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Peptide — Khavinson Cardiac Bioregulator

Cardiogen Preclinical

Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR)  |  Cardiac bioregulator  |  Khavinson heart peptide
Class
Tetrapeptide bioregulator
Sequence
Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR)
Molecular Weight
~489.5 Da
Route
Oral / SubQ / IM
Target Tissue
Cardiomyocytes
FDA Status
Not approved
Evidence
Preclinical only
Developer
Khavinson (St. Petersburg)
WADA Status
Not specifically listed
Cost & Access
Research-only
TL;DR

The cardiac cousin of Epitalon. Preclinical only. Nowhere in any cardiology guideline.
What is it? A synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR), ~489.5 Da. Khavinson's proposed short-peptide active fragment from a calf-cardiac polypeptide extract. Shares the Ala-Glu-Asp core with Epitalon (AEDG), Cortagen (AEDP), and Bronchogen (AEDL).
What does it do? Khavinson's model proposes AEDR binds DNA at cardiomyocyte-gene promoters. Preclinical work reports cardiomyocyte proliferation markers, p53-linked apoptosis suppression, antioxidant enzyme induction, and contractile-function improvements in aged or ischemic cardiac-tissue models.
Does the evidence hold up? Preclinical only. Cell culture and aged-animal work from the Khavinson lab. Zero randomized controlled human trials. Zero cardiology guideline inclusion. Zero regulatory filings anywhere.
Who uses it? Longevity circles running 10–20 day Khavinson oral or injectable cycles, 2–3 times a year. Not a substitute for statins, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, SGLT2 inhibitors, or device therapy.
Bottom line? The cardiology version of the unreplicated Khavinson tetrapeptide problem. Lab-only.

What It Is

Cardiogen is a synthetic short peptide within the Khavinson bioregulator program — a family of two-to-four-residue peptides proposed by Vladimir Khavinson and collaborators at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology to act as tissue-specific epigenetic bioregulators. Cardiogen's sequence is Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR), a tetrapeptide with an approximate molecular weight of 489.5 daltons. Structurally it shares the "Ala-Glu-Asp" N-terminal acidic core with its Khavinson siblings Epithalon (AEDG, pineal), Cortagen (AEDP, cortex), Bronchogen (AEDL, bronchial), and other tetrapeptide bioregulators — with the C-terminal residue (arginine, in Cardiogen's case) proposed to confer tissue-specificity.

Cardiogen is the short-peptide successor to Cardialin / Cardiopeptide, earlier polypeptide preparations derived from calf cardiac tissue that were used observationally in Soviet/Russian cardiology for myocardial recovery and age-related cardiovascular support. The Khavinson program's central claim is that the bioregulatory activity of these crude tissue extracts can be distilled into defined short peptides, recovered from enzymatic hydrolysis of the parent extract. AEDR is the candidate short peptide identified as the putative active fragment from the cardiac extract.

Commercially, Cardiogen is distributed as an oral capsule (Revilab / NPCRiZ dietary-supplement product, typically in microdose capsule form) and as a lyophilized research peptide (20 mg vials are typical) for subcutaneous or intramuscular research use. The oral capsule is sold in Russia as a "biologically active additive" (BAD — dietary supplement category); the injectable is research-only internationally. Neither form is a registered pharmaceutical anywhere in the world.

In the Western optimization community, Cardiogen occupies a small niche among users interested in longevity-focused Khavinson protocols and in cardiac-tissue-directed experimental peptides. It is not a drug used or recognized in evidence-based cardiology. Mainstream cardiology — guideline-directed medical therapy for coronary disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, hypertension, and valve disease — has no awareness of or use for Cardiogen.

Mechanism of Action

The Khavinson framework proposes that short bioregulator peptides act as sequence-specific DNA-binding molecules, small enough to enter cells and reach nuclear chromatin, and chemically structured to interact with DNA grooves at promoter regions of tissue-specific genes. Cardiogen's mechanism is described within this epigenetic-bioregulator framework. As with other Khavinson peptides, mechanism is primarily proposed by the originating research group; independent structural validation is limited.

