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Bioregulators

Cartalax

A Khavinson cytogen peptide aimed at cartilage, joints and the musculoskeletal system.

3 min read 11 sources

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Vial with white powder, a blue cap and a black TPD label for Cartalax on a white podium, next to it a chain of blue and white glass spheres as a molecule model in a bright lab
No registered trial · not approved

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

Length
3 amino acids

Ala-Glu-Asp (AED), a synthetic tripeptide10

Molar mass
333.3 g/mol

Molecular formula C12H19N3O8, a very small molecule10

Human trials in the registry
0 trials

no trial with Cartalax on ClinicalTrials.gov, as of 26 Oct 202611

  • Cartalax is the synthetic tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp (AED) from the Russian Khavinson programme. There it is regarded as a bioregulator for cartilage and joints.109
  • According to a review by the group AED is part of a protein mixture from cartilage. We did not find a study of its own on cartilage with the tripeptide.6
  • In aged skin connective tissue cells AED lowered the breakdown enzyme MMP-9, slowed cell death and raised collagen I as well as sirtuins 1 and 6.23
  • In bone marrow stem cells it changed the activity of genes linked to cell ageing.4
  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial with Cartalax (as of October 2026). Almost all data come from one research group. Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.111
Profile

Updated May 2026

Class
Short bioregulator peptide

Khavinson cytogen

Use
Subcutaneous

in mg

Target tissue
cartilage

joints and the musculoskeletal system

Status
Data mostly from the Khavinson program
Sizes
20 mg

1 size in the shop

Contents 15 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is Cartalax?
  3. How it works
  4. What you need
  5. Reconstitution
  6. Dosing
  7. Injection
  8. What the research shows
  9. Research status
  10. Side effects
  11. Storage
  12. Related compounds
  13. FAQ
  14. Glossary
  15. Sources

What is Cartalax?

Cartalax is a short peptide from the Russian Khavinson program, which deals with tissue-specific bioregulators. These very short peptides (usually 2 to 4 amino acids) are meant to act specifically on a particular tissue, Cartalax is aimed at cartilage, joints and the musculoskeletal system.

Up front: most research comes from a single research line and mostly from Russia, large independent studies are missing.

Comparison

Same family, different building blocks

Short peptides from the Khavinson programme with their amino acid sequence according to a review. Tap a card to open its entry.

Tripeptide, cartilage Cartalax AED
Tripeptide, blood vessels Vesugen KED Dipeptide, immune system Vilon KE Tetrapeptide, pineal gland Epitalon AEDG

The assignment to a tissue comes from the Khavinson group itself. It has not been confirmed independently. 9

How it works

The theory behind the Khavinson peptides: they are meant to act at the level of gene regulation and restart age-related declining functions of a tissue. For Cartalax a supportive effect on cartilage, joints and the musculoskeletal system is described.

How well this concept transfers to humans is little established outside the originating research.

Where it acts

Where Cartalax acted in experiments

Tap a point or a card. All from cell and animal studies, there is no confirmed receptor.

  1. Skin

    Aged connective tissue cells: less MMP-9, less cell death, more collagen I2

    Observed in trials
  2. Bone marrow

    Stem cells: changed activity of ageing genes, NF-κB gene more active4

    Observed in trials
  3. Kidney

    Tissue cultures from young and old rats: more cell division, less cell death5

    Observed in trials

Known targets7

Compound PubChem CID 87815447: two described targets, all Possible route into the cell, only modelled on the computer (docking).

Peptide transporter PepT1
Gene
SLC15A1
UniProt
P46059
ChEMBL
CHEMBL4605
Action
Possible route into the cell, only modelled on the computer (docking)
Amino acid transporter LAT1
Gene
SLC7A5
UniProt
Q01650
ChEMBL
CHEMBL4459
Action
Possible route into the cell, only modelled on the computer (docking)
Glass joint with a blue shimmering cartilage cushion, small blue molecules moving into the cartilage cells, each with a glowing DNA helix
Theory: action at the level of gene regulation in cartilage. Symbolic image.

What you need

Supplies

2 things, numbered as in the picture

Tick off what you already have. Vial and BAC water are our real shop photos at the same size.

Cartalax vial and bacteriostatic water at the same size with the black TPD label, next to two U-100 insulin syringes, two alcohol swabs and a sharps container with a blue lid

  1. Cartalax vial

    The vial (lyophilized powder, usually 20mg).

