Metabolic research peptides in Australia
The metabolic range covers the incretin and amylin agonists studied for weight and glycaemic control (retatrutide, tirzepatide, cagrilintide), the GHRH analogue studied for visceral fat (tesamorelin), and two smaller tools, the hGH fragment AOD-9604 and the exercise-mimetic SLU-PP-332. All are supplied as research reagents from Australian stock; retatrutide is also stocked as a premixed pen.
Retatrutide Pen (70mg)
70mg dual-chamber cartridge pen: lyophilised retatrutide and sterile water, mixed at activation
$729.99
Compounds in this category
AOD-9604
Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176–191)
AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid fragment of human growth hormone, corresponding to residues 176–191 with an added N-terminal tyrosine. It was developed at Monash University in Melbourne to isolate the lipolytic region of GH from the parts responsible for growth and insulin effects, which makes it one of the few research peptides with an Australian origin. Rodent studies reported reduced fat mass without changes in food intake.
Cagrilintide
Long-acting amylin analogue
Cagrilintide is a lipidated analogue of amylin, the pancreatic hormone co-secreted with insulin that signals fullness to the brainstem. Novo Nordisk developed it as a once-weekly compound and is studying it alone and in fixed combination with semaglutide (CagriSema). The Phase 2 dose-ranging trial reported mean weight loss of 6.0% to 10.8% at 26 weeks across doses versus 3.0% on placebo, and the CagriSema combination reported greater reductions than semaglutide alone in REDEFINE-1.
Retatrutide
Triple GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptor agonist
Retatrutide is a single synthetic peptide that activates three receptors at once: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon. That combination is what separates it from the earlier incretin compounds, which act on one receptor (semaglutide) or two (tirzepatide). Phase 2 (48 weeks) reported mean weight reductions of 17.5% at 4mg, 22.8% at 8mg and 24.2% at 12mg weekly, against 2.1% on placebo, with reductions in waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides and liver fat.
SLU-PP-332
Pan-ERR (oestrogen-related receptor) agonist
SLU-PP-332 is a synthetic small molecule that activates all three oestrogen-related receptors (ERRα, β and γ), nuclear receptors that coordinate the gene programs muscle switches on during endurance exercise. Developed at Saint Louis University, it is studied as an 'exercise mimetic' in preclinical models. Mice given SLU-PP-332 ran roughly 50–70% longer in treadmill tests and showed increased oxidative muscle fibres; obese mice gained less fat with higher energy expenditure.
Tesamorelin
Stabilised growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue
Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid GHRH analogue with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus that protects it from enzymatic breakdown. It is best known from the HIV-associated lipodystrophy trials, where it reduced visceral abdominal fat without the broad metabolic effects seen with recombinant growth hormone. The Phase 3 trials reported a mean 15–18% reduction in visceral adipose tissue on CT at 26 weeks, with triglyceride reductions and no significant change in subcutaneous fat; visceral fat returned toward baseline after discontinuation.
Tirzepatide
Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist
Tirzepatide is a 39-amino-acid peptide that activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. It is the first dual incretin agonist to complete Phase 3 development and is registered in many countries as a prescription medicine. SURMOUNT-1 reported mean weight reductions of 15.0%, 19.5% and 20.9% at 5, 10 and 15mg weekly over 72 weeks (22.5% on the treatment-regimen estimand) versus 3.1% on placebo; SURPASS trials reported HbA1c reductions of about 2 percentage points.
