PreclinicalShort bioregulator peptide (blood vessels)

Vesugen

Lys-Glu-Asp (KED), Vezugen

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

A synthetic three-amino-acid peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp) from the Russian bioregulator family, promoted for blood vessel health. In Russia it is sold as capsules, tablets and an under-the-tongue liquid registered as dietary supplements.

Evidence. Small Russian reports from the developers’ group and its partners describe better leg and penile blood flow (41 people each) and better biological-age scores (32 and 110 people), mostly before-and-after comparisons without placebo or blinding; one also found pro-oxidant effects and fewer blood stem cells. In Russia it is registered as a dietary supplement, not a medicine.

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.

Peripheral artery disease after surgery: TrialUnproven: in 41 adults after surgery for chronic leg artery disease, blood flow improved after a Vesugen course, but there was no comparison group and the abstract gives no numbers.
Erectile dysfunction from narrowed arteries: TrialUnproven: a Russian report on 41 men says penile artery blood flow improved after a Vesugen course; it compared before and after only and gives no numbers in the abstract.
Slowing aging (biological age): TrialUnproven: in 32 adults aged 41–83 with brain disorders, Vesugen improved biological-age scores more than Pinealon, but also raised oxidation and lowered blood stem cells; no placebo group.
Work stress in truck drivers: TrialUnproven: a Russian study of truck drivers reported better stress and mood scores, best with Vesugen plus Pinealon. The abstract doesn’t say how many took them, at what dose, or against what comparison.
Mouth sores after cancer treatment: TrialUnproven: in 22 older adults with chemotherapy-related mouth inflammation, adding Vesugen and another supplement to usual care was reported to help; the abstract gives no numbers or comparison group.
Atherosclerosis and blood vessel aging: AnimalUnproven: in cell cultures it raised the cell-division marker Ki-67 in aging vessel-lining cells and normalized endothelin-1 in atherosclerosis models. No controlled human trial has tested it.
Alzheimer’s disease: AnimalUnproven in people: in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, daily injections prevented loss of dendritic spines, the contact points between nerve cells; a gain in plasticity was only a trend.

Trial: tested in people, with the result. Animal: cell or animal studies only.

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. In Russia it is registered as a dietary supplement (capsules, tablets and an under-the-tongue liquid), not as a medicine.
US compounding: Never nominated for US compounding: it isn’t on FDA’s 503A or 503B bulk lists or their Category 1, 2 or 3 lists (503A categories updated May 14, 2026).
European Union: No marketing authorization; in Russia it is sold as a dietary supplement, not as a medicine.
United Kingdom: No marketing authorization (MHRA).
Canada: No marketing authorization; no Vesugen product is listed in Health Canada’s Drug Product Database.
Australia: No marketing authorization. Vesugen isn’t named in the Poisons Standard (June 2026).
Sport (WADA 2026): Likely banned in sportNot named on WADA’s 2026 list. Its Russian registration is as a dietary supplement, not approval for therapeutic use, so the S0 rule on non-approved substances applies: banned 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

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

Not known

No target has been confirmed, nothing is published on how much reaches the blood after a capsule or injection, and whether the cell effects explain the blood-flow changes reported in people is untested.

Protocol

Community

Injected: guides overlap at about 1 mg once daily for 10–20 days; the range runs from 200 mcg to 2 mg, and one guide lists 10 mg.

Community

Russian supplement forms: capsules or tablets by mouth for about a month; the under-the-tongue liquid’s directions are 5–6 drops 3–4 times a day before meals for 1 month.

Frequency: Once daily during a course
Route: Subcutaneous injection (community); by mouth or under the tongue as Russian supplement products
Cycle: 10–20 day injected courses, or month-long oral courses, repeated every 4–6 months.
2-week course, about every 5 months, shown over 26 weeks

Common protocols

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

Injected course

Community

Dose: 1 mg (range 0.5–2 mg)
How often: Once daily
How long: 10–20 days

Where injection guides overlap; repeated 1–3 times a year. No human data on injected use.

Draw 10 units20 mg + 2 mL

Supplement capsules

Community

Dose: 1–2 capsules
How often: Once or twice daily with meals
How long: About 1 month

The form sold in Russia, repeated every 4–6 months in guides. The human report abstracts don’t say which form or dose they used.