    In the shop

  2. Water and supplies

    Bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs.

    In the shop

Reconstitution

Use the peptide calculator. A 20mg vial with 2ml water gives 10mg per ml. Just add the water to the vial and let it dissolve.

Step by step

Dissolving the powder

Four steps, the same for every vial size.

  1. 1Wipe the cap

    Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.

  2. 2Add BAC water

    Just add it, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly.

  3. 3Swirl or shake

    Until everything has dissolved, both are fine.

  4. 4Draw up

    With the U-100 insulin syringe.

Less water higher concentration fewer units on the syringe Example: 20 mg + 2 ml = 10 mg/ml

Dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts

Injection

The injection is subcutaneous, into the fat layer under the skin. Common spots are the abdomen (keep about two finger-widths clear of the navel), the front and the inner side of the thigh, or the back of the upper arm.

The short version:

Injection

Where and at what angle

Pick a spot or switch the angle. Subcutaneous means: into the fat layer, not the muscle.

Rotate the spot each time, never the same one twice in a row.

90°More fat under the skin

Rule of thumb: where there is more fat under the skin, insert straight at 90 degrees. In lean people with little fat, 45 degrees, so the needle stays in the fat layer. Simplified diagram.

  1. Clean the spot with an alcohol swab and let it dry

  2. Pinch up a small fold of skin

  3. Insert the needle: at 90 degrees where there is more fat under the skin, at 45 degrees in lean people with little fat

  4. Inject slowly, wait a moment, then withdraw

  5. Put the needle straight into the sharps container

Rotate the site each time so the tissue does not get irritated. Never the same spot twice in a row.

What the research shows

The Khavinson program has published numerous works on tissue-specific bioregulators over decades (overview: Khavinson, 2002), including effects on organ function and, in animal models, on lifespan. But the read must stay honest: the data come mostly from one research line, large independent studies are missing.

Clear glass vertebra with a light blue disc on top on a white tray
The data mostly come from one research group, large independent studies are missing. Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

So far Cartalax has only been studied in cell cultures, almost only by the Khavinson group and its partners. As of 26 Oct 2026. 11

  1. Preclinical Cell cultures (skin, stem cells, kidney)
  2. Phase 1 no registered trial
  3. Phase 2 no registered trial
  4. Phase 3 no registered trial
  5. Approval not yet
No registered human trial and no known approval as a medicine. Cartalax has only been studied preclinically so far.11

So far there is no registered trial in humans. 11

Side effects

  • Well tolerated in the available reports, mainly local reactions.
  • Solid, independent human safety data are limited.

Storage

Before mixing the powder is robust, normal room temperature (around 20 to 25 degrees) is fine, ideally kept in the dark. After mixing, keep in the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), do not freeze. It stays good there for at least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency, in practice considerably longer. Swirl or shake to mix, both are fine.

Shelf life

How long it keeps

Undissolved (powder) Room temperature, around 20 to 25 degrees, dark

Robust, no fridge needed.

Dissolved (mixed) Fridge, 2 to 8 degrees, do not freeze

At least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency.

  • Keep it dark
  • Dissolved: 2 to 8 degrees
  • Note the mixing date on the vial
Nine vials with white powder and blue caps in the door shelf of a bright fridge
Powder dark at room temperature, once dissolved into the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), stable there for at least 4 to 6 months. Symbolic image.

Related

Related compounds

Same common ground: all in the TPD lexicon.

Cartalax
Bronchogen Tetrapeptide AEDL, bronchi Chonluten Tripeptide EDG, lungs and bronchi Cardiogen Tetrapeptide AEDR, heart Epitalon Tetrapeptide AEDG, pineal gland Vilon Dipeptide KE, immune system Vesugen Tripeptide KED, blood vessels Pinealon Tripeptide EDR, brain Thymalin Peptide mixture from the thymus

FAQ

Common questions about Cartalax

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

Is Cartalax approved or studied in humans?

As of 26 October 2026 the registry ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial with Cartalax. All data here come from cell cultures. According to a review, a cartilage extract said to contain AED is being tested in a phase 2 study in Russia. That is a mixture, though, not the tripeptide.116

What is Cartalax made of?

Of three amino acids: alanine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, AED for short, molecular formula C12H19N3O8. In older papers the same peptide is called T-31.109

What is known about cartilage and joints?

