Epitalon: clinical evidence record

Also known as: Epithalon, Epithalamin tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly

Evidence: Animal only

Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)

Last updated 2026-05-22

Editorial with affiliate links. We earn from purchases via outbound retailer / clinic links. How we are funded.

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.

Epithalamin and epithalon influence on telomerase activity

Khavinson VK, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA, Smirnova TD. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2003.

PMID: 12937682 DOI: 10.1023/a:1025493705728
Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of ageing in elderly humans

Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK. Biogerontology, 2010.

PMID: 19830585 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-009-9249-8
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.

PMID: 40141333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26062691
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.

PMID: 32019204 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030609
Epitalon protects against post-ovulatory aging-related damage of mouse oocytes in vitro.

Yue X, Liu SL, Guo JN, et al.. Aging, 2022.

PMID: 35413689 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204007
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.

PMID: 40908429 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-025-10315-x
The role of pineal gland in breast cancer development.

Anisimov VN. Critical reviews in oncology/hematology, 2003.

PMID: 12791421 DOI: 10.1016/s1040-8428(03)00021-0
Peptides and Ageing.

Khavinson VKh. Neuro endocrinology letters, 2002.

PMID: 12374906

Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Epitalon+Khavinson.

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

Most published efficacy claims for Epitalon require careful interpretation. Read the cited papers in full before drawing conclusions.
Purity of UK research-peptide supply varies between retailers. Certificates of analysis and HPLC documentation differ.
Cold-chain handling between manufacture and delivery is not standardised across the research-peptide market.
Independent replication of single-group findings is the key check on any preclinical claim.

Open questions in the literature

Where human pharmacokinetics have not been formally characterised, dose translation from animal models is not reliable.
Long-term safety profile beyond the duration of published studies remains an open question.
Interactions with other prescribed or unlicensed substances are typically not studied.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the evidence level for Epitalon?

What is the UK regulatory status of Epitalon?

No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List.

Has Epitalon been tested in human clinical trials?

Epitalon has not been tested in phase II or phase III randomised human clinical trials with results published in the indexed peer-reviewed literature. The available evidence is preclinical (animal model or in vitro). PeptideClear publishes no dosing or human-use protocols.

Where can I read the source literature for Epitalon?

The full PubMed search is linked above. Each cited paper has its title, author list and journal. Where we have a verified PMID or DOI the citation links directly. Other citations can be located by the reader through the journal index or the PubMed search.

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.