PreclinicalShort bioregulator peptide

Pancragen

Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2 (KEDW), Pankragen

Common dose: ~1–2 mg daily for 10–20 days
Cycle: 2-week course, about every 5 months
Vial sizes: 20 mg
Typical draw: 10 units20 mg with 2 mL, 1 mg

A synthetic four-amino-acid peptide from the Russian bioregulator family, based on a stretch its developers found in insulin-releasing hormones and promoted for the pancreas and blood sugar.

Evidence. Two small studies in older adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, from a Kyiv institute working with the developer, reported lower blood sugar; neither describes randomization or blinding, and one had no control group. The rest is cell, rat and monkey work from the same network.

What it’s used for

None of these uses is approved. Uses tested in people come first, then claims that rest on animal studies or user reports.

Type 2 diabetes in older adults: TrialOne small 2011 study: in 33 older people with type 2 diabetes, fasting glucose, insulin and insulin resistance fell with pancragen but not without it. No numbers, randomization or blinding reported.
Prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance): TrialIn a 2013 study, 12 older adults given 500 mcg twice daily for 4 weeks improved on glucose tests in half the cases. No control group, so unproven.
Blood sugar control in aging: AnimalIn old rhesus monkeys (2014–2015 studies), a 10-day course improved glucose tolerance and normalized insulin; in diabetic rats it lowered blood sugar and partly restored insulin production.
Pancreatitis and pancreas repair: AnimalOnly cell work: in the developers’ 2012–2013 studies of aging human pancreatic cell cultures, it raised markers of cell renewal and maturation. They suggest pancreatitis use, but no animal or human pancreatitis study exists.
Digestion and pancreatic enzymes: No studyNo study has measured digestive enzymes or digestion in people or animals given it.

Trial: tested in people, with the result. Animal: cell or animal studies only. No study: nothing published supports it.

Every compound’s uses, by body system: evidence map, and by condition: conditions A to Z.

Status

Approval: Not approved as a drug in the US or EU, and no registered medicine containing it was found anywhere.
US compounding: Not nominated for US compounding: it isn’t on FDA’s 503A (May 2026) or 503B (March 2025) bulk substance nomination lists.
European Union: No marketing authorization; no medicine containing pancragen is approved anywhere.
United Kingdom: No marketing authorization (MHRA).
Canada: No marketing authorization; no pancragen product is listed in Health Canada’s Drug Product Database.
Australia: No marketing authorization. Pancragen isn’t named in the Poisons Standard (October 2026).
Sport (WADA 2026): Likely banned in sportNot named on WADA’s 2026 list, but its S0 rule bans substances with no current approval by any health authority for human use, at all times.

Category 2 is FDA’s list of bulk substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding. The 503A bulks list adds substances that pharmacies may compound with. Advisory committee votes are advice; FDA makes the final decision. Sport status follows the WADA Prohibited List in force since January 1, 2026; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization. Checked October 5, 2026. Status outside the US checked October 7, 2026 against EMA, MHRA, Health Canada and TGA records. By country: EU, UK, Canada, Australia. Status of every compound.

How it works

No receptor or target is known. Its developers designed it from a four-amino-acid stretch shared by insulin-releasing hormones and propose that it binds DNA and switches on pancreatic genes. In the developers’ 2012–2013 studies of aging human pancreatic cell cultures it raised markers of cell renewal and maturation (Pdx1, Pax6) and lowered p53. In diabetic rats it partly restored insulin production and lowered blood sugar, and in old monkeys a 10-day course improved glucose tolerance.

AnimalMainly from cell and animal studies; not shown in people.

Not known

Its target is unknown, the two human studies are too small and thinly reported to confirm an effect, and nothing is known about long-term use or use with diabetes drugs.

Protocol

Community

Injected: guides range from 1–2 mg to 10–20 mg once daily for 10–20 days, 2–3 times a year. None of these amounts comes from a study.

Trial

Korkushko 2013

500 mcg twice daily for 4 weeks in 12 older adults with impaired glucose tolerance; the abstract doesn’t give the route.

Frequency: Once daily during a course
Route: Subcutaneous injection (community); route not stated in the human study abstracts
Cycle: 10–20 day courses, 2–3 times a year.
2-week course, about every 5 months, shown over 26 weeks

Common protocols

The ways Pancragen is most often run, each tagged with where it comes from.

Injected course

Community

Dose: 1–2 mg
How often: Once daily
How long: 10–20 days

Repeated 2–3 times a year. Other guides use 10–20 mg; no amount has been tested by injection in people.

