Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation
Alanine
Ala / A · hydrophobic residue · neutral charge
AOD-9604
is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials
Arginine
Arg / R · basic residue · positive charge
Argireline
is a topical cosmetic peptide reported to decrease dynamic wrinkles by partially mimicking the mechanism of botulinum toxin in a non-invasive manner
Asparagine
Asn / N · polar residue · neutral charge
Aspartic acid
Asp / D · acidic residue · negative charge
BPC-157
is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects
Comparison
While AOD-9604 is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials71111115, CJC-1295 is used in research to chronically elevate endogenous growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, enabling studies of body composition, metabolic, and anti-aging effects of prolonged GH exposure10.
While AOD-9604 works as a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone corresponding to residues 176–191 with an added N-terminal tyrosine, retaining lipolytic but not growth-promoting actions; proposed to stimulate lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis in adipose tissue, partly via β3-adrenergic pathways without significantly activating the full GH receptor–IGF-1 axis6171111, CJC-1295 is a tetrasubstituted 29-amino-acid analog of GHRH(1–29) that acts as a potent agonist at the GHRH receptor and, in its DAC form, covalently binds serum albumin to extend half-life from minutes to days, resulting in sustained pulsatile GH and IGF-1 increase1082.
AOD-9604
GH1
CJC-1295
GHRH
Both peptides fall into a similar broad context as Hormone peptides, although the details of how they are used and discussed still diverge. Both are often discussed in Metabolic and endocrine contexts, while AOD-9604 is more of a metabolic peptide and CJC-1295 is better described as a hormone peptide. Both appear to work through Hormone analog, but the functional emphasis still separates, with AOD-9604 leaning toward Lipolysis and fat loss and CJC-1295 leaning toward Anabolic growth and Metabolic regulation. Both are synthetic in origin and both are still best understood as being in Preclinical development. AOD-9604 takes the form of a linear peptide, whereas CJC-1295 is closer to a peptide conjugate, CJC-1295 incorporates d-amino acid substitution features that are not part of AOD-9604; while their sequence patterns also diverge, with AOD-9604 showing hydrophobic domain features and CJC-1295 showing alpha-helical domain features.