Epitalon: clinical evidence record
Also known as: Epithalon, Epithalamin tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
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AI-friendly summary · Epitalon
Bulk of literature originates from a single Russian research group across multiple decades. Animal-model evidence for lifespan extension in rodents. Telomerase-upregulation findings have not been independently replicated to RCT standard. No phase III human trials published outside Russia.
Mechanism of action
How Epitalon works
Synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed in the Khavinson group at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Proposed to upregulate telomerase activity and modulate pineal gland melatonin signalling in preclinical Russian literature.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Epitalon. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells
Khavinson VK, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA, Smirnova TD. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine, 2003.
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Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects
Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK. Biogerontology, 2010.
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Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties
Araj SK, Brzezik J, Mądra-Gackowska K, et al.. International journal of molecular sciences, 2025.
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AEDG Peptide (Epitalon) Stimulates Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis during Neurogenesis: Possible Epigenetic Mechanism
Khavinson V, Diomede F, Mironova E, et al.. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2020.
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Epitalon protects against post-ovulatory aging-related damage of mouse oocytes in vitro
Yue X, Liu SL, Guo JN, et al.. Aging, 2022.
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Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity
Al-Dulaimi S, Thomas R, Matta S, et al.. Biogerontology, 2025.
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The role of pineal gland in breast cancer development
Anisimov VN. Critical reviews in oncology/hematology, 2003.
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Peptides and Ageing
Khavinson VKh. Neuro endocrinology letters, 2002.
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Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging
Mavrych V, Shypilova I, Bolgova O. Frontiers in aging, 2026.
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Correction: Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity
Al-Dulaimi S, Thomas R, Matta S, et al.. Biogerontology, 2025.
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The Antioxidant Tetrapeptide Epitalon Enhances Delayed Wound Healing in an in Vitro Model of Diabetic Retinopathy
Gatta M, Dovizio M, Milillo C, et al.. Stem cell reviews and reports, 2025.
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Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews, 2026.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Epitalon+Khavinson.
Registered clinical trials
As of 2026-07-13, no interventional trials for Epitalon are listed on ClinicalTrials.gov or the ISRCTN registry. This is itself informative: much of the Epitalon evidence base is preclinical, which is why the evidence grade above matters.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN registry, refreshed 2026-07-13. See the peptide clinical-trials tracker for the full picture across compounds.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Epitalon sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Epitalon
Known concerns
- The published work on Epitalon is preclinical. Findings in rodent or in vitro models do not establish that the same thing happens in people, and the step from an animal model to a human outcome is where most candidate compounds fail.
- There are no registered interventional clinical trials for Epitalon on ClinicalTrials.gov or the ISRCTN registry. Nobody is currently running the study that would answer the safety and efficacy questions.
- Epitalon holds no UK marketing authorisation, so nothing you can buy has been assessed by a regulator, released by batch, or dispensed by an accountable pharmacy. Purity, dose accuracy and sterility rest entirely on the seller's own documentation.
Open questions in the literature
- Human pharmacokinetics for Epitalon have not been formally characterised, so how much reaches circulation, for how long, and what the body does with it are open questions.
- Interactions between Epitalon and prescribed medicines are not systematically studied, which matters most for anyone already on treatment for a long-term condition.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List. The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Epitalon?
What is the UK regulatory status of Epitalon?
Has Epitalon been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Epitalon?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.