Draw 10–20 units20 mg + 2 mL

Prediabetes study

Trial

Dose: 500 mcg
How often: Twice daily (morning and evening)
How long: 4 weeks

12 older adults with impaired glucose tolerance and no control group; the abstract doesn’t give the route.

Draw 5 units20 mg + 2 mL

Taking it

Where it goes

Subcutaneous, rotating between the abdomen, thigh and upper arm. The human study abstracts don’t say how it was given; the monkey studies injected it into muscle.

If you miss a dose

No published guidance. Resume the next day and don’t double up.

Missed doses for every compound

What to expect

4 weeks
In 12 older adults with prediabetes, glucose-tolerance test results improved significantly in half of them; there was no control group.
Trial
10 days, lasting about 3 weeks (monkeys)
In old rhesus monkeys, a 10-day course sped glucose clearance and normalized insulin, and part of the effect remained 3 weeks after stopping.
Animal

Side effects and what to do

Injection-site redness or swelling

Usually mild; rotate sites. Spreading redness, heat or pus means see a doctor.

Low blood sugar (possible, not reported)

The human abstracts give no side-effect details. With diabetes drugs, watch for shakiness, sweating or confusion.

Allergic reaction (possible with any injected peptide)

Stop and get emergency care for hives, facial swelling or trouble breathing.

Stop and get medical help

Stop and get medical help for hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, confusion or fainting from low blood sugar, or a hot, spreading or pus-filled injection site.

Can it cause …?

There are almost no human safety data for Pancragen, so most of these can’t be answered either way.

Dizziness: No dataNo useful human safety data in the two small studies. Dizziness can be a sign of low blood sugar, which it may cause alongside diabetes drugs.
Low or high blood sugar: PrecautionLow blood sugar is possible: it lowered glucose in people with diabetes, diabetic rats and old monkeys. Lows weren’t reported, but no study combined it with diabetes drugs.
Cancer risk: PrecautionUnknown. In aging pancreatic cell cultures it raised cell-division markers and lowered p53, a brake on cell growth; no study has tested its effect on tumors.
TirednessHeadacheNausea or vomitingDiarrhea or constipationTrouble sleepingHair lossAcne, rash or skin changesWater retention or swellingJoint or muscle painAnxiety, low mood or irritabilityFast heartbeat or blood pressure changesMore hungerLiver strainKidney problems: No dataNo useful human safety data: the two small studies in older adults with diabetes or prediabetes give no side-effect details in their abstracts.

Precaution: a concern that follows from how it works or from a related drug, not measured. No data: no human safety data. A side effect that hasn’t been reported can still happen, especially with long or high-dose use. Any of these across every compound: the side-effect finder.

Who should avoid it

No product label covers Pancragen, so these come from human studies and from precautions based on how it works. Most important first.

People on insulin or sulfonylureas: PrecautionIt lowered blood sugar in small human and animal studies, so adding it to glucose-lowering drugs could cause lows. No study has tested the combination.
Anyone with active or past cancer: PrecautionIn aging pancreatic cell cultures it raised cell-division markers and lowered p53, a brake on cell growth. No study has tested its effect on tumors.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding: PrecautionNo human safety data exist.
Anyone relying on product quality: PrecautionIt isn’t an approved drug anywhere, so vials have no regulated standard for identity, purity or sterility, and labels often don’t say whether it’s the amide or the free acid.

Interactions

No interaction studies have been published, and no product label lists any. Because it lowered blood sugar in small studies, its effect could add to that of diabetes medicines.

Precaution: follows from how it works or from a related drug, and hasn’t been tested. This isn’t a complete list: a pharmacist or doctor can check a specific medicine or condition. Every documented interaction, by medicine: drug interactions.

Special situations

What’s known about pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney and liver problems, age and surgery. Where nothing has been studied, the row says so.

Pregnancy: PrecautionNo human or animal pregnancy data, so effects on a pregnancy are unknown.
Breastfeeding: PrecautionNo human data; it isn’t known whether it passes into breast milk.
Kidney problems: PrecautionNot studied in people with kidney disease; how the body clears it is unknown.
Liver problems: PrecautionNot studied in people with liver disease; how the body breaks it down is unknown.
Older adults: TrialIts only human studies were in older adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, small and poorly controlled, with no side-effect details in the abstracts.
Children and teens: PrecautionNot studied in anyone under 18, and not approved for any age.
Surgery and anesthesia: PrecautionNo data; tell the surgical team about any injected compound, especially one that may lower blood sugar.

