharmacokinetic, safety, or efficacy study has been published. |
| Safety signals [5] [6] | FDA cited serious adverse events of unclear causality and immunogenicity risk from aggregation and impurities. | No human safety data; long term effects of altering NAD+ and methylation balance are unknown. |
| FDA and compounding status [6] [7] | Placed in 503A Category 2 in 2023; nomination now listed as withdrawn. Not on the bulks list, so no lawful compounding basis. | Never nominated, not in Category 2, not on the bulks list, and no USP monograph, so it meets none of the 503A bulk substance criteria. |
| WADA status [8] | Prohibited at all times under S2 as a growth hormone fragment. | Prohibited at all times under S0 as a non-approved substance. |
| Route [2] [4] | Subcutaneous injection as sold; oral and injectable in mouse studies. | Oral capsule as sold; injection and oral gavage in mouse studies. |
Evidence grade and regulatory status
Pulled from each peptide’s own record, so it stays in step with the peptide pages.
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | 5-Amino-1MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Synthetic 16 amino acid C terminal fragment of human growth hormone (residues 177 to 191 with an N terminal tyrosine) | Oral small molecule nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) inhibitor; not a peptide |
| What it is | Growth hormone fragment that raised fat burning in obese mice; no human trial in PubMed shows weight loss; FDA nomination withdrawn; banned by WADA. | Not a peptide: an oral blocker of NNMT, an enzyme overactive in fat tissue, that cut fat in obese mice; no human trial published; not approved or compoundable. |
| Evidence | Evidence: Animal-only evidence | Evidence: Animal-only evidence |
| FDA status | Regulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026) | Regulatory: Unscheduled |
| Compounding | Not FDA approved. FDA placed AOD-9604 in 503A Category 2 in 2023, citing immunogenicity risk, limited safety information, and serious adverse events with unclear causality. FDA's Category 2 page (current as of April 22, 2026) now lists AOD-9604 under bulk drug substances nominated but withdrawn, meaning the nominator withdrew it and it is no longer in Category 2. Because it has no active nomination and is not on the 503A bulks list, there is still no lawful basis for a compounding pharmacy to use it. It was not among the six peptides reviewed by the advisory committee in July 2026. | Not FDA approved and not an active ingredient in any approved drug. It does not appear in FDA's Category 2 list or on the 503A bulks list as of the pages current to April 2026, and it has no USP monograph, so it does not meet any of the three bulk substance criteria in section 503A. That leaves no lawful basis for a compounding pharmacy to dispense it despite its widespread marketing as a compounded capsule. It was not part of the July 2026 advisory committee review. |
| WADA | WADA: WADA prohibited | WADA: WADA prohibited |
| Routes | Subcutaneous injection (as sold), Oral and injectable (mouse studies), Topical and intra-articular (promoted online, no published data) | Oral capsule (as sold), Subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection and oral gavage (mouse studies) |
| Typical cost | Not available through licensed US channels since the 2023 Category 2 placement. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity. | Not available through licensed channels. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity. |
| Last verified |
Has AOD-9604 been tested directly against 5-Amino-1MQ?
No published trial has compared AOD-9604 and 5-Amino-1MQ directly. The dimensions above come from separate studies and labels, and cross-trial comparisons are less reliable than a direct trial.
What do AOD-9604 and 5-Amino-1MQ cost?
| Dimension | AOD-9604 | 5-Amino-1MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Not available through licensed US channels since the 2023 Category 2 placement. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity. | Not available through licensed channels. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use and are not verified for identity or purity. |
| Price detail | AOD-9604 price by channel | 5-Amino-1MQ price by channel |
Where a price index exists, the range is the cash price per month across branded, compounded, and telehealth channels, without insurance. The cost pages give each channel separately with its sources. Otherwise the typical cost from the peptide record is shown. Legal access depends on your state: see peptide legality by state.
Frequently asked questions
Which works better for fat loss, AOD-9604 or 5-Amino-1MQ?
Neither has shown fat loss in humans. Both reduced fat mass in obese mice. AOD-9604's human trials never produced a published positive result, and 5-Amino-1MQ has never been tested in people. [2] [4]
Can a compounding pharmacy make either one?
Not lawfully. AOD-9604's nomination is listed by FDA as withdrawn and it is not on the 503A bulks list. 5-Amino-1MQ was never nominated and has no USP monograph. Capsules or vials sold by clinics or online are unapproved drugs. [6] [7]
Is 5-Amino-1MQ a peptide?
No. It is a small quinolinium molecule that inhibits the enzyme NNMT. It is often sold alongside peptides, but chemically it is unrelated. [4]
Are they banned in sport?
Yes. AOD-9604 is prohibited under WADA section S2 as a growth hormone fragment, and 5-Amino-1MQ is prohibited under S0 as a non-approved substance. [8]
Conditions studied
From the blog
- 5-amino-1MQ for fat loss: mouse data, no human trials
5-amino-1MQ reduced fat mass in obese mice, but no human study of any kind has been published. What the mouse studies found, capsules vs injection, side effects, and legal status.
- Peptides for weight loss, ranked by human evidence
Tirzepatide, semaglutide, and liraglutide lead on human trials. Retatrutide is trial-only, and AOD-9604 and 5-amino-1MQ are animal-only. Ranking, legal status, and dated prices.
Sources
Numbered citations above point to these primary sources. PubMed entries link to the indexed abstract.
- [1]Ng FM et al. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Horm Res 2000PubMed 11146367, 2000
- [2]Heffernan M et al. The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice. Endocrinology 2001PubMed 11713213, 2001
- [3]Heffernan MA et al. Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001PubMed 11673763, 2001
- [4]Neelakantan H et al. Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Biochem Pharmacol 2018PubMed 29155147, 2018
- [5]Neelakantan H et al. Small molecule nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibitor activates senescent muscle stem cells and improves regenerative capacity of aged skeletal muscle. Biochem Pharmacol 2019PubMed 30753815, 2019
- [6]FDA: Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding may present significant safety risks (Category 2 list and withdrawn nominations, content current as of April 22, 2026)FDA
- [7]FDA: Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A of the FD&C ActFDA
- [8]WADA Prohibited List (section S0 non-approved substances and section S2 growth hormone fragments)WADA
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<a href="https://peptideagent.ai/compare/aod-9604-vs-5-amino-1mq">AOD-9604 vs 5-Amino-1MQ: evidence, cost, and legality</a>, PeptideAgent, updated September 22, 2026.