Little. A review by the Khavinson group describes AED as part of a protein mixture from animal cartilage and suspects a role in osteoarthritis. We did not find a peer-reviewed study that tests the tripeptide on cartilage cells or joints.6

What did the skin cells show?

In aged connective tissue cells of the skin AED inhibited the connective tissue enzyme MMP-9 and cell death controlled by caspase-3. Markers of division and renewal rose. A second paper found more collagen I and more sirtuin 1 and 6.23

What did stem cells and kidney show?

In stem cells from human bone marrow AED and related peptides changed ageing genes at nanomolar amounts, the IGF1 gene was 3.5 to 5.6 times more active (peptides considered together). In kidney tissue from young and old rats T-31 brought more cell division and less cell death, but less than the kidney extract.45

How is such a short peptide supposed to work?

The Khavinson group assumes that short peptides reach the cell nucleus and bind to certain DNA stretches. On the computer AED fits into the transporters PepT1 and LAT1 of the cell membrane. Whether this happens in the body has not been shown.87

Which side effects are known?

There are no solid data because Cartalax has never been tested in a registered human trial. Statements about good tolerability come from the research group itself.111

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

Bioregulator
Term from the Khavinson programme for short peptides that are meant to target a specific tissue. Not a term used in drug approval.
Cartilage
Smooth, pressure-resistant tissue on joint surfaces. It has no blood vessels and renews itself only slowly.
Connective tissue cells (fibroblasts)
Cells that make collagen and other building blocks of connective tissue. With age they divide less and break down more.
Khavinson programme
Research on peptide bioregulators that Vladimir Khavinson has built up in Russia since the 1970s. Most papers come from this group.
Lyophilisate
Freeze-dried powder. Without water a peptide keeps much longer.
MMP-9
Matrix metalloproteinase 9: an enzyme that breaks down connective tissue. Aged cells make more of it.
PepT1 and LAT1
Transporters in the cell membrane for small peptides and amino acids. Whether Cartalax uses them has only been calculated on the computer.
Preclinical
Research before first use in humans, in cell cultures and animal models. Results cannot be transferred directly to humans.
Sirtuins
Proteins involved in cell repair and metabolism that are studied a lot in ageing research.
Subcutaneous
Into the fat layer just under the skin.
Tripeptide
A chain of exactly three amino acids. For Cartalax these are alanine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid.

Evidence

Sources

Show all 11 sourcesHide sources 8 Studies1 Trial registry2 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Short peptides and aged skin connective tissue cells

    Lin'kova et al., Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2016

    DOI 10.1007/s10517-016-3370-x PMID 27259496
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  2. AED and KE in ageing skin connective tissue cells

    Fridman et al., Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2020

    DOI 10.1007/s10517-020-05022-1 PMID 33231794
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  3. Short peptides and genes of ageing bone marrow stem cells

    Ashapkin et al., Molecular Biology Reports, 2020

    DOI 10.1007/s11033-020-05506-3 PMID 32399807
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Kidney extract and short peptides in tissue culture

    Chalisova et al., Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2015

    DOI 10.1007/s10517-015-2906-9 PMID 26033601
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  5. Review of peptides and cartilage stem cells

    Linkova et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023

    DOI 10.3390/ijms24098415 PMID 37176122
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PMC (Volltext)
  6. Transport of short peptides via PepT1 and LAT1, computer model

    Khavinson et al., Biomolecules, 2023

    DOI 10.3390/biom13030552 PMID 36979488
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PMC (Volltext)
  7. Review of gene regulation by short peptides

    Khavinson et al., Molecules, 2021

    DOI 10.3390/molecules26227053 PMID 34834147
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PMC (Volltext)
  8. Review with names and amino acid sequences of the short peptides

    Khavinson et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022

    DOI 10.3390/ijms23147733 PMID 35887081
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PMC (Volltext)

Trial registry

  1. Search on ClinicalTrials.gov (no trial with the peptide)

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. Review of peptides and ageing from the Khavinson programme (PubMed record)

    Khavinson, Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 2002 (ohne DOI)

    PMID 12374906
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via PubMed
  2. Structure of Ala-Glu-Asp (Cartalax) in PubChem

    PubChem, U.S. National Library of Medicine (CID 87815447)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via PubChem

In the shop

Cartalax in the catalog

Sizes, prices and shipping times are on the product page.

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