What is Testagen?
Testagen 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, Testagen is aimed at the testes and male reproduction.
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.
The assignment to a tissue comes from the Khavinson group itself. It has not been confirmed independently. 8
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 Testagen a supportive effect on the testes and male reproduction is described.
How well this concept transfers to humans is little established outside the originating research.
Where it acts
Where KEDG acted in experiments
Tap a point or a card. All from animal studies or the developers' assignment, there is no confirmed receptor.
- Pituitary
Origin: derived from the composition of anterior lobe peptides, in chickens without a pituitary TSH and thyroid hormones rose4
Observed in trials - Thymus
Thymus structure recovered in chickens without a pituitary, regardless of age5
Observed in trials - Testes
Only the developer group's assignment, no published study8
Observed in trials
Known targets7
Compound KEDG (Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly): two described targets, all Possible route into the cell, only modelled on the computer (docking).
- Gene
- SLC7A5
- UniProt
- Q01650
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL4459
- Action
- Possible route into the cell, only modelled on the computer (docking)
- Gene
- SLC15A1
- UniProt
- P46059
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL4605
- Action
- Possible route into the cell, only modelled on the computer (docking)
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.
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Testagen vial
The vial (lyophilized powder, usually 20mg).
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Water and supplies
Bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs.
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.
- 1Wipe the cap
Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.
- 2Add BAC water
Just add it, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly.
- 3Swirl or shake
Until everything has dissolved, both are fine.
- 4Draw up
With the U-100 insulin syringe.
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.
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.
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Clean the spot with an alcohol swab and let it dry
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Pinch up a small fold of skin
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Insert the needle: at 90 degrees where there is more fat under the skin, at 45 degrees in lean people with little fat
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Inject slowly, wait a moment, then withdraw
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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.
Research status
Where the research stands
Where the compound stands on the way from lab research to approval. As of 26 Oct 2026. 10
- Preclinical Chickens without a pituitary, cell assays, computer models
- Phase 1 no registered trial
- Phase 2 no registered trial
- Phase 3 no registered trial
- Approval not yet
So far there is no registered trial in humans. 10
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
Robust, no fridge needed.
At least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency. The bacteriostatic water brings a preservative.
- Keep it dark
- Dissolved: 2 to 8 degrees
- Note the mixing date on the vial
