Khavinson BioregulatorTarget: BrainNervous

Cortagen

Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro · AEDP · Brain Cortex Bioregulator · Кортаген

Cortagen is synthetic Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP) for cerebral cortex. It is not Glandokort (adrenal Cytomax), not Cardiogen (AEDR, heart), and not Cortexin (extract).

Not FDA-approved - research chemical

Quick answer

What it is: Cortagen is synthetic Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP) for cerebral cortex.

Class and target: Cytogen (synthetic short peptide) · Cerebral cortex · sequence AEDP

Typical research dose: 1–2 capsules/day (Cytomed) or 1–2 mg SC (research vial)

Reconstitution calculator ↓

Research summary, not medical advice.

Reviewed by Kymata Health Editorial Team
Last updated: August 2026Evidence: Low3 peer-reviewed citations
Typical research dose
1–2 capsules/day (Cytomed) or 1–2 mg SC (research vial)
Frequency
1× daily for 10-30 day cycles
Half-life
Short (tetrapeptide)
Common vials
5 mg / 10 mg
CAS
N/A
Molecular weight
477.43 g/mol

Use-case scores

0–10 against the evidence we have, not a gym ranking. Hidden domains do not apply here.

  • Longevity / aging3.5/10

    Khavinson-school tissue peptide. Single-lab concentration after haircut. Not a Western Phase 3 geroprotector.

  • Cognition3.5/10

    Nervous/pineal/visual aisle in the school. Not a stroke or dementia label.

Compound card

Sequence
AEDP
Class
Khavinson cytogen (AEDP)
Formula
C18H27N5O10
Status
Not FDA-approved · research use
Dose it
5 mg + 2.5 mL BAC water → 2 mg/mL · 1000 mcg ≈ 50 units (U-100)
Open in calculator

How it works

Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) is a tetrapeptide bioregulator targeting cerebral cortex and neuronal gene expression. It promotes neuronal transcription restoration, improves cognitive function, and provides neuroprotection via gene regulatory mechanisms in cerebral cortex tissue. Khavinson studies show improvements in cognitive function, memory, and neurological recovery.

Khavinson map

Canonical 41
Class
Cytogen (synthetic short peptide)
Organ
Cerebral cortex
Target
Brain
System
Nervous
Sequence
AEDP · Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro
Pair
Cerluten (brain Cytomax); Cortexin is the pharma extract. Not Glandokort (adrenal).
Кортаген

Used in bioregulator stacks

Manufacturer-style organ combinations - not FDA protocols. Every name is a live leaf.

The Khavinson school

Cortagen is filed here as cytogen (synthetic short peptide), targeting the cerebral cortex. Khavinson's St. Petersburg group moved from organ extracts (Cytamins) to capsule complexes (Cytomaxes) to synthetic short peptides (Cytogens); most of the evidence comes from that one group, with little independent Western replication.

Read the full background, the proposed epigenetic mechanism, the literature limits, and how we count the canonical 41 on the Khavinson bioregulators index.

History of this molecule

AEDP is the cortex tetrapeptide with a gene-expression paper trail. The name collision with “cortisol/adrenal” and with Cortexin is the buyer trap. Cortex of the brain. Full stop.

Pinealon is EDR. Semax is a different Russian nootropic. Stroke remains tPA/thrombectomy territory, not a 10-day capsule.

Caveats

A defined sequence is not an FDA indication. Cortex cytogens sit in a Russian experimental-gerontology literature with limited Western replication. “Oral bioavailability because PEPT1” is real peptide-transport biology; it is not proof this SKU treats the organ disease. Gray-market identity is a live problem - HPLC is the only way to know the vial is the sequence on the label.

Full 41-map: Khavinson bioregulators index · Bioregulator stacks

Research Use Cases

  • ✓AEDP identity vs Pinealon vs Cerluten
  • ✓Not a stroke, dementia, or neurodegeneration treatment page

Dosing

PhaseDoseFrequencyNotes
Khavinson Protocol1–2 capsules/day or 1–2 mg SCDaily for 10–30 day courses, 2-3x per yearNeurological bioregulator course. Repeat 2-3x per year for cognitive aging prevention.

Administration

Route / form
Two real SKUs: Cytomed oral capsules (swallowed) or a lyophilized research vial reconstituted for subcutaneous injection. Nobody manufactures these as sublingual tablets.
Timing
Capsules: morning, about 30 minutes before meals. Research vial (SubQ): food does not change the injection.
Empty stomach?
Capsules: yes - Swallow on an empty stomach, about 30 minutes before meals. Reconstituted vial (SubQ): food does not change the injection. Cytomed boxes sometimes print “with food” because they are labeled as supplements; the manufacturer user-guide preference is before meals.

