Epitalon (Epithalon)
Epitalon (Epithalon) — evidence, telomerase claims & status

Class: peptide
Synonyms: Epithalon
Epithalone
AEDG
sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Function tags: longevity / telomere
circadian / sleep
antioxidant (research context)
Overall evidence grade: C
WADA prohibited: no
Last updated: 2026-07-11

In brief: Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (AEDG) from Russian pineal-peptide research, heavily promoted for telomerase activation and longevity. In-vitro studies report telomerase upregulation and telomere elongation in human cells, and animal studies report lifespan effects — but the foundational evidence is dominated by a single research group, rigorous independent human evidence is lacking, and telomerase activity in cultured cells does not equal proven human longevity. It is not approved anywhere.

## Identity a synthetic **tetrapeptide** (4 amino acids, < 40 aa → peptide), AEDG, developed from Russian pineal-gland gerontology research (Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues, from the 1980s). The body produces very small amounts of the related pineal peptide; Epitalon is sold as a "research-use-only" chemical. *Epitalon (the synthetic tetrapeptide) and Epithalamin (the pineal extract) are related but distinct — important when reading the literature.* ## Development & history - Epitalon comes from the Soviet/Russian **pineal-peptide programme** led by **Vladimir Khavinson** at the **St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology**, from the **1980s**.
- The group first worked with **Epithalamin** (a pineal-gland extract) and then synthesised the defined tetrapeptide **Epitalon (AEDG)** as its proposed active principle. It has circulated within Russia as part of Khavinson's "peptide bioregulator" line, but was **never developed through Western regulatory pathways** — and, as the evidence section notes, the research base is concentrated in this single tradition. ## Mechanism (as proposed) Epitalon is proposed to upregulate **hTERT** (the telomerase catalytic subunit), raising telomerase activity and supporting telomere maintenance/elongation; Khavinson's work also proposes direct AEDG–DNA interactions and epigenetic/gene-expression effects, plus pineal-linked **melatonin/circadian** modulation and antioxidant activity. Most of this is in vitro or in animals and concentrated in one research tradition; human relevance is unproven. Note the tension that telomerase activation is also a feature of cancer cells.

Evidence grades by outcome:
outcome: Telomerase upregulation / telomere elongation (in vitro)
grade: C
base: Human-cell studies — Khavinson 2003; a 2025 independent replication reported dose-dependent extension
effect: Upregulation observed
caveat: Foundational data dominated by one group; the quantitative pathway was only recently tested independently
outcome: Lifespan extension (animal)
grade: C
base: Drosophila, mice/rats — largely the Khavinson/Anisimov group
effect: Reported increase
caveat: Overwhelmingly single-group; independent replication limited
outcome: Human longevity / mortality / age-markers
grade: D
base: Older Russian human studies
effect: Claimed benefit
caveat: Methodologically limited; not independently replicated to modern RCT standards
outcome: Circadian rhythm / sleep / melatonin
grade: D
base: Older Russian studies
effect: Suggestive
caveat: Weak, non-replicated
outcome: Marketed "reverses aging / turns back the cellular clock"
grade: F
base: None rigorous
effect: Not demonstrated
caveat: Telomerase-in-cells ≠ proven human longevity; the extrapolation is unsupported
outcome: Safety & long-term
base: No modern human safety data
effect: Unknown
caveat: Telomerase activation carries a theoretical oncologic concern; long-term safety not established

Legal status:
region: EU
status: Not FDA-approved (gray-market)
note: Not approved for human use; not eligible for magistral/officinal compounding (no Ph. Eur. monograph). Research-chemical sale does not authorise human use.
region: US
status: Not FDA-approved (under review)
note: On the PCAC agenda for 24 July 2026 (day two, with DSIP/Emideltide and Semax); removed from Category 2 in April 2026; FDA's pre-meeting briefing documents proposed not adding it to the 503A Bulks List. Advisory only; no final rule. Not approved.
region: INT
status: Approved Russia/CIS · not FDA-approved
note: Not approved as a medicine in Western jurisdictions. (Khavinson's peptide "bioregulators" have a separate history in Russia; that is not Western approval.)

Cosmetic claims:

Note: Research / reference — not for sale. No dosing, reconstitution, or administration is published (intentional). Neutral scientific reference only. This is a hype-heavy longevity compound — the honest story is the quality and independence of the evidence.
Status note: US review status evolving — re-check the July PCAC outcome and any Federal Register rule

Sources:
Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003.
Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, et al. (Geroprotective / lifespan and anti-carcinogenesis studies in animal models.) 2000–2010.
Araj (et al.). Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity. Biogerontology. 2025. (independent in-vitro study)
Independent reviews framing the evidence gap (telomerase ≠ proven longevity) — e.g. Healthspan / Meto research reviews.