Under-the-tongue liquid

Community

Dose: 5–6 drops
How often: 3–4 times daily before meals
How long: 1 month

Directions for the Russian supplement liquid, repeated after 3–6 months.

Taking it

Where it goes

Injected under the skin, rotating between the abdomen, thigh and upper arm. The Russian supplement forms are swallowed or held under the tongue.

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

After a course
In 41 adults after surgery for leg artery disease, Russian authors reported better blood flow on ultrasound; there was no comparison group.
Trial
Over a course
Biological-age scores improved in 32 adults aged 41–83 taking Vesugen or Pinealon, more with Vesugen; there was no placebo group.
Trial

Side effects and what to do

Injection-site redness or soreness

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

Fewer blood stem cells and more oxidation (one 32-person study)

The authors read this as suppressed blood cell production; what it means for health is unclear.

Other side effects not described

The Russian report abstracts don’t list side effects; absence of reports isn’t proof of safety.

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, or a hot, spreading or pus-filled injection site.

Can it cause …?

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

Cancer risk: PrecautionUnknown. In cell studies it raised Ki-67, a marker of dividing cells; no study has tested effects on tumors.
TirednessHeadacheNausea or vomitingDiarrhea or constipationDizzinessTrouble sleepingHair lossAcne, rash or skin changesWater retention or swellingJoint or muscle painAnxiety, low mood or irritabilityLow or high blood sugarFast heartbeat or blood pressure changesMore hungerLiver strainKidney problems: No dataNo useful human safety data: the small Russian reports on Vesugen gave no details of side effects.

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 Vesugen, so these come from human studies and from precautions based on how it works. Most important first.

Blood or bone marrow disorders: TrialIn a 32-person Russian study of Vesugen and Pinealon, the authors reported fewer blood stem cells (CD34+ cells) and read this as suppressed blood cell production.
Anyone with active or past cancer: PrecautionIn cell studies it raised Ki-67, a marker of dividing cells. No study has tested what it does in tumors.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding: PrecautionNo human safety data exist, and the Russian supplement’s directions list both as reasons not to take it.
Anyone relying on product quality: PrecautionResearch vials aren’t an approved product, so they have no regulated standard for identity, purity or sterility; the Russian forms are regulated only as supplements.

Interactions

No interaction studies have been published, and no product label lists any.

Trial: seen in human studies, or a group those studies left out. 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 data. The Russian supplement’s directions list pregnancy as a reason not to take it.
Breastfeeding: PrecautionNo human data. The Russian supplement’s directions list breastfeeding as a reason not to take it.
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: TrialRussian reports included adults up to 83. One, testing Vesugen and Pinealon, found pro-oxidant activity and fewer blood stem cells (CD34+), which its authors read as suppressed blood cell production.
Children and teens: PrecautionNot studied in anyone under 18. The directions for the Russian under-the-tongue liquid are for adults.
Surgery and anesthesia: PrecautionNo data; tell the surgical team about any injected compound or supplement.

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

Complete blood count (one study reported fewer blood stem cells)

Often paired with

Pinealon
Taken together in Russian reports on truck drivers and older adults, where the pair gave the best stress and biological-age scores. Small, uncontrolled studies.

Human studies

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

201341 people

After surgery for chronic leg artery disease, blood flow in the legs improved on clinical and ultrasound measures; the abstract gives no numbers.

Design
Before-and-after study, no comparison group described (Russian)
Dose
Vesugen course as the only drug treatment; dose not stated in abstract
Length
Not stated in abstract

Kitachov et al., Adv Gerontol 2013 (Russian), PMID 28976154
201441 people

Blood flow in the main penile arteries improved on clinical and instrument measures in men with erectile dysfunction from atherosclerosis.

Design
Before-and-after study, no comparison group described (Russian); PubMed’s title describes leg artery disease, but the abstract describes erectile dysfunction
Dose
Vesugen alone; dose not stated in abstract
Length
Not stated in abstract

Kitachev et al., Adv Gerontol 2014 (Russian), PMID 25051774
201532 people

Vesugen improved biological-age markers more than Pinealon in adults aged 41 to 83 with organic brain syndrome, but the authors also found pro-oxidant activity and fewer CD34+ blood stem cells.