Cortagen: oral vs SubQ

Cytomed AEDP capsule
Bioavailability
Cytomed oral AEDP capsules, swallowed with water. Cytomed still ships an oral cytogen capsule. Tetrapeptides are a weaker PEPT1 story than KE/EW dipeptides. Swallow if that is the SKU you bought; do not invent a sublingual melt. Cerluten is the brain Cytomax - swallowing that box is not Cortagen.
Dose note
Cytomed folklore: 1–2 capsules daily, 10–30 day courses, morning, about 30 minutes before meals. Manufacturer protocol, not an FDA label.
Advantages
  • Official cytogen capsule SKU. No reconstitution.
  • Same sequence claim as the vial if the box is Cortagen.
  • Not a sublingual tablet. Nobody manufactures this SKU that way.
Considerations
  • Name collision with cortisol/adrenal and with Cortexin is how the wrong bottle ships.
  • Oral BA is not established by the cortex gene-expression papers; none is a swallowed-capsule trial.
  • Pinealon is EDR. Different cytogen, different leaf.
Research AEDP vial
Bioavailability
Research SubQ from a reconstituted AEDP (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) vial. Cortex tetrapeptide. Cortexin is the CIS IM cortical extract - a different product.
Dose note
Research-vial pattern: short course on the order of 10 days at 1–2 mg subcutaneous. Not a 12-week GLP-1 titration. Capsules skip BAC math. Do not use a Cortexin 5–10 mg IM ampoule chart on AEDP powder.
Advantages
  • Defined sequence. One residue off Cardiogen (AEDR, heart) - the letter is the job.
  • Vial math is for this tetrapeptide, not for Cerluten capsules.
  • The Cortagen papers are cortex gene-expression work on this motif family, not a Cortexin ward protocol.
Considerations
  • Not a stroke drug. Acute stroke is emergency care.
  • Not Semax (ACTH analog, different institute).
  • Not Glandokort (adrenal Cytomax) and not Cortexin (extract).
Recommendation: Cortagen (AEDP) is capsule-or-vial: swallow Cytomed capsules or inject a research vial SubQ. It is not Cortexin (CIS IM cortical extract), not Cerluten (brain Cytomax), not Cardiogen (AEDR, heart), not Glandokort (adrenal), and not a sublingual tablet. Ampoule charts belong on Cortexin, not here.

Timeline

Day 1-10 (course)
Neuronal gene transcription restoration initiated.
Month 3-6
Improved cognitive markers with repeat courses.

Who it is for

Cognitive Aging / Neuroprotection

Low

Cerebral cortex bioregulator. Restores neuronal gene expression suppressed by aging.

Reconstitution

VialWaterConcentrationExample dose
Lyophilized cytogen (if the SKU is a vial)Follow the COA fillDo the mathCapsules skip this step. Cytomax complexes are not this molecule.

Change vial size or water volume? Open the reconstitution calculator.

Safety & Considerations

Research peptide. Extensively used in Russian clinical protocols. Russian clinic history is not a US safety NDA.

Regulatory & Legal Status

FDA Status (US)
Research Only
WADA Status (2026)
Not Listed

Not currently on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. Policies may change - verify before competition.

Classification

Research Chemical

US Compounding: Not eligible / not available

⚠️ This information is for educational purposes only and may not reflect the most current regulatory updates. Always verify with official FDA, WADA, and jurisdiction-specific sources before use.

Limits of current evidence

  • A defined sequence is not an FDA indication.
  • Gray-market identity is a live problem. HPLC beats a blog table.
  • Do not paste a sibling cytogen’s papers onto this SKU.
  • This site will not treat the named organ disease from a peptide page.

Verdict

Cortagen is the synthetic AEDP cytogen for Cerebral cortex. Khavinson’s group published in this family. That is a concentrated literature, not a Western Phase 3. Capsules and vials are different SKUs.

Interactions & Contraindications

This site will not treat stroke from a peptide page.

Synergies & Common Stacks

+ Pinealon →

Different sequences, neighboring organs in the school map. Not a combo RCT.

+ Cerluten →

Cytogen vs brain Cytomax. Mixture vs sequence. Not interchangeable SKUs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cortagen vs Cortexin vs Cerluten vs Glandokort vs Cardiogen?▼
Cortagen = AEDP cortex cytogen. Cortexin = brain extract (pharma). Cerluten = brain Cytomax. Glandokort = adrenal Cytomax. Cardiogen = AEDR heart.
Stroke drug?▼
No. Acute stroke is emergency care.
Sequence?▼
Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP).
Capsule or vial?▼
Both. Swallow Cytomed capsules or inject a research vial SubQ. Cortexin is IM extract; Cerluten is brain Cytomax. Ampoule charts stay on Cortexin. Not a sublingual tablet.
Semax?▼
Different program (ACTH analog).
What does Cortagen target in the brain?▼
Cortagen targets cerebral cortex neurons to restore age-suppressed transcription of neuronal genes. This improves neuronal communication, cognitive function, and memory in aging individuals.

References

  1. Khavinson VKh et al. “Tissue-specific effects of peptides.” Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2001). PMID: 11713572
  2. Khavinson VKh, Lin’kova NS, Tarnovskaya SI “Short peptides regulate gene expression.” Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2016). PMID: 27909961
  3. Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG “Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life.” Neuroendocrinology Letters (2003). PMID: 14523363

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Where to get itOral bioregulator

Affiliate links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.

Get Cerluten from Vita-Stream, which sells the GARMONIA Cytomax and Cytogen oral capsules. No reconstitution math on a capsule bottle.

Cortagen isn't sold under that name at Vita-Stream. Closest match: Cerluten (A-5), the natural brain Cytomax (not the same compound).

Browse Cerluten

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See all sources and our full review

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