Limitation: as with other Khavinson bioregulators, the mechanism is primarily a hypothesis developed and refined by one research program. Structure-resolution DNA-binding data, rigorous independent ChIP-seq evidence, and prospective mechanism validation at the level of well-characterized transcription factors are not available for Cardiogen.

What the Research Shows

Cardiogen's published literature is concentrated in Russian-language and English-language Springer-indexed Khavinson-program publications. Evidence is preclinical — cell culture and animal models — with no randomized controlled human trials.

Research Limitations — Read Honestly

Cardiogen's evidence base is preclinical, dominated by a single research program, and has not been independently replicated by Western cardiology research groups. No randomized controlled human trials exist. Mainstream cardiology does not recognize Cardiogen as a therapeutic. Using Cardiogen in place of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, or hypertension is dangerous. Any community or vendor claim that Cardiogen "treats" cardiovascular disease is unsupported.

Human Data

The synthetic tetrapeptide Cardiogen (AEDR) has not been evaluated in published randomized controlled human trials. The accessible human-use information consists of:

In the context of Western evidence-based cardiology, Cardiogen would be described as a preclinical research compound with no established human efficacy for any cardiovascular indication.

Position Within Evidence-Based Cardiology

Placing Cardiogen in the broader cardiovascular therapeutic landscape is a useful discipline. Guideline-directed medical therapy for ischemic heart disease includes high-intensity statin therapy, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, beta-blockers, antiplatelet therapy (aspirin plus P2Y12 inhibitors where indicated), and SGLT2 inhibitors in diabetic and increasingly non-diabetic populations. Heart-failure therapy has been transformed by sacubitril/valsartan, SGLT2 inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and device therapy. Atrial fibrillation management rests on anticoagulation risk-stratified by CHA₂DS₂-VASc, rate or rhythm control, and increasingly ablation for appropriate candidates. Hypertension management is anchored in lifestyle modification plus first-line agents from four classes.

Each of these modalities has Phase 3 RCT support, meta-analytic confirmation, and decades of mortality/morbidity outcome data. Cardiogen has none. A compound with entirely preclinical mechanism data, no human RCTs, no mortality data, no morbidity data, and no specialty-society recognition cannot be compared meaningfully to any element of guideline-directed cardiovascular medicine. The honest framing is that Cardiogen is an experimental research tool peptide; guideline-directed medical therapy is the standard of care; substitution is dangerous.

Where community users position Cardiogen as "cardiac support" alongside standard care — continuing all prescribed medications, attending cardiology follow-ups, obtaining guideline-directed imaging and laboratory surveillance, and optionally adding a research-grade peptide in addition — that posture is more defensible, though still not supported by evidence demonstrating additive benefit. The risk in such use is primarily (a) displacement of resources from guideline-directed care, (b) product-quality issues with gray-market supply, and (c) the false reassurance that a research peptide provides a meaningful cardiovascular intervention.

Dosing from the Literature

There is no published clinical-trial-derived human dose for Cardiogen. The doses below summarize the Khavinson bioregulator "protocol framework" and common community practice. This is not FDA-approved prescribing and is not a cardiology therapy.

FormTypical DoseFrequencyCycle / Notes
Oral capsule (Khavinson BAD — Revilab / NPCRiZ)200–400 μg1–2× dailyMicrodose oral capsule product. 10–20 day course, 2–3 courses per year per Khavinson protocol.
Oral lyophilized research peptide5–10 mgOnce dailyCommunity-level use of the injectable-grade research peptide administered orally/sublingually. Order(s)-of-magnitude higher than the Revilab capsule; bioavailability poorly characterized.
Subcutaneous / IM injection100–200 μgOnce dailyCommunity injectable protocols; 10–20 day courses. 10 μg/kg/day in rat studies is the published preclinical dose baseline.
Course length10–20 daysStandard Khavinson bioregulator cycle. Proposed persistence of gene-expression effects is the rationale for repeated short courses rather than continuous dosing.
Cycle frequency2–3 courses per yearSeasonal or elective timing.
Dosing Disclaimer

There is a large dosage gap between the Khavinson BAD oral microdose (hundreds of micrograms) and the research-peptide community oral dose (single-digit milligrams). Without a validated human PK study, it is not possible to say which (if either) corresponds to a biologically active exposure in target tissue. Community dosing should not be treated as clinically validated. Self-administration of research peptides for cardiovascular indications is dangerous and should be discussed with a licensed clinician managing guideline-directed therapy.

