Research Comparison
Aicar vs AOD-9604
A side-by-side research comparison of Aicar and AOD-9604 drawn from Cobalt Peptides' peptide database records.
Aicar
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide), also known as acadesine, is a synthetic small molecule that functions as an AMP analog and activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). It is widely used in metabolic research to study energy homeostasis, glucose regulation, and mitochondrial function. Once inside cells, AICAR is phosphorylated to form ZMP (AICAR monophosphate), which mimics AMP and activates AMPK. This leads to downstream effects on energy metabolism, including increased fatty acid oxidation, improved glucose uptake, and inhibition of anabolic pathways.
AOD-9604
AOD-9604 is a modified 17-amino acid fragment derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone (hGH 176–191), with the addition of an N-terminal tyrosine residue. It was specifically engineered to isolate the lipolytic and anti-lipogenic properties of growth hormone while avoiding its anabolic and endocrine effects. Unlike full-length hGH, AOD-9604 does not bind to the growth hormone receptor, does not elevate IGF-1 levels, and does not impair glucose metabolism. This selective mechanism has made it a focus of research in obesity, fat metabolism, and cartilage repair, offering a more targeted metabolic profile without the systemic hormonal effects associated with growth hormone.