Compounds / Cartalax
Cartalax
Also known as: AED (Ala-Glu-Asp) short peptide bioregulator; Cytogen AC-4; some suppliers list a related tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Lys (CAS 1255477-14-5) – sources conflict on the exact sequence
Primary research focus: Cartilage and connective-tissue research (Khavinson short-peptide bioregulator)
Last updated July 2026 · Reviewed against FDA labeling and published research.
What is Cartalax?
Cartalax is a short synthetic peptide bioregulator from the Khavinson family, most commonly described as the tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp (AED). It was developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and is studied preclinically for effects on cartilage and connective tissue. It is a research compound with no FDA approval and no completed Western clinical trials; note that vendor sources disagree on whether it is a tripeptide (AED) or a related tetrapeptide.
Khavinson short peptides are proposed to enter cells and the nucleus and bind specific DNA and chromatin regions, modulating tissue-specific gene expression rather than acting on cell-surface receptors. For Cartalax, the proposed effect is on chondrocyte gene programs, upregulating cartilage matrix genes (type II collagen, aggrecan) and downregulating catabolic and inflammatory pathways (such as matrix metalloproteinases). This epigenetic/DNA-binding mechanism is supported by the Khavinson group's binding studies but has limited independent replication using modern structural biology; treat it as proposed rather than established.
How it’s supplied
Not an FDA-approved or commercially manufactured medicine. It is sold as a research-grade lyophilized powder (for example, 20 mg vials) for reconstitution. Research-grade products are not FDA-reviewed for potency or sterility.
Dosage Chart
Units shown are for a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL), calculated from the vial size and BAC water you select. Always confirm against your prescription and your syringe markings.
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 2mg | 1x Daily | — |
| Weeks 3-4 | 3mg | 1x Daily | — |
| Weeks 5-8 | 4mg | 1x Daily | — |
| Weeks 9-12 | 5mg | 1x Daily | — |
- Rotate injection sites to reduce irritation and lipohypertrophy
- Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Do not exceed the recommended dose to try to speed results
Potential Benefits and Side Effects
Effects reported in published research. Not a promise of results, and not medical advice.
- Reported in preclinical (cell and animal) research within the Khavinson tradition; not established in Western clinical trials.
- Upregulation of cartilage matrix genes (type II collagen, aggrecan) in chondrocyte models.
- Reduced chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic signaling in preclinical systems.
- Proposed support of cartilage and connective-tissue maintenance during aging.
- No human adverse-effect data are available.
- The Khavinson short-peptide class is reported to have a clean safety profile in Russian use, but this is not established by Western trials for Cartalax specifically.
- Human tolerability is unknown.
Warnings and contraindications
Important safety information. This is not exhaustive — read the full prescribing information and consult your prescriber or pharmacist.
- No FDA-approved labeling exists; the following reflect the compound's status and the limits of its evidence, not established label warnings.
- There are no completed Western human clinical trials of Cartalax; its human safety profile is not established.
- The proposed DNA-binding mechanism is class-level and not independently well-replicated.
- Compound identity varies across suppliers (tripeptide versus tetrapeptide), and research-grade material varies in purity.
- Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been studied.
- Not established; no FDA-approved labeling. Precautionary considerations include known hypersensitivity to the peptide.
Reconstitution Steps
How to prepare the lyophilized vial. Confirm specifics with your pharmacist or prescriber.
- Confirm the amount of peptide in the vial and the volume of diluent you intend to use before starting.
- Wash your hands and gather supplies: the lyophilized peptide vial, the diluent (typically bacteriostatic water), an alcohol swab, and a sterile syringe.
- Let the peptide vial and diluent reach room temperature if they were refrigerated or frozen.
- Wipe the rubber stopper of both the peptide vial and the diluent vial with a fresh alcohol swab and let them air dry.
- Draw the intended diluent volume into the syringe.
- Insert the needle into the peptide vial and slowly release the diluent down the inside wall of the vial rather than directly onto the powder, to avoid foaming.
- Do not shake. Gently swirl or roll the vial until the powder is fully dissolved.
- Inspect the solution: it should be clear and colorless with no visible particles. Do not use if cloudy or containing particles.
- Note the resulting concentration (peptide amount divided by the diluent volume) so it matches the reconstitution calculator on this page.
- Label the vial with the reconstitution date and store as directed under reconstituted storage.
US regulatory status
Classifications are public record but can change. For reference only, not legal advice.
Development: Cartalax is part of the Khavinson short-peptide bioregulator program at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, which spans four decades and hundreds of largely Russian-language publications. The program's central hypothesis is that di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides regulate tissue-specific gene expression. Cartalax is the cartilage-directed member studied in preclinical chondrocyte models. Compound-specific published evidence is limited, and independent Western replication of both the mechanism and the outcomes is sparse. There is no FDA approval, no public IND, and no registered Western clinical trial.
Notes: Cartalax is not FDA-approved and has no recognized clinical use in the US. It is not on the FDA 503A bulk drug substances list and has no approval or shortage basis for compounding, so it is not eligible for 503A or 503B compounding. It is sold as a research-grade chemical; such products are not FDA-reviewed for safety, potency, or sterility. It is not a controlled substance.
International status
Pharmacokinetics
Storage and handling
Important Notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Sources genuinely disagree on Cartalax's sequence (tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp versus a related tetrapeptide); verify identity on the certificate of analysis.
- Do not confuse it with Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), a different Khavinson peptide.
- The evidence base is preclinical and largely Russian; the proposed epigenetic mechanism is class-level and not independently well-replicated.
- It is a research compound, not an FDA-approved drug, and research-grade material varies in purity.
Lifestyle Factors
- Khavinson bioregulators are typically studied in short cyclic courses (for example, several weeks) rather than continuous daily use.
- Human lifestyle interactions are unstudied for Cartalax.
References
Related compounds
Important disclaimer
This page is an educational reference, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation, and not a substitute for your prescriber or pharmacist. Approval and regulatory status varies by compound and can change. Always confirm against current prescribing information and consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decision about a medication.