Trial: from human studies. Precaution: not studied, so the caution follows from how it works or from a related drug. Ages are given as approved or studied; this site never gives doses for children. Across every compound: pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney disease, liver disease, older adults and surgery.

Tracking and pairing

Worth tracking

Fasting glucose and HbA1c
More frequent glucose checks if also on diabetes medicines

Often paired with

Usually run on its own.

Human studies

2 key published human studies, with how many people took part. Animal studies aren’t listed here.

201163 people

In the 33 people with diabetes, fasting glucose, glucose-test levels, insulin and an insulin-resistance index fell significantly with pancragen, with no change in those not given it; the abstract gives no numbers.

Design
Comparison of older people with type 2 diabetes given pancragen or not, with healthy controls; randomization and blinding not described
Dose
Not stated in abstract
Length
Not stated in abstract

Korkushko et al., Bull Exp Biol Med 2011, PMID 22448364
201312 people

Glucose during a glucose tolerance test fell significantly in half of the 12 older adults with impaired glucose tolerance; the authors also report better blood lipids, blood-vessel lining function and less platelet clumping.

Design
Open-label study without a control group (Russian)
Dose
500 mcg twice daily (Pancragen forte); route not stated in abstract
Length
4 weeks

Korkushko et al., Adv Gerontol 2013 (Russian), PMID 28976155

All human studies on Vial Guide

Trials under way

No ongoing trial of Pancragen is registered, and none has finished recently without publishing its results. Checked on ClinicalTrials.gov, October 7, 2026. Every compound: trials under way.

Limits of the evidence

Human data are two small studies of older adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes from a Kyiv institute working with the developer: one of 33 patients with no reported randomization, and one of 12 people over 4 weeks with no control group, both reported mostly without numbers, one only in Russian. Monkey, rat and cell studies come from the same network. Injected community doses, long-term safety and product purity are untested.

Mixing your vial

Vial	Water	Common dose	Draw	Strength	Action
20 mg	2 mL	1 mg	10 units (0.10 mL)	10 mg/mL

20 mg in 2 mL gives 10 mg per mL, so 1 mg is 10 units on a U-100 syringe. The developers’ peptide is the amide, KEDW-NH2; check which form the certificate of analysis lists.

Dose chart

20 mg vial

Syringe units for common doses at different water volumes. Select a cell to open it in the calculator.

Dose	Water added
Dose	1 mL	2 mL	3 mL
0.5 mg
0.75 mg
1 mg
2 mg
3 mg
5 mg
10 mg
20 mg

U-100 insulin syringe: 100 units is 1 mL. Draws over 100 units show in mL. Faded values are under 2 units, which is hard to measure. Check that your vial holds the larger volumes.

Datasheet

Half-life: No reliable value has been published.
Type: Peptide, 4 amino acids
Molecular weight: 575.6 g/mol
Formula: C₂₆H₃₇N₇O₈
Sequence: KEDW-NH2
Storage before use: Freezer (about −20 °C) for long-term storage.
After mixing or opening: Fridge (2–8 °C); use within about 4 weeks.

Molecule: PubChem CID 68451868 (H-Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2); amide form per Khavinson et al. 2007 and 2012. The free acid, KEDW-OH, is C26H36N6O9, about 576.6 (calculated).
Storage: Community Common practice for research peptides; no approved label exists.

Every compound side by side: the half-life chart and the storage chart.

Identifiers

UNII (FDA): None assigned
PubChem CID: 68451868 (amide form)
ATC code: None assigned
Development codes: None; also written KEDW or KEDW-NH2 (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2); Pankragen forte in one study
Brand names: None; no medicine containing it is approved anywhere
First described: Reported in 2005 by Khavinson’s St Petersburg group as a tetrapeptide that restored insulin production in diabetic rats.

Every compound’s numbers: the identifiers table.

Product form and quality

The developers’ papers describe the C-terminal amide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2, 575.6 g/mol); many vials are labeled only KEDW, and some guides give the free acid’s weight (about 576). Check which form the certificate of analysis lists. Vials have no regulated standard.

Cautions

Human data are two small studies from the developer’s partners, without reported randomization or blinding.
It lowered blood sugar in people, rats and monkeys; use with diabetes drugs is untested.
Guide doses differ about 20-fold, and none follows a tested regimen.

Questions

What is Pancragen?

A synthetic four-amino-acid peptide from the Russian bioregulator family, based on a stretch its developers found in insulin-releasing hormones and promoted for the pancreas and blood sugar.

How does Pancragen work?

Is Pancragen FDA-approved?

