Bioregulator research.
Short peptide bioregulators — often called Khavinson peptides after the Russian gerontologist Vladimir Khavinson, who passed away in 2024. These are 2–4 amino acid sequences derived from animal tissue extracts, studied extensively in Russia since the 1970s for age-related decline. This hub summarizes what has been published in the peer-reviewed literature. It is not a buying guide, and bioregulators are not FDA-approved for human use in the United States.
These profiles describe the literature. They are not medical advice. Full disclaimer.
None of the bioregulators listed below are FDA-approved. None appear on the 503A bulks list or are otherwise legally compoundable in the United States for clinical use. Russian-registered drug products (Thymalin, Cortexin, Retinalamin) are not imported under FDA-authorized channels. All content below is a summary of published research, not a recommendation to obtain or use these compounds.
Profiles in this hub
Epitalon
Also: Epithalon · Epithalamin · AEDG · Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Epitalon is a four-amino-acid peptide designed in Soviet-era gerontology research to mimic a fraction of natural pineal-gland extract. Russian studies report anti-aging signals in cell cultures and rodents — longer lifespans, restored melatonin rhythm, and lengthened telomeres in some experiments. The work has almost no replication outside Russia. Human clinical data is limited to small, often unblinded trials conducted by the original research group.
Read the research summaryThymalin
Also: Timalin · Thymus polypeptide extract
Thymalin is a polypeptide extract from calf thymus gland studied mostly in Russia as an immune-system support in older adults, patients recovering from infection, and selected post-surgical patients. It is a registered drug in Russia. In the United States it has no regulatory approval and is not legally compoundable. The peer-reviewed literature is largely Russian-language and was produced by the same research group that developed the product.
Read the research summaryPinealon
Also: Pinealon · EDR · Glu-Asp-Arg
Pinealon is a three-amino-acid synthetic peptide designed as a research tool in Khavinson-group geroscience work. Available data is largely from cell culture and rodent studies suggesting cognitive and antioxidative effects. Human data is very limited. It is not FDA-approved and not legally compoundable in the United States.
Read the research summaryEvidence grade
The letter grade on each profile reflects confidence in human clinical evidence of efficacy. It does not rate safety or regulatory status. A high-grade peptide can still carry safety concerns or be legally restricted.
Grade A
High confidence
Multiple independently-replicated randomized controlled trials in humans with adequate power and transparent methodology.
Grade B
Moderate
At least one well-designed human RCT plus supporting evidence. Not yet independently replicated at scale.
Grade C
Emerging
Limited human data — small open-label trials, observational cohorts, or preclinical work with early human signals.
Grade D
Preclinical
Primarily animal, in-vitro, or mechanistic evidence. Human data absent or anecdotal.
Grade F
Insufficient
No peer-reviewed human evidence. Claims rely on marketing or unreplicated case reports.
How we cover bioregulators
- Each profile describes what is reported in the published literature, not a recommendation to obtain or use.
- Methodology grades (A/B/C/D) are applied per study, not per peptide — aggregate evidence strength appears at the top of each profile.
- Citations link to PubMed author searches rather than isolated PMIDs so readers can browse the full body of evidence themselves.
- Independence-of-review concerns (e.g., author overlap across Khavinson-group publications) are disclosed on each profile.
- No compounder or vendor affiliate relationships exist for any peptide listed in this hub — and no US compounding source is lawful.
Read more: our full methodology · medical disclaimer
Primary literature
What's changed
- 2026-04-17 Hub v1 published with Epitalon, Thymalin, and Pinealon profiles. Compliance-checked framing; all citations link to PubMed author searches rather than specific PMIDs to ensure reader-verifiable sourcing.
Russian-language lit, translated.
We read the Khavinson-group literature so you don't have to. New entries and revisions land in the weekly newsletter.