Design
Small clinical study, controls and blinding not described (Russian)
Dose
Not stated in abstract
Length
Not stated in abstract

Meshchaninov et al., Adv Gerontol 2015 (Russian), PMID 26390612
2016110 people

Vesugen plus Pinealon had the clearest effect on biological-age indicators, and the peptides were among the safest methods on lab and clinical measures.

Design
Comparison of several anti-aging methods, assignment and blinding not described (Russian)
Dose
Not stated in abstract
Length
Not stated in abstract

Myakotnykh et al., Adv Gerontol 2016 (Russian), PMID 28539017
201322 people

Adding Vesugen and another supplement to usual care was reported to improve treatment of chemotherapy-related mouth inflammation in older adults after head and neck cancer.

Design
Observational report, comparison not described (Russian)
Dose
Not stated in abstract
Length
Not stated in abstract

Filippova, Adv Gerontol 2013 (Russian), PMID 28976153

All human studies on Vial Guide

Trials under way

No ongoing trial of Vesugen 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 small Russian reports from the developers’ group and partners: 41 people after leg artery surgery, 41 men with erectile dysfunction, 32 adults aged 41–83 and 110 people comparing anti-aging methods, mostly before-and-after comparisons without placebo or blinding. One found pro-oxidant effects and fewer blood stem cells. Mechanisms come from cell and mouse work. The injected doses people use, 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 vials are the usual size; with 2 mL of water, 1 mg is a 10-unit draw. The Russian supplement comes as 0.2 g capsules, 0.16 g or 0.3 g tablets and an under-the-tongue liquid; their peptide content isn’t given in the registration summary.

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
0.6 mg
0.75 mg
1 mg
1.5 mg
2 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, 3 amino acids
Molecular weight: 390.4 g/mol
Formula: C₁₅H₂₆N₄O₈
Sequence: KED
Storage before use: Freezer (−20 °C) for long-term storage; fridge is fine for short periods.
After mixing or opening: Refrigerate (2–8 °C) after mixing and use within about 4 weeks.

Molecule: PubChem CID 87571363 (L-lysyl-L-glutamyl-L-aspartic acid); named Vesugen in its developers’ papers
Storage: Community Common practice for research peptide vials; no approved product label exists

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

Identifiers

CAS number: 204271-66-9
UNII (FDA): None assigned
PubChem CID: 87571363
ATC code: None assigned
Development codes: T-38 (in a 2008 paper); also written KED (Lys-Glu-Asp)
Brand names: Vesugen and Vesugen Lingval (Russian dietary supplements)
First described: Developed by Vladimir Khavinson’s St Petersburg group as a vascular bioregulator; first PubMed reports in 2008.

Every compound’s numbers: the identifiers table.

Product form and quality

A three-amino-acid peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp), easily confused with Vilon (Lys-Glu) or Livagen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala). Research vials, usually 20 mg, aren’t the Russian supplement products used in the human reports, and nothing regulates their identity, purity or sterility.

Cautions

Human data are small Russian reports without placebo groups or blinding.
One study found pro-oxidant effects and fewer blood stem cells (CD34+).
Research vials aren’t the Russian supplement products used in the human reports.
Community doses vary about 50-fold.

Questions

What is Vesugen?

How does Vesugen work?

Vesugen is a three-amino-acid peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp) with no identified receptor. In its developers’ cell cultures it raised Ki-67, a marker of dividing cells, in aging blood-vessel lining cells, brought endothelin-1, a vessel-narrowing signal, back toward normal in models of atherosclerosis, and lowered the aging markers p16 and p21 in stem cells. Computer docking suggests it binds DNA near the Ki-67 gene, which the group proposes as its mechanism. No target has been confirmed, nothing is published on how much reaches the blood after a capsule or injection, and whether the cell effects explain the blood-flow changes reported in people is untested.

Is Vesugen FDA-approved?

Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. In Russia it is registered as a dietary supplement (capsules, tablets and an under-the-tongue liquid), not as a medicine. Never nominated for US compounding: it isn’t on FDA’s 503A or 503B bulk lists or their Category 1, 2 or 3 lists (503A categories updated May 14, 2026).