Reconstitution & Storage

Research-peptide Cardiogen is supplied as lyophilized powder, commonly in 10 mg or 20 mg vials. The oral Revilab / NPCRiZ product is pre-formulated.

VialBAC WaterConcentration100 μg Dose200 μg Dose
10 mg2 mL5 mg/mL (5,000 μg/mL)2 units (0.02 mL)4 units (0.04 mL)
10 mg5 mL2 mg/mL (2,000 μg/mL)5 units (0.05 mL)10 units (0.10 mL)
20 mg2 mL10 mg/mL (10,000 μg/mL)1 unit (0.01 mL)2 units (0.02 mL)
20 mg5 mL4 mg/mL (4,000 μg/mL)2.5 units (0.025 mL)5 units (0.05 mL)

→ Use the Kalios Dosing Calculator for exact syringe units

Side Effects & Risks

Important

Cardiogen is a preclinical Khavinson peptide with no human RCTs and no cardiology guideline inclusion. This is a doctor conversation, not a cardiology substitute.

Bloodwork & Monitoring

Commonly Stacked With

Vesugen — vascular pair

Vesugen is the Khavinson vascular-endothelial bioregulator (KED). Pairing Cardiogen (myocardium) and Vesugen (vessels) is a common community practice within the longevity-focused Khavinson stack — the two compartments most relevant to cardiovascular aging. Neither is a clinically validated cardiovascular therapy.

Epithalon — longevity framework

Epithalon (AEDG) is the most-studied Khavinson peptide, with preclinical telomerase-axis and pineal-gland-directed data. Commonly included in longevity-oriented bioregulator stacks alongside tissue-specific peptides such as Cardiogen.

Humanin / MOTS-c — mitochondrial peptides

Mitochondrial-derived peptides are a separate peptide family with independent mitochondrial-protective data. Mechanistically complementary framing within a cardiac-aging protocol — not a clinically validated combination.

Thymalin / Thymogen — immune foundation

Khavinson's thymic bioregulators provide broader immune-axis support commonly co-cycled with tissue-specific Khavinson peptides such as Cardiogen within extended bioregulator protocols.

→ Check compound compatibility in the Stack Builder

Regulatory Status

Current Status — April 2026

Cardiogen is not approved by the U.S. FDA for any indication and has not been the subject of an IND or NDA filing. It is not approved by the European Medicines Agency.

In Russia, Cardiogen is sold as a "biologically active additive" (BAD — dietary supplement) through Khavinson-affiliated distributors (NPCRiZ, Revilab). It is not a registered pharmaceutical. The parent extract Cardialin / Cardiopeptide has a separate historical status.

Cardiogen is not on the FDA Category 2 Bulk Drug Substances list, and it is not among the peptides under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s February 2026 Category 2 reclassification announcement. Absent a sponsor undertaking formal clinical development, it is unlikely to achieve a U.S. regulatory pathway.

Cardiogen is not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List. Athletes should consult their sport-specific federation.

No cardiology specialty-society guideline (ACC/AHA, ESC, HFSA, HRS) recognizes Cardiogen as a therapeutic. Standard guideline-directed medical therapy remains the standard of care for every cardiovascular indication.

Cost & Access

Cardiogen is not approved for human use in the United States. The oral BAD form is distributed internationally through Khavinson-affiliated channels; the injectable lyophilized peptide is available through research-chemical suppliers for laboratory research use only. Personal-use import to the U.S. occupies a legal gray zone; bulk import is enforced against.

No U.S. compounding pharmacy can legally compound Cardiogen — it has no FDA-approved reference product and is not on the Category 1 bulk substance list. Purity verification via third-party HPLC + MS COA is the practical quality floor.

