Peptide Guide

ACE-031 is a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of the activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB) fused to a human IgG1 Fc domain. It functions as a soluble decoy receptor or 'myostatin trap,' intercepting myostatin and other TGF-β superfamily ligands before they can bind to muscle cells and inhibit growth. Originally developed by Acceleron Pharma for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it produced remarkable muscle-building effects in early clinical trials before development was paused due to minor vascular side effects.

ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an 11-amino-acid synthetic peptide derived from the three-dimensional structure of erythropoietin (EPO) that selectively activates the innate repair receptor (IRR) without stimulating erythropoiesis or increasing red blood cell counts. It possesses potent anti-inflammatory, tissue-protective, and nerve-regenerative properties, with clinical trial data demonstrating benefits for small fiber neuropathy, sarcoidosis-associated neuropathy, and diabetic complications. It represents a paradigm shift in EPO-derived therapeutics — harnessing tissue protection without blood-thickening risks.

Bronchogen is a Khavinson bioregulator tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp) that specifically targets bronchial and pulmonary epithelial tissue. Developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology under Professor Vladimir Khavinson, it is designed to normalize respiratory mucosa function, support healthy bronchial epithelial cell turnover, and restore mucociliary clearance that declines with aging or chronic respiratory conditions. It is part of the broader family of short bioregulatory peptides with over 30 years of clinical use in Russian gerontology.

Cardiogen is a Khavinson bioregulator tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg) that specifically targets cardiac muscle tissue, promoting cardiomyocyte repair, contractile function optimization, and resistance to ischemic stress. Developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, it has been used for over 30 years in Russian gerontological practice to support cardiovascular health in aging populations and those recovering from cardiac events.

Cartalax is a Khavinson bioregulator tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp) targeting cartilage tissue and the musculoskeletal system. It promotes chondrocyte function, cartilage matrix synthesis, and the balance between cartilage degradation and regeneration. Used in Russian gerontological protocols to maintain joint integrity and counter age-related cartilage degeneration, it represents the bioregulatory approach to joint health.

Chonluten is a bioregulatory tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Gly) developed at the Khavinson Institute that targets bronchial mucosa and gastrointestinal epithelium. It normalizes mucosal barrier function, supports secretory immune defenses, and maintains the epithelial integrity essential for both respiratory and digestive health. Its dual-tissue targeting makes it particularly relevant for aging individuals experiencing concurrent decline in both respiratory and GI mucosal function.

CJC-1295 without DAC, also known as Modified GRF(1-29) or Mod GRF, is a synthetic 29-amino-acid analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that stimulates pulsatile growth hormone release from the anterior pituitary. It is the most widely used GHRH analog in peptide therapy, prized for producing physiological GH pulses that mimic the body's natural secretory pattern. Its shorter half-life (~30 minutes vs. 8 days for the DAC version) allows discrete GH pulses rather than sustained elevation, which many consider more physiological and safer for long-term use. Almost always paired with a GHRP — typically Ipamorelin — for dramatically amplified GH output.

CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a long-acting GHRH analog that uses a maleimidopropionic acid modification to covalently bind to circulating serum albumin after injection, extending its half-life to approximately 8 days. Unlike the no-DAC version which produces discrete GH pulses, CJC-1295 with DAC creates sustained, continuous GHRH receptor stimulation, resulting in chronically elevated GH and IGF-1 levels. This produces consistently high IGF-1 output with less frequent dosing (once or twice per week), but at the cost of natural pulsatility — a trade-off that divides the peptide community.

Crystagen is a Khavinson bioregulator tripeptide (Thr-Glu-Asp) that targets the immune system, specifically T-cell function and thymic activity. It supports T-cell maturation, adaptive immune surveillance, and the thymic output that critically declines with age (thymic involution). Used in Russian anti-aging medicine to counteract immunosenescence, it helps maintain the immune competence that naturally erodes after age 40, leaving older adults increasingly vulnerable to infections, cancer, and autoimmune dysregulation.