Not approved as a drug in the US or EU, and no registered medicine containing it was found anywhere. Not nominated for US compounding: it isn’t on FDA’s 503A (May 2026) or 503B (March 2025) bulk substance nomination lists.

What is the usual Pancragen dose?

From community reports, not established: Injected: guides range from 1–2 mg to 10–20 mg once daily for 10–20 days, 2–3 times a year. None of these amounts comes from a study. From human studies (Korkushko 2013): 500 mcg twice daily for 4 weeks in 12 older adults with impaired glucose tolerance; the abstract doesn’t give the route. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.

How much water do I mix Pancragen with?

There’s no single right amount, because the water only sets the strength. With 2 mL of bacteriostatic water in a 20 mg vial, the strength is 10 mg/mL, so 1 mg is 10 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. More water makes small doses easier to measure. The dose chart above shows other volumes.

Who should avoid Pancragen?

No product label covers Pancragen, so these come from human studies and from precautions based on how it works. People on insulin or sulfonylureas: It lowered blood sugar in small human and animal studies, so adding it to glucose-lowering drugs could cause lows. No study has tested the combination. Anyone with active or past cancer: In aging pancreatic cell cultures it raised cell-division markers and lowered p53, a brake on cell growth. No study has tested its effect on tumors. Pregnancy or breastfeeding: No human safety data exist. The “Who should avoid it” section lists 1 more group.

How should Pancragen be stored?

Before mixing: Freezer (about −20 °C) for long-term storage. After mixing: Fridge (2–8 °C); use within about 4 weeks. This is common practice; no product label covers it.

Is Pancragen banned in sport?

Probably. Not named on WADA’s 2026 list, but its S0 rule bans substances with no current approval by any health authority for human use, at all times.

Has Pancragen been studied in people?

Yes. The human studies section lists 2 published studies. The largest, from 2011, included 63 people. In the 33 people with diabetes, fasting glucose, glucose-test levels, insulin and an insulin-resistance index fell significantly with pancragen, with no change in those not given it; the abstract gives no numbers.

How long has Pancragen been studied in people?

Trial 4 weeks: 12 older adults with prediabetes took 500 mcg twice daily. The 2011 diabetes study’s abstract doesn’t give a duration.

Does Pancragen come in other forms, like a pill or nasal spray?

Animal The human study abstracts don’t state the route. Monkeys got injections into muscle, and diabetic rats responded both by mouth and by injection. Guides inject it under the skin.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Pancragen?

Precaution No data. Alcohol can lower blood sugar, which could in theory add to its glucose-lowering effect.

Can Pancragen be taken with semaglutide or tirzepatide?

Precaution No study has combined them. Both may lower blood sugar, so lows are possible in theory, mainly when insulin or sulfonylureas are also used.

What happens if you take too much Pancragen?

Precaution There’s no label and no overdose data; low blood sugar is the plausible risk. Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222), or emergency services for severe symptoms.

Sources

Korkushko et al., pancragen in older people with type 2 diabetes (Bull Exp Biol Med 2011) PMID 22448364
Korkushko et al., Pancragen forte in older people with prediabetes (Adv Gerontol 2013, in Russian) PMID 28976155
Goncharova et al., Pancragen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp) and pancreatic hormone function in old rhesus monkeys (Adv Gerontol 2014, in Russian) PMID 25946840
Khavinson et al., pancragen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2) in rats with experimental diabetes (Bull Exp Biol Med 2007) PMID 18642713

For how it works, who should avoid it and the limits of the evidence

Khavinson, KEDW amide tetrapeptide and insulin synthesis in rats with alloxan diabetes (Bull Exp Biol Med 2005) PMID 16671579
Khavinson et al., pancragen and differentiation of aging pancreatic cells (Bull Exp Biol Med 2013) PMID 23486591

For uses, the side-effect questions, special situations, trials, identifiers and status outside the US

Khavinson et al., tetrapeptide H-Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2 in aging pancreatic cell cultures (Adv Gerontol 2012, in Russian) PMID 23734516
Goncharova et al., Pancragen vs glimepiride in old female rhesus monkeys with impaired glucose tolerance (Adv Gerontol 2015, in Russian) PMID 28509500
ClinicalTrials.gov search for pancragen (October 8, 2026)
FDA Global Substance Registration System search (no record) and PubChem CID 68451868
Health Canada Drug Product Database search (October 8, 2026) and Australian Poisons Standard, October 2026 (F2026L01327)

Doses tagged Community come from public dosing guides and user reports, checked against at least two of them. Those sites aren’t named here because many of them sell peptides or earn commissions on them.

By Vial Guide editorsLast reviewed October 7, 2026

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