Longevity · Investigational
Epithalon (Epitalon)
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
A synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) designed from the amino acid composition of epithalamin, a peptide extract of the pineal gland (PMID 12374906). In cell culture, Epithalon induced telomerase expression and activity and lengthened telomeres in human fetal fibroblasts (PMID 12937682).
It has also been reported to restore circadian melatonin and cortisol rhythms in old rhesus monkeys (PMID 12374906).
02 · Research summary & key findings
Studies by Khavinson et al. reported telomerase activation and telomere elongation in telomerase-negative human fibroblasts in vitro (PMID 12937682). A 2025 cell-line study independently found telomere lengthening via telomerase in normal cells and via ALT activity in cancer cells (PMID 40908429). In female mice, lifelong Epithalon prolonged lifespan and reduced spontaneous tumor incidence (PMID 11227856). Human evidence is limited to small Russian studies, such as a controlled trial reporting improved retinal function in retinitis pigmentosa (PMID 12195242); melatonin findings in elderly people come from the parent extract epithalamin (PMID 15452611).
03 · Regulatory status
Epithalon (Epitalon) is in the investigational stage. While preclinical and early-phase data exist, it has not received regulatory approval for clinical use in the United States.
No lawful pathway today
Epithalon (Epitalon) is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for longevity and healthy ageing?
Epithalon (Epitalon) is an investigational compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on longevity and healthy ageing, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
- Intravenous
References
- [1][Effect of pineal peptide on parameters of the biological age and life span in mice] Ross Fiziol Zh Im I M Sechenova, 2001. PMID 11227856
- [2]Pineal-regulating tetrapeptide epitalon improves eye retina condition in retinitis pigmentosa Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 2002. PMID 12195242
- [3]Peptides and Ageing Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 2002. PMID 12374906
- [4]Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells Bull Exp Biol Med, 2003. PMID 12937682
- [5]Effect of peptide preparation epithalamin on circadian rhythm of epiphyseal melatonin-producing function in elderly people Bull Exp Biol Med, 2004. PMID 15452611
- [6]Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity Biogerontology, 2025. PMID 40908429
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Epithalon"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Epithalon"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Epithalon"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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