Ovagen

Ovagen is a synthetic tripeptide with the sequence Glu-Asp-Leu (EDL), developed by Vladimir Kh. Khavinson and colleagues at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. The compound is sold in Russia as a biologically active food supplement (BAFS) under the Cytogen / Garmonia commercial line. IMPORTANT framing: despite frequent marketing as a hepatoprotective or gastrointestinal bioregulator, every PubMed-indexed primary research paper on EDL studies kidney endpoints, not liver. The Khavinson-group publications document EDL effects on rat renal cell culture senescence markers (p16, p21, p53, SIRT-6), MMP-14 gene expression in kidney cells, and protective effects in rat models of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, gentamicin nephropathy, and ischemia-reperfusion kidney injury. The hepatoprotection claim circulating in commercial channels rests on a single table entry in a 2021 Khavinson review (PMID 34834147) citing a 2005 monograph (Khavinson and Malinin, Karger), not a primary experimental paper. The Khavinson liver tetrapeptide work is on KEDA (Livagen), a different compound. Six PubMed-indexed primary research papers on EDL exist, all rat or in vitro studies, all from the Khavinson network. No human clinical trial, no human pharmacokinetic data, no FDA or EMA registration, no Russian pharmaceutical drug registration verified for the synthetic tripeptide.

• Acute Kidney Injury (rat models)
• Renal Cell Senescence (in vitro, rat)

Proposed renal bioregulator with rat-model nephroprotection in cisplatin, gentamicin, and ischemia-reperfusion injury

Synthetic tripeptide Glu-Asp-Leu. Biophysical evidence shows minor-groove DNA binding at the ctcc motif. In rat kidney cell culture, EDL reduces senescence markers p16, p21, and p53, increases SIRT-6, and specifically activates MMP-14 gene expression. In rat in vivo models, EDL normalizes diuresis, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, and antioxidant enzyme activity after acute renal injury. The mechanism of membrane penetration is acknowledged as unclear by the source authors. No molecular receptor target identified at structural resolution.

Peak plasma concentration: 2 min. Elimination half-life: 15 min. Largely cleared by: ~1.3 hrs.

The typical cycle length for Ovagen is Days to 2 weeks in rat AKI models. Recommended break between cycles: No published evidence-based interval.

• Livagen — Use Caution: Livagen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala) is the Khavinson tetrapeptide with the actual hepatoprotection data and the EP1325026 patent. Ovagen (Glu-Asp-Leu) is a different compound studied in renal models. They are routinely confused because of overlapping commercial framing as liver peptides. For liver bioregulation, Livagen is the studied compound.
• Pinealon — Compatible: Pinealon and Ovagen are short Khavinson bioregulators with different tissue targets (pineal vs renal). No documented interaction. Used together in Khavinson protocol frameworks.
• Cartalax — Compatible: Different tissue targets (Cartalax = cartilage; Ovagen = kidney). No documented interaction.
• Nephrotoxic medications (cisplatin, gentamicin, NSAIDs) — Monitor Combination: EDL has documented protective effects against cisplatin and gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rat models (PMIDs 26515176, 28744634). Whether this translates to clinical drug-induced renal injury protection in humans is unstudied. Do not rely on Ovagen for nephroprotection in real oncology or aminoglycoside therapy.
• Diuretics — Monitor Combination: EDL increased diuresis 1.2-1.4 fold in aged rats (PMID 30607912). Theoretical additive effect with loop or thiazide diuretics. Not studied in humans.
• Immunosuppressants — Unknown: No published interaction data. Mechanism is local epigenetic regulation of renal cell gene expression. Not characterized in transplant or autoimmune settings.
• Hepatotoxic medications — Unknown: Ovagen is commercially marketed as hepatoprotective, but no primary experimental research supports the claim. Do not use as protection against acetaminophen, statins, methotrexate, or other hepatotoxic agents.

Supplies:

• Ovagen lyophilized powder (research-grade)
• 0.9% sterile sodium chloride or bacteriostatic water
• Insulin syringes (29-31 gauge)
• Alcohol prep pads

1. 1Store lyophilized vial at 2-8°C until use
2. 2Allow vial to reach room temperature for 5-10 minutes
3. 3Add solvent slowly down the vial wall; do not shake
4. 4Gently swirl until fully dissolved (solution should be clear)
5. 5No published human dosing protocol exists; reconstitution volume is operator-dependent
6. 6Use reconstituted solution within 7-10 days; store at 2-8°C between uses

No published human pharmacokinetic data and no published human efficacy timeline.. Rat in vivo renal endpoints assessed over days to weeks of dosing.. In vitro senescence-marker shifts in renal cell culture observed within 3-7 days.. All efficacy claims are renal; no primary experimental data for liver or GI indications..

No dedicated safety, tolerability, or adverse event studies have been published for EDL in any peer-reviewed source.. Class inference: closely related Khavinson short peptides have been tested at high multiples of nominal dose in animals without observed toxicity, but this class-level inference is not formal safety data for EDL.. Contraindications, drug interactions, and special-population data are not characterized.. Commercial framing as hepatoprotective or GI bioregulator is not supported by primary experimental literature; do not rely on Ovagen for hepatic or GI risk mitigation.. Not FDA approved, not EMA approved, no verified Russian pharmaceutical drug registration..

No dedicated safety, tolerability, or adverse event studies have been published for EDL in any peer-reviewed source.. Class inference: closely related Khavinson short peptides have been tested at high multiples of nominal dose in animals without observed toxicity, but this class-level inference is not formal safety data for EDL.. Contraindications, drug interactions, and special-population data are not characterized.. Commercial framing as hepatoprotective or GI bioregulator is not supported by primary experimental literature; do not rely on Ovagen for hepatic or GI risk mitigation.. Not FDA approved, not EMA approved, no verified Russian pharmaceutical drug registration..

Ovagen should be stored at Lyophilized: 2-8°C. Reconstituted: 2-8°C, use within 7-10 days..