GHRP-2 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2, pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide that potently stimulates growth hormone release by activating the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) in the anterior pituitary. It is one of the most potent GHRPs available, producing robust GH pulses comparable to GHRH stimulation tests. GHRP-2 also stimulates appetite, modulates cortisol and prolactin, and has demonstrated cytoprotective properties.

GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6) is a synthetic hexapeptide and one of the original growth hormone secretagogues. It stimulates GH release via the ghrelin receptor and is known for producing the most pronounced hunger response among GHRPs. It also demonstrates gastroprotective and cardioprotective properties independent of GH release.

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide (γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) and the body's most abundant intracellular antioxidant. It plays critical roles in detoxification, immune function, and cellular redox balance. Injectable glutathione has become widely used for skin lightening, liver detoxification support, and systemic antioxidant therapy. Levels decline with age, illness, and environmental toxin exposure.

Hexarelin is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue and one of the most potent GHRPs, producing the largest GH release of any peptide in its class. It acts through the ghrelin receptor and also exhibits significant cardioprotective properties independent of GH release. However, it is prone to desensitization with continuous use.

IGF-1 LR3 (Long R3 Insulin-like Growth Factor-1) is a modified version of IGF-1 with an arginine substitution at position 3 and a 13-amino-acid extension at the N-terminus. These modifications dramatically reduce binding to IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), increasing its bioavailability and half-life from ~15 minutes to 20–30 hours. It is the most potent anabolic peptide available for direct tissue growth.

Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue pentapeptide that stimulates GH release with remarkable specificity — it activates the ghrelin receptor without significantly affecting cortisol, prolactin, or appetite. This selectivity profile makes it the 'cleanest' GHRP and the most widely used growth hormone peptide for anti-aging, body composition, sleep enhancement, and recovery. Developed by Novo Nordisk in the 1990s, it has become the foundational GH peptide in clinical and self-directed protocols worldwide.

The Ipamorelin/CJC-1295 blend combines two complementary GH-releasing peptides in a single vial: Ipamorelin (a GHRP acting on the ghrelin receptor) and CJC-1295 without DAC (a GHRH analog acting on the GHRH receptor). This combination is the gold standard for GH optimization, producing synergistic GH pulses 3–5 times greater than either peptide alone.

The Ipamorelin/Tesamorelin blend combines Ipamorelin (GHRP) with Tesamorelin (a GHRH analog with FDA-approved status for visceral adiposity reduction). This blend is specifically popular for body composition optimization, particularly visceral fat reduction, leveraging the GHRH+GHRP synergy with Tesamorelin's demonstrated fat-targeting properties.

KPV is a tripeptide (Lys-Pro-Val) derived from the C-terminal end of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), one of the body's most potent endogenous anti-inflammatory molecules. KPV retains the anti-inflammatory activity of the full α-MSH molecule while being small enough to penetrate tissues effectively and resist enzymatic degradation. It has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in inflammatory bowel disease models, skin inflammation, wound healing, and systemic inflammatory conditions. KPV is emerging as a cornerstone peptide for gut health protocols and chronic inflammation management.

Livagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala) developed by Professor Khavinson's research group in Russia, designed to normalize liver function and hepatocyte gene expression. It belongs to the Khavinson bioregulator class of peptides that act on chromatin structure to restore youthful gene expression patterns in specific organ systems.

Ovagen is a hepatoprotective bioregulator peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp) developed by the Khavinson laboratory in Russia. It is designed to support liver function and regeneration by regulating gene expression in hepatocytes. As a short peptide bioregulator, it works at the epigenetic level to restore normal protein synthesis patterns in aged or damaged liver tissue.

Pancragen is a bioregulator peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp) developed by the Khavinson laboratory that targets pancreatic tissue. It is designed to support normal pancreatic function, including both exocrine (digestive enzyme) and endocrine (insulin/glucagon) activity. It works at the epigenetic level to normalize gene expression in aging or damaged pancreatic cells.

PEG-MGF (PEGylated Mechano Growth Factor) is a PEGylated version of the MGF splice variant of IGF-1 (IGF-1Ec in humans). The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) extends its half-life from minutes to hours, enabling systemic administration. MGF is naturally produced in response to mechanical stress on muscle tissue and plays a critical role in activating satellite cells for muscle repair and growth.