Cardiogen is not among the peptides under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s February 2026 Category 2 reclassification announcement. Absent formal FDA development, it will remain unavailable through legitimate U.S. clinical channels.

Access and availability information as of April 2026. Kalios does not sell compounds.

Related Compounds

People researching Cardiogen often also look at these:

Khavinson tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Gly). Lung-epithelial-oriented bioregulator.

Khavinson tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Leu). Respiratory-oriented short peptide bioregulator.

Khavinson tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Leu). Hepatic/immune short-peptide bioregulator.

Khavinson tetrapeptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala). Liver-oriented short peptide bioregulator.

Khavinson tetrapeptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp). Pancreas-oriented bioregulator.

Next Steps

Key References

  1. Khavinson VKh, Linkova NS, Polyakova VO, Kheifets OV, Tarnovskaya SI, Kvetnoy IM. Peptides tissue-specifically stimulate cell differentiation during their aging. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2012;153(1):148-151. PMID: 22808513.
  2. Khavinson VKh, Popovich IG, Linkova NS, Mironova ES, Ilina AR. Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review. Molecules. 2021;26(22):7053. PMID: 34834147. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26227053.
  3. Fedoreyeva LI, Kireev II, Khavinson VKh, Vanyushin BF. Penetration of short fluorescence-labeled peptides into the nucleus in HeLa cells and the specific interaction of the peptides with deoxyribooligonucleotides and DNA in vitro. Biochemistry (Moscow). 2011;76(11):1210-1219. PMID: 22117548.
  4. Gumen AV, Kozinets IA, Shanin SN, Malinin VV, Rybakina EG. Production of lymphocyte-activating factors by mouse macrophages during aging and under the effect of short peptides. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2006;142(3):360-362. PMID: 17266159.
  5. Khavinson VKh. Peptides and ageing. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2002;23(Suppl 3):11-144. PMID: 12496732.
  6. Khavinson VKh, Malinin VV. Gerontological Aspects of Genome Peptide Regulation. Karger Publishers, Basel, 2005. ISBN 3-8055-7903-3.
  7. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh. Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects. Biogerontology. 2010;11(2):139-149. PMID: 19633997.
  8. Khavinson V, Linkova N, Diatlova A, Trofimova S. Peptide Regulation of Cell Differentiation. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. 2020;16(1):118-125. PMID: 31813120. DOI: 10.1007/s12015-019-09938-8.
  9. Vanyushin BF, Khavinson VKh. Short Biologically Active Peptides as Epigenetic Modulators of Gene Activity. In: Doerfler W, Casadesús J (eds), Epigenetics — A Different Way of Looking at Genetics. Springer, 2016. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27186-6_5.
  10. Linkova NS, Drobintseva AO, Orlova OA, Kuznetsova EP, Polyakova VO, Kvetnoy IM, Khavinson VKh. Peptide regulation of skin fibroblast functions during their aging in vitro. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2016;161(1):175-178. PMID: 27259486. (Sibling tissue-specific peptide cell-culture paradigm.)
  11. Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2003;135(6):590-592. PMID: 12937682. (Sibling-peptide methodology reference.)
  12. Khavinson VKh, Solov'ev AIu, Zhilinskii DV. Molecular mechanism of the peptide regulation of gene expression: a review. Advances in Gerontology. 2012;25(3):447-456. PMID: 23289233.
  13. Morozov VG, Khavinson VKh. Natural and synthetic thymic peptides as therapeutics for immune dysfunction. International Journal of Immunopharmacology. 1997;19(9-10):501-505. PMID: 9637343. (Program context.)
  14. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, Mylnikov SV. Effect of synthetic dipeptide Thymogen (Glu-Trp) on life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in rats. Mech Ageing Dev. 2001;122(1):41-68. PMID: 11110629. (Program methodology reference.)
  15. Ivanov EI, Khavinson VKh. Peptide bioregulation and cardiovascular pathology. Advances in Gerontology. 2013;3(4):267-273. (Program-level cardiovascular framing.)

Last updated: April 2026  |  Profile authored by Kalios Peptides research team