Metabolic Research at a glance
| Compound | Class | Formats | From | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOD-9604 | Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176–191) | 5mg | $99.99 | Adipocyte lipolysis, Lipogenesis inhibition |
| Cagrilintide | Long-acting amylin analogue | 5mg, 10mg | $129.99 | Satiety signalling, Weight regulation |
| Retatrutide | Triple GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptor agonist | 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 30mg, 60mg, 15mg pen, 20mg pen, 30mg pen, 70mg pen | $144.99 | Adiposity, Energy expenditure |
| SLU-PP-332 | Pan-ERR (oestrogen-related receptor) agonist | 5mg | $105.99 | Mitochondrial biogenesis, Endurance capacity |
| Tesamorelin | Stabilised growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue | 5mg, 10mg, 20mg | $89.99 | Visceral adiposity, GH and IGF-1 axis |
| Tirzepatide | Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist | 20mg, 40mg, 60mg | $249.99 | Glycaemic control, Body composition |
Three pathways, six compounds
Metabolic research peptides act through distinct pathways, and choosing between them starts there. Retatrutide and tirzepatide are incretin-class receptor agonists: tirzepatide activates the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, retatrutide adds the glucagon receptor. Cagrilintide works on the amylin pathway, which signals fullness through the brainstem rather than through incretin receptors, which is why it is studied alongside incretin agonists rather than instead of them. Tesamorelin sits apart: it is a stabilised growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue whose Phase 3 trials measured visceral fat on CT rather than body weight. AOD-9604 acts on adipocyte lipolysis without the growth axis, and SLU-PP-332 is a small-molecule ERR agonist studied as an exercise mimetic in mice.
In search terms, retatrutide dominates: 'retatrutide australia' is searched about fifteen thousand times a month, with 'retatrutide pen', 'retatrutide price' and 'is retatrutide available in australia' behind it. Tirzepatide searches are mostly for the registered medicine, Mounjaro. Tesamorelin, cagrilintide and AOD-9604 are smaller, steadier research terms.
What the research reports, in one place
Retatrutide's Phase 2 obesity trial reported up to 24.2% mean weight reduction at 48 weeks; tirzepatide's SURMOUNT-1 reported up to 22.5% at 72 weeks; cagrilintide alone reported up to 10.8% at 26 weeks and more in combination with semaglutide. Tesamorelin's Phase 3 trials reported a 15–18% reduction in visceral adipose tissue over 26 weeks without significant change in subcutaneous fat. AOD-9604's human obesity trials did not meet their targets, and SLU-PP-332 has rodent data only. Each compound page carries the study citations, the side effects reported, and the before-and-after endpoints the trials actually measured.
Formats and sizes
Retatrutide is stocked in five lyophilised vial sizes (10mg to 60mg) and four premixed or dual-chamber pens (15mg to 70mg), with starter kits and value packs that bundle bacteriostatic water and syringes. Tirzepatide comes in 20mg, 40mg and 60mg vials, tesamorelin in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg, cagrilintide in 5mg and 10mg, AOD-9604 in 5mg and SLU-PP-332 in 5mg. Larger vials cost less per milligram; the sizes table on each hub shows the per-mg figure.
Availability and legal status in Australia
None of the metabolic research compounds is approved for human use in the research-vial form. Tirzepatide is registered as Mounjaro, a prescription pen, and compounded tirzepatide was restricted by the TGA in 2024; the research vial is a different product. Retatrutide and cagrilintide are investigational drugs with no registration anywhere, so there is no pharmacy product, no pen from a manufacturer and no compounding route. Tesamorelin is registered in the United States but not by the TGA. Peptide Aus supplies all of them for in-vitro laboratory research, and the buyer is responsible for lawful use; the availability and legal guides cover each compound in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Which metabolic peptide is most searched in Australia?
Retatrutide, by a wide margin: about 25,000 monthly searches across its cluster, against roughly 1,500 for tesamorelin and under 2,000 for tirzepatide research terms.
Retatrutide or tirzepatide for research?
Tirzepatide is the registered, better-characterised dual agonist; retatrutide is the triple agonist with larger Phase 2 weight loss and no registration. Designs comparing incretin mechanisms often use both.
Is tesamorelin a weight-loss peptide?
Its trials measured visceral fat, not total weight, and reported little change in subcutaneous fat. It is a GHRH analogue, not an incretin agonist.
Can I buy Mounjaro or Ozempic here?
No. Those are prescription medicines. Peptide Aus sells research-grade tirzepatide vials for laboratory use and does not stock semaglutide.
Are metabolic peptides legal in Australia?
Research supply for laboratory use is lawful; none is approved for human use in this form. Each hub has a legal-status section, and the guides cover retatrutide and tirzepatide in depth.
Research use only: every product in this category is intended for in-vitro laboratory research. Not for human or veterinary use.