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Specimen Atlas of Research Peptides81 plates · MIT
Side-by-side · Research reference

AdipotidevsHGH Fragment 176-191

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

AAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED15/49 cited
BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED28/59 cited
Adipotide
Pro-apoptotic Vascular-Targeting Peptide · Preclinical Only
PreclinicalStatus
PHB1TargetHossen 2013
ApoptosisMechanismHossen 2013
IV · Systemic · Preclinical Protocols OnlyHossen 2013
HGH Fragment 176-191
GH Fragment · Pre-Clinical
50%Weight gain reductionNg 2000
~26 minHalf-life (est.)
No IGF-1 ↑GH axis impact
SQ · IP (animal) · Oral (tested)

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter
Adipotide
HGH Fragment 176-191
Primary target
Prohibitin-1 (PHB1) on adipose vasculature endotheliumHossen 2013
Beta-3 adrenergic receptors on adipocytesHeffernan 2001
Pathway
CKGGRAKDC domain binds PHB1 → Peptide internalisation → D(KLAKLAK)₂ mitochondrial membrane disruption
Fragment → β3-AR upregulation → Enhanced lipolytic sensitivityHeffernan 2001
Downstream effect
Endothelial apoptosis → Adipose vascular collapse → Adipocyte involution → Weight loss
Increased lipolysis and beta-3 AR mRNA expression without IGF-1 axis activation
Feedback intact?
N/A — Direct apoptotic mechanism, non-hormonal
N/A — does not interact with GH/IGF-1 axis
Origin
Synthetic bioconjugate: PHB1-targeting homing peptide + pro-apoptotic KLA sequence
Synthetic peptide derived from hGH residues 176-191; AOD9604 includes N-terminal tyrosine (177-191)Cox 2015
Antibody development
Not reported in available studies

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter
Adipotide
HGH Fragment 176-191
Animal dose (mouse)
Low dose (not specified in abstract)Hossen 2013
Systemic injection in diet-induced obesity (DIO) models.Hossen 2013
Route
Intravenous (systemic injection)
Frequency
Not specified in available data
Once daily (animal models)
Evidence basis
Preclinical animal models only
Animal studies only
Human data
None — no clinical trials reported
Animal dose (oral)
500 mcg/kg body weightNg 2000
Obese Zucker rats, 19 days.
Animal dose (IP)
Not specified (14-day chronic administration)Heffernan 2001
Obese mice, daily IP injection.
Human equivalent dose
Not established — no published human RCTs
Duration tested
Detection window
50 pg/mL LOD in urine; stable metabolite extends detectionCox 2015
WADA-banned; anti-doping testing available.
Oral bioavailability
Demonstrated efficacy in animal oral administrationNg 2000
Potential for oral therapeutic development.

03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence

Parameter
Adipotide
HGH Fragment 176-191
Primary fat target
White adipose tissue (all depots)
Adipose tissue (general) — beta-3 AR mediated lipolysisHeffernan 2001
Mechanism
Vascular apoptosis → adipose blood supply collapse → adipocyte deathHossen 2013
Body weight reduction
Significant reduction in DIO miceHossen 2013
Absolute values not provided in abstract.
Leptin levels
Significant decrease
Parallel to adipose mass reduction.
Effect on adipocytes
Antiobesity effect on dysfunctional adipose cells (adipocytes + macrophages)Hossen 2013
Ectopic fat
Reduction in ectopic fat depositionHossen 2013
Marker of dysfunctional adipose tissue / metabolic syndrome.
Species tested
Obese rhesus monkeys, DIO mice
Human translation
Unknown — no clinical trials
Weight gain reduction
50% reduction vs control (15.8 ± 0.6 g vs 35.6 ± 0.8 g)Ng 2000
Obese Zucker rats, 19 days oral administration.
Body fat reduction
Significant decrease in body weight and body fat in obese mice (14 days)Heffernan 2001
Lipolytic activity
Increased adipose tissue lipolytic activityNg 2000
Direct measurement in treated animals.
Beta-3 AR expression
Upregulated β3-AR mRNA in obese mice to lean-comparable levelsHeffernan 2001
Insulin sensitivity
No adverse effect — euglycemic clamp confirmedNg 2000
Contrasts with intact hGH diabetogenic effects.
IGF-1 impact
No elevation — fragment does not activate GH/IGF-1 axis
Beta-3 AR dependency
Effect abolished in β3-AR knockout miceHeffernan 2001
Confirms β3-AR as primary mechanism.
Route of administration
Efficacy demonstrated via oral and IP routesNg 2000Heffernan 2001
Human evidence
None published — pre-clinical only

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter
Adipotide
HGH Fragment 176-191
Safety profile
Unknown — preclinical data only
Vascular selectivity
Targets adipose vasculature; off-target vascular effects unknown
Apoptotic mechanism risk
Pro-apoptotic payload may affect unintended tissues if selectivity incomplete
Kidney / liver toxicity
Not reported in available data
Immunogenicity
Not assessed in available data
Insulin sensitivity
No adverse effects observed in euglycemic clamp (animal)Ng 2000
GH/IGF-1 axis
No activation — avoids diabetogenic effects of full GHNg 2000
Human safety data
Not available — no published human trials
WADA status
Banned as performance-enhancing drugCox 2015
Metabolic profile
Six metabolites identified; CRSVEGSCG most stableCox 2015
Detection window implications for doping control.
Absolute Contraindications
Adipotide
  • ·Human use — not approved, no clinical safety data
HGH Fragment 176-191
  • ·Competitive athletes (WADA-banned)Cox 2015
Relative Contraindications
Adipotide
  • ·Any condition requiring intact adipose-tissue vascularisation
HGH Fragment 176-191
  • ·Absence of human safety data — experimental use only

05Administration Protocol

Parameter
Adipotide
HGH Fragment 176-191
1. Route
Intravenous injection (systemic) in preclinical models. No human protocols exist.
Subcutaneous injection primary route in research context. Oral administration demonstrated efficacy in animal models at 500 mcg/kg.
2. Formulation
Bioconjugate peptide. May also be encapsulated in nanoparticles (prohibitin-targeted nanoparticle formulation, KLA-PTNP, showed superior efficacy vs. free bioconjugate in mice).Hossen 2013
Once daily dosing used in animal studies. Timing not specified; GH-independent mechanism suggests flexibility.
3. Preclinical dosing
Low-dose systemic injection (exact dosing not specified in available abstract). Frequency and duration not detailed.Hossen 2013
Animal protocols: 14–19 days. Human duration not established — no published trials.
4. Storage
Not specified — likely requires peptide-grade lyophilised storage and reconstitution.
Lyophilized peptide storage per standard peptide protocols. Metabolite stability suggests refrigerated reconstituted solution viable.
5. Detection
Detectable in urine via SPE-LC-MS at 50 pg/mL LOD. Extended detection window via stable metabolite CRSVEGSCG.Cox 2015