Epithalon vs Pinealon
Both are short peptides from Vladimir Khavinson’s group in St Petersburg, often run together in anti-aging courses. Nearly all of their research comes from that group and its collaborators, and neither has a controlled human trial from anyone else.
- Epithalon
- PreclinicalOnce daily during a course
- Pinealon
- PreclinicalOnce daily during a course
- Head-to-head trials
- None published
The short answer
Epithalon (Epitalon) is a four-amino-acid peptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, modeled on Epithalamin, an extract of cattle pineal glands; it’s used for aging, telomeres and melatonin rhythm. Pinealon is a three-amino-acid peptide, Glu-Asp-Arg; despite its name, its developers say it was derived from Cortexin, an extract of calf brain cortex, and it’s used for memory and brain protection. The group proposes that both enter cells and act directly on genes.
The human evidence is thin and comes mostly from that group. Epithalon’s most-cited results, lower death rates in older adults followed for 6–12 years, came from the extract Epithalamin, not the synthetic peptide, and haven’t been repeated by others. Pinealon has two small Russian reports, in 32 adults with chronic brain disorders and in train crews, with no described control groups. FDA reviewed Epithalon for compounding in 2026 and found no published evidence for its proposed use, insomnia; Pinealon wasn’t on the agenda.
At a glance
| Field | EpithalonEpitalon, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG) | PinealonGlu-Asp-Arg (EDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | Preclinical | Preclinical |
| Class | Pineal bioregulator peptide | Short bioregulator peptide |
| Approval | Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. | Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. |
| Sport (WADA 2026) | Likely banned in sport | Likely banned in sport |
| Common dose | 5–10 mg daily for 10–20 days | ~1 mg daily for 10–20 days |
| Frequency | Once daily during a course | Once daily during a course |
| Cycle | 2-week course, about every 5 months | 2-week course, about every 6 months |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection (community) | Subcutaneous injection (community) |
| Half-life | – | – |
| Typical draw | 60 units50 mg with 3 mL, 10 mg | 20 units10 mg with 2 mL, 1 mg |
| Vial sizes or form | 10, 50 mg | 10 mg |
| Human studies | 4 listedLargest: 266 people (2003) | 2 listedLargest: 32 people (2015) |
| Main cautions |
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| Open Epithalon | Open Pinealon |
Doses shown are what labels, trials or community reports reference, not recommendations. Each compound’s page has the full detail and sources.
Key differences
What they are
Epithalon: Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), 4 amino acids, a synthetic stand-in for the pineal extract Epithalamin. Pinealon: Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR), 3 amino acids, which its developers describe as derived from Cortexin, a calf brain-cortex extract, not from the pineal gland.
How they work
AnimalNo receptor is known for either. In cells Epithalon switches on telomerase, an enzyme that rebuilds the protective caps on chromosomes, and in old monkeys it raised evening melatonin. Pinealon lowered cell-damaging reactive oxygen in nerve and immune cells, and given to pregnant rats with high homocysteine (a harmful amino acid), it improved their offspring’s learning. The group proposes that both bind histones, the proteins DNA winds around, and change which genes are read.
Human evidence
TrialEpithalon: mostly studies of the extract Epithalamin, including a 266-person study (some also given the thymus extract Thymalin) and a 79-person trial, both reporting fewer deaths than in controls; the synthetic peptide has a few small studies, such as a 40-person placebo-controlled study of melatonin levels. Pinealon: two small Russian reports, in 32 adults with chronic brain disorders and in a group of train crew workers, with no described controls or blinding.
Typical community use
CommunityEpithalon: 5–10 mg injected once a day for 10–20 days, repeated every 4–6 months. Pinealon: 1–2 mg injected once a day for 10–20 days, 1–3 times a year; oral and nasal doses vary about 100-fold between guides, and the one oral report used 100 mcg twice a day.
Side effects
Users of both report injection-site redness or soreness. Two 3-year Epithalamin trials reported no severe adverse events, and the Pinealon reports describe none, but the studies were small and from one group.
Cautions
Both raise a theoretical cancer concern: Epithalon switches on telomerase, which most cancers rely on, and Pinealon’s developers report it activates processes that make cells multiply. In the 32-person study, which also tested a related peptide, the authors reported fewer blood stem cells (CD34+ cells). Neither has pregnancy data.
Status
Neither is approved anywhere. FDA’s advisory committee voted in July 2026 to recommend Epithalon for pharmacy compounding, against FDA staff advice; Pinealon wasn’t reviewed at that meeting. Both are likely banned in sport under WADA’s S0 rule for unapproved drugs.
Head-to-head studies
Taking them together
Their pages list them as a common pairing. That reflects community practice, not trials.
Often run alongside in Russian bioregulator protocols. No trial has tested the combination.
Open them in the stack check for sport status and one combined tracking checklist.
Questions
What is the difference between Epithalon and Pinealon?
Epithalon (Epitalon) is a four-amino-acid peptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, modeled on Epithalamin, an extract of cattle pineal glands; it’s used for aging, telomeres and melatonin rhythm. Pinealon is a three-amino-acid peptide, Glu-Asp-Arg; despite its name, its developers say it was derived from Cortexin, an extract of calf brain cortex, and it’s used for memory and brain protection. The group proposes that both enter cells and act directly on genes.
Is Pinealon made from the pineal gland?
No, despite its name. Its developers describe Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg) as a short peptide derived from Cortexin, a drug made from calf brain cortex, and study it for brain protection. Epithalon is the one tied to the pineal gland: it was modeled on Epithalamin, a cattle pineal extract.
Why does most of the research come from one group?
Both were developed by Vladimir Khavinson’s group at the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, which has published most of the studies on them, often with partner institutes. Few outside labs have tested them; a 2025 study from a London university repeated Epithalon’s telomere findings in cells. No independent, controlled human trial of either has been published.
Can Epithalon and Pinealon be taken together?
No overlap is documented. They’re a common pairing in community practice: often run alongside in Russian bioregulator protocols. No trial has tested the combination. No published study has tested them together.
Which has more evidence in people, Epithalon or Pinealon?
Epithalon isn’t approved anywhere and rests mainly on cell and animal studies; its page lists 4 key human studies. Pinealon isn’t approved anywhere and rests mainly on cell and animal studies; its page lists 2 key human studies. They haven’t been compared directly in a published trial.
Are Epithalon and Pinealon banned in sport?
Epithalon and Pinealon are likely banned under WADA’s S0 rule for unapproved drugs. This follows the WADA 2026 Prohibited List; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization.
Sources
- Khavinson and Morozov, peptides of the pineal gland and thymus prolong human life (Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2003) PMID 14523363
- Korkushko et al., Epithalamin in older adults with coronary disease, 15-year follow-up (Bull Exp Biol Med 2011) PMID 22451889
- FDA briefing document: epitalon-related bulk drug substances, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (July 2026)
- Khavinson et al., EDR peptide (Pinealon) review, including its origin from Cortexin (Molecules 2020) PMID 33396470
- Kuznik et al., Cortexin and its synthetic short-peptide derivatives EDR and DS (Mol Biol (Mosk) 2019, in Russian) PMID 31099784
- Meshchaninov et al., pinealon and Vesugen in adults with organic brain syndrome (Adv Gerontol 2015, in Russian) PMID 26390612
- Ivko et al., AEDG peptide, melatonin and clock genes in night-shift workers (Adv Gerontol 2020, in Russian) PMID 33280326
- Al-Dulaimi et al., Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines (Biogerontology 2025) PMID 40908429
Each compound’s page lists its full sources: Epithalon, Pinealon.