Pinealon is a tripeptide bioregulator (Glu-Asp-Arg) developed by the Khavinson laboratory that targets brain tissue, particularly the pineal gland and central nervous system neurons. It is designed to normalize neuronal function, improve sleep quality through melatonin regulation, and provide neuroprotection in aging brain tissue. As a bioregulator, it works through epigenetic modulation of gene expression.

Prostamax is a bioregulator peptide complex developed by the Khavinson laboratory that targets prostate tissue. It is designed to normalize prostate gland function, reduce inflammation, and support healthy cell differentiation in aging prostate tissue. As a bioregulator, it works through epigenetic modulation of gene expression in prostatic cells.

Sermorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) consisting of the first 29 amino acids of the native 44-amino acid GHRH sequence. It is the shortest fragment of GHRH that retains full biological activity at the pituitary. Sermorelin was FDA-approved for the diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency in children and has become one of the most widely used growth hormone secretagogues in anti-aging and peptide therapy. Unlike exogenous GH, sermorelin stimulates natural pulsatile GH release, preserving the body's feedback mechanisms.

Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification at the N-terminus that enhances receptor binding and enzymatic stability. It is FDA-approved (as Egrifta) for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, making it one of the few peptides with specific FDA approval for a body composition indication. Tesamorelin is the most potent GHRH analog in clinical use and has shown remarkable specificity for visceral fat reduction.

Testagen is a synthetic bioregulator tetrapeptide (Asp-Glu-Asp-Leu) developed by the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology under the leadership of Professor Vladimir Khavinson. It is classified as a testicular bioregulator, designed to support testicular function and normalize testosterone production through gene-level regulation rather than direct hormonal supplementation.

Thymogen (Glu-Trp) is a synthetic dipeptide bioregulator designed to mimic the immunomodulatory activity of thymic peptides. Developed at the Russian Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, it is used clinically in Russia as an immunostimulant for treating immunodeficiency states, chronic infections, and as an adjunct in post-surgical recovery. It represents the simplest active thymic peptide fragment.

Thymosin Alpha-1 (Tα1) is a 28-amino acid peptide naturally produced by the thymus gland that serves as a master regulator of immune function. It is one of the most clinically validated immunomodulatory peptides, approved in over 35 countries for the treatment of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and as an immune adjuvant. Marketed as Zadaxin, it has been studied in over 90 clinical trials involving thousands of patients. Tα1 enhances both innate and adaptive immunity while maintaining immune homeostasis — stimulating underactive immune systems without over-activating already functional ones, a property that distinguishes it from crude immunostimulants.

Thymulin (facteur thymique serique, FTS) is a zinc-dependent nonapeptide hormone produced by thymic epithelial cells. It is the only thymic hormone that requires a metal cofactor (zinc) for biological activity. Thymulin plays a critical role in T-cell differentiation and maturation, and its levels decline dramatically with age as the thymus involutes — making it a target for immune reconstitution in aging.

Vesilute is a synthetic tripeptide bioregulator (Lys-Glu-Asp) from the Khavinson bioregulator family, designed to support vascular endothelial function and normalize blood vessel wall health. It targets the endothelial lining of blood vessels at the gene expression level, promoting vascular repair and homeostasis. It is used in Russian anti-aging medicine as part of comprehensive vascular health protocols.

Vesugen is a synthetic tripeptide bioregulator (Lys-Glu-Asp) developed by the Khavinson group targeting vascular tissue. It is classified as a vessel wall bioregulator peptide designed to support and normalize vascular function at the gene expression level. Used in Russian gerontological medicine, vesugen is part of comprehensive vascular health programs for age-related circulatory decline.

Vilon (Lys-Glu) is the shortest bioregulator peptide in the Khavinson family — a dipeptide designed to support immune function and thymic activity. Despite its minimal size (just two amino acids), research suggests it can modulate gene expression in immune cells. It is used as a thymic bioregulator in Russian anti-aging and immunological protocols.