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No. 039 · Longevity & Immune · Longevity Peptide

Cortagen

AEDPAla-Glu-Asp-Pro

C Tier C · Animal data how tiers work →
  • Not FDA approved
  • WADA ✗ S0
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4 residues C17H26N4O9
O O H O O O H O O O H O N N H N H N 2 H

2D structure from PubChem CID 18439621 (Cortagen), matched by molecular formula. Hydrogens on carbon are implied.

Cortagen sequence fingerprint
  • Nonpolar 2
  • Negative charge 2

Each dot is a residue placed around the ring from N- to C-terminus; its distance from the centre reflects its chemistry.

01

Quick answers

What is Cortagen?
A short bioregulatory peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) from the Khavinson school that targets CNS gene expression.
How strong is the evidence for Cortagen?
Tier C (animal data) on the peptidemeta evidence scale. Published evidence is limited to rat and cell studies, mostly from Russian bioregulator research groups. No human clinical trials were found.
Is Cortagen FDA-approved?
No. Cortagen is not approved by the FDA for any use.
Is Cortagen banned in sport?
Yes. Cortagen is prohibited in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency under S0 (non-approved substances).
How does Cortagen work?
Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) is a bioregulatory tetrapeptide proposed to enter cells and interact with DNA promoter regions to modulate gene expression in cortical neurons. It is reported to upregulate neuroprotective genes and antioxidant defenses in brain tissue, though precise receptor-level mechanisms remain under investigation.
What is known about the safety of Cortagen?
Limited safety data outside Khavinson group publications. Reported to be well-tolerated in short cycles.

Last reviewed · editorial policy · markdown

02

Evidence

  1. D In vitro
  2. C Animal
  3. B Human pilot
  4. A RCT
  5. S Approved

TIER C — Evidence comes mostly from animal studies.

Published evidence is limited to rat and cell studies, mostly from Russian bioregulator research groups. No human clinical trials were found.

Tiers rate the strength of published evidence — not effectiveness, safety, or a recommendation.

03

At a glance

Residues
4 amino acids, N→C
Molecular weight
430.4 Da
Formula
C17H26N4O9
Routes studied
Subcutaneous, Intramuscular Routes used in published research
FDA
Not approved
WADA
Prohibited · S0 Non-approved substances
04

Sequence

N → C · 4 residues · hover, tap, or use arrow keys to inspect

05

Overview

A short bioregulatory peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) from the Khavinson school that targets CNS gene expression. It is used in anti-aging protocols to support brain function during senescence.

Research status Published cell culture and animal studies; used clinically in Russian bioregulator protocols

06

Mechanism

Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) is a bioregulatory tetrapeptide proposed to enter cells and interact with DNA promoter regions to modulate gene expression in cortical neurons. It is reported to upregulate neuroprotective genes and antioxidant defenses in brain tissue, though precise receptor-level mechanisms remain under investigation.

07

Effects reported in research

Reported outcomes, not promises. These come mostly from preclinical (cell or animal) research and have not been confirmed in human trials.

  • CNS gene expression regulation
  • Supported cortical neuron viability
  • Neuroprotective during aging
  • Improved cognitive resilience
08

Safety & unknowns

Limited safety data outside Khavinson group publications. Reported to be well-tolerated in short cycles. No independent Western clinical trials. Not FDA-approved. Used primarily within Russian bioregulator medicine protocols.

Unknowns. No randomized controlled trials in humans have been published, so human safety has not been established in controlled studies.

Informational only — not medical advice. peptidemeta publishes no dosing, protocols, or sourcing. Talk to a qualified clinician about any treatment decision.

09

Studies [1]

  1. Preclinical 2011

    [Cortexin and cortagen as correcting agents in functional and metabolic disorders in the brain in chronic ischemia]

    Zarubina IV, Shabanov PD. Eksperimental'naia i Klinicheskaia Farmakologiia

    Rat study (in Russian) reporting that cortexin and cortagen sped behavioral recovery and limited lipid peroxidation in the brain after chronic ischemia.

    [pubmed]

11

Status sources

Sources behind the tier, regulatory status, sequence and dates on this page.

12

Cite this entry

$ cite --format=apa

peptidemeta. (2026). Cortagen. In peptidemeta: The peptide library, ranked by evidence. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://peptidemeta.com/p/cortagen/

$ cite --format=bibtex 
@misc{peptidemeta-cortagen,
  title = {Cortagen},
  author = {{peptidemeta}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://peptidemeta.com/p/cortagen/}},
  note = {Accessed 2026-11-08}
}

Accessed date reflects when you opened this page. Cite primary studies for scientific claims.

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