Epitalon
Also called Epithalon, Epithalone, AEDG peptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Research and education only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor.
In 30 seconds
A lab-made 4-amino-acid peptide modeled on an extract of cow pineal gland.[1]
The evidence comes from cell cultures and mice; no human trials are registered.[2][4][9]
Not FDA-approved.[5]
How far has the research gotten?
Telomere and lifespan findings come from cells and mice only.[3][4]
The molecule
Research over time
Papers on PubMed each year that mention Epitalon.5 papers in 2025FDA's list of bulk substances it says may raise significant safety risks if pharmacies compound them. Epitalon was on it until its nomination was withdrawn.[7]
What studies used
What each paper reports. A record of published research, not a recommendation.Whether adding epitalon to telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast cultures changed expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit, telomerase activity and telomere length.
Bull Exp Biol Med · 2003 · PubMed 12937682What the paper reports
not stated in abstract
Who: Human cells in culture (fetal fibroblasts)Telomere length, hTERT mRNA expression, telomerase activity and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) activity in normal and cancer cell lines treated with epitalon. A correction to this article was published (PMID 41240216).
Biogerontology · 2025 · PubMed 40908429What the paper reports
not stated in abstract (described as dose-dependent)
Who: Human cell lines in culture (breast cancer lines 21NT and BT474; normal epithelial and fibroblast cells)Effects on food intake, body weight, estrous function, chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells, lifespan and spontaneous tumor incidence compared with saline controls.
Biogerontology · 2003 · PubMed 14501183What the paper reports
1.0 microg/mouse (approximately 30-40 microg/kg) subcutaneously on 5 consecutive days every month, from age 3 months until natural death
Who: Mice (female outbred Swiss-derived SHR; 54 per group)What it is, in full 4
Epitalon is a synthetic peptide made of four amino acids (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), designed from the amino acid makeup of epithalamin, an extract of cow pineal gland.[1]
In laboratory cell cultures, research groups have reported that it raised telomerase activity and lengthened telomeres in human cells.[2][3]
In a lifelong mouse study, monthly injection courses did not change average lifespan, but the authors reported longer survival among the longest-lived mice and fewer leukemias; these are animal findings.[4]
In reviewing a compounding nomination, FDA said it had not identified safety-related information on epitalon for the proposed route of administration.[7]
Regulatory details 4
A search of FDA's Drugs@FDA data (openFDA) for 'epitalon' and 'epithalon' returned no matching application or product.[5]
Checked 2026-10-06Epitalon does not appear in category 1, 2 or 3 of FDA's 503A nominated bulk drug substances list updated May 14, 2026.[6]
Checked 2026-10-06FDA lists epitalon among bulk drug substances previously in category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn, citing possible immunogenicity risk for certain routes due to aggregation and peptide-related impurities.[7]
Checked 2026-10-06Epitalon is not named in the 2026 List. Section S0 (prohibited at all times) covers any pharmacological substance not addressed elsewhere on the List that has no current approval by any government health authority for human therapeutic use; whether S0 applies to a given product is for anti-doping authorities to determine.[8]
Checked 2026-10-06Human trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
Searches of ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-10-06 for 'epitalon' (intervention field) and 'epithalon' (all fields) returned no registered studies.[9][10]
All sources 10
- Araj SK et al. Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties. Int J Mol Sci. 2025. PMID 40141333PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Khavinson VKh et al. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003. PMID 12937682PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Al-Dulaimi S et al. Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity. Biogerontology. 2025. PMID 40908429PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Anisimov VN et al. Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice. Biogerontology. 2003. PMID 14501183PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- openFDA Drugs@FDA API query for 'epitalon' (no matches; same result for 'epithalon')U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- FDA: Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A (category lists, updated May 14, 2026)U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- FDA: Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 04/22/2026)U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- WADA: World Anti-Doping Code International Standard, Prohibited List 2026 (in effect 1 January 2026)World Anti-Doping Agency
- ClinicalTrials.gov API search, intervention = epitalonClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- ClinicalTrials.gov API search, all fields = epithalonClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
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