What is the usual Vesugen dose?

From community reports, not established: Injected: guides overlap at about 1 mg once daily for 10–20 days; the range runs from 200 mcg to 2 mg, and one guide lists 10 mg. Russian supplement forms: capsules or tablets by mouth for about a month; the under-the-tongue liquid’s directions are 5–6 drops 3–4 times a day before meals for 1 month. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.

How much water do I mix Vesugen 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 Vesugen?

No product label covers Vesugen, so these come from human studies and from precautions based on how it works. Blood or bone marrow disorders: In a 32-person Russian study of Vesugen and Pinealon, the authors reported fewer blood stem cells (CD34+ cells) and read this as suppressed blood cell production. Anyone with active or past cancer: In cell studies it raised Ki-67, a marker of dividing cells. No study has tested what it does in tumors. Pregnancy or breastfeeding: No human safety data exist, and the Russian supplement’s directions list both as reasons not to take it. The “Who should avoid it” section lists 1 more group.

How should Vesugen be stored?

Before mixing: Freezer (−20 °C) for long-term storage; fridge is fine for short periods. Refrigerate (2–8 °C) after mixing and use within about 4 weeks. This is common practice; no product label covers it.

Is Vesugen banned in sport?

Probably. Not named on WADA’s 2026 list. Its Russian registration is as a dietary supplement, not approval for therapeutic use, so the S0 rule on non-approved substances applies: banned at all times.

Has Vesugen been studied in people?

Yes. The human studies section lists 5 published studies. The largest, from 2016, included 110 people. Vesugen plus Pinealon had the clearest effect on biological-age indicators, and the peptides were among the safest methods on lab and clinical measures.

How long has Vesugen been studied in people?

Trial Not stated: the Russian reports, the largest with 110 people, don’t give treatment length in their abstracts. The supplement directions describe 1-month courses.

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

Trial In Russia it is sold only as capsules, tablets and an under-the-tongue liquid, and the human report abstracts don’t state a route. Injection under the skin, the usual community route, has no published human data.

Can you drink alcohol while taking Vesugen?

No study No data. No study has looked at Vesugen and alcohol together.

Can Vesugen be taken with semaglutide or tirzepatide?

No study No study has combined them. No interaction is known, but none has been looked for.

What happens if you take too much Vesugen?

No data There’s no label and no overdose data. Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222), or emergency services for severe symptoms.

Sources

Kitachov et al., Vesugen after surgery for chronic leg artery disease (Adv Gerontol 2013, in Russian) PMID 28976154
Kitachev et al., Vesugen and penile blood flow in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (Adv Gerontol 2014, in Russian) PMID 25051774
Meshchaninov et al., Vesugen and Pinealon in adults with organic brain syndrome (Adv Gerontol 2015, in Russian) PMID 26390612
Myakotnykh et al., comparison of geroprotective methods, including Vesugen and Pinealon, in 110 people (Adv Gerontol 2016, in Russian) PMID 28539017
Vesugen and Vesugen Lingval dietary supplement entries, RLS drug encyclopedia (Russian, updated August 2022)

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

Khavinson et al., Vesugen and Ki-67 in aging vascular endothelial cell cultures (Adv Gerontol 2014, in Russian) PMID 25051766
Kozlov et al., KED peptide and endothelial signals in models of atherosclerosis and restenosis (Adv Gerontol 2016, in Russian) PMID 28539025
Sinjari et al., AEDG and KED peptides and aging markers in oral stem cells (Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020) PMID 31677028

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

Bashkireva and Artamonova, peptide correction of neurotic disorders in truck drivers (Adv Gerontol 2012, in Russian) PMID 23734521
Filippova, treatment of chemical stomatitis in older adults (Adv Gerontol 2013, in Russian) PMID 28976153
Khavinson et al., KED and EDR tripeptides in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (Pharmaceuticals 2021) PMID 34071923
Kozina, antihypoxic properties of short peptides including Vesugen (Adv Gerontol 2008, in Russian) PMID 18546825
PubChem CID 87571363; FDA GSRS search (no record)
ClinicalTrials.gov and Health Canada Drug Product Database searches (October 8, 2026); Australian Poisons Standard, June 2026

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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