Vesugen

Vesugen (also spelled Vezugen in some Khavinson-group publications) is a synthetic tripeptide with the sequence Lys-Glu-Asp (KED), developed by Vladimir Kh. Khavinson and colleagues at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. It is proposed as a vascular bioregulator and is marketed in Russia as a biologically active food supplement (BAFS), not as a registered pharmaceutical drug. The published evidence base consists of approximately 15 PubMed-indexed papers, predominantly in vitro cell culture and rodent work, with two small uncontrolled human observational studies in elderly populations (vasculogenic erectile dysfunction, n=41, PMID 25051774; biological aging markers, n=32, PMID 26390612). Proposed mechanisms include normalization of endothelin-1 in cultured vascular cells, restoration of connexin gap-junction expression, upregulation of SIRT1, epigenetic activation of the MKI67 (Ki-67) promoter in aged endothelium, and reduction of E-selectin on vascular endothelium. A 2021 mouse Alzheimer-disease study (PMID 34071923, Pharmaceuticals) reported preservation of mushroom-type dendritic spines at 400 mcg/kg IP daily for 2 months; that paper received a published correction in January 2025 (PMID 39861198) and findings should be cited with that notice. Almost all data originates from the Khavinson research network. No independent Western randomized controlled trial has been published. No pharmacokinetic study has been published.

• Vascular Endothelial Aging
• Atherosclerosis Models
• Stem Cell Senescence

Vascular endothelial bioregulator with proposed Ki-67 / SIRT1 / connexin effects in cultured cells and animal models

Synthetic tripeptide Lys-Glu-Asp. Proposed mechanism is epigenetic regulation at the chromatin level: molecular docking shows interaction with the MKI67 (Ki-67) gene promoter in aged endothelial cells, normalization of endothelin-1 in atherosclerosis models, upregulation of SIRT1, reduction of E-selectin, and decrease of senescence markers p16 and p21 in stem cell systems. No receptor target has been identified at molecular resolution. No human pharmacokinetic data has been published.

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

Research protocols from published literature — not dosing recommendations.

• Epitalon — Synergistic: Both are Khavinson-developed bioregulators targeting different tissue axes (Epitalon = pineal/telomerase; Vesugen = vascular). Co-administration is part of the Khavinson gerontology protocol framework, though no peer-reviewed interaction study has been published.
• Pinealon — Compatible: Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg) and Vesugen are commonly stacked in Khavinson short-peptide protocols targeting neurovascular aging. The 2015 elderly polymorbidity observational study (PMID 26390612) used Vesugen and Pinealon together but reported Vesugen as the stronger anti-aging signal.
• Cartalax — Compatible: Different tissue targets (Cartalax = cartilage/connective tissue; Vesugen = vascular endothelium). Both are short Khavinson bioregulators with overlapping epigenetic mechanisms but no documented interaction.
• Cardiogen — Compatible: Both target cardiovascular tissues via different mechanisms (Cardiogen acts on cardiomyocyte apoptosis; Vesugen acts on endothelial proliferation). No published interaction data, theoretically complementary.
• Antihypertensives and vasodilators — Monitor Combination: Vesugen modulates endothelin-1 and vascular tone markers in vitro. Theoretical interaction with calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and PDE5 inhibitors has not been studied. Patients on antihypertensive therapy should consult a physician before use.
• Anticoagulants — Monitor Combination: No published interaction data with warfarin, DOACs, or antiplatelet drugs. The vascular endothelial mechanism is theoretically downstream of coagulation, but interaction has not been formally studied.
• Immunosuppressants — Unknown: No published data. Mechanism is local epigenetic regulation of vascular endothelial genes, not systemic immunomodulation, so interaction is theoretically minimal but not characterized.
• Vilon (KE) — Use Caution: Vilon (Lys-Glu) is a Khavinson dipeptide that shares two of the three amino acids in Vesugen and overlapping epigenetic effects. Co-administration is redundant rather than complementary based on the published mechanistic overlap.

Supplies:

• Vesugen lyophilized powder
• 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. 5Reconstitution volume is operator-dependent because no human dose has been published; common community practice is 1-2 mL per 10 mg vial
6. 6Use reconstituted solution within 7-10 days; store at 2-8°C between uses

No published human pharmacokinetic data and no published efficacy timeline.. Animal endpoints in the 2021 Alzheimer mouse model were assessed after 2 months of daily IP dosing.. In vitro mechanistic effects (Ki-67, p21, FOXO1, GAP43) occur within 3-7 days of medium exposure.. Biological aging marker shifts in the 32-patient observational study were assessed after a single Khavinson protocol course..

No structured Phase I safety study has been published. The two small Russian clinical studies (n=41 ED, PMID 25051774; n=32 polymorbidity, PMID 26390612) reported no adverse events but did not use formal AE reporting protocols, so absence of reported events is not evidence of safety.. Contraindications and drug interactions have not been formally studied. Treat the antihypertensive, anticoagulant, and PDE5-inhibitor monitor-combination interactions on this page as directional logic, not validated data.. Pregnancy, lactation, renal or hepatic impairment, and pediatric use have not been studied; default to non-use in these populations.. The 2021 Pharmaceuticals mouse paper (PMID 34071923) has a published correction (PMID 39861198, January 2025); the corrected content is not specified in the public correction abstract, which means the mouse Alzheimer findings should be cited with the correction notice.. Sold in Russia as a BAFS dietary supplement, not as a registered pharmaceutical. Not FDA approved, no EMA marketing authorization, no ClinicalTrials.gov-registered studies..

No structured Phase I safety study has been published. The two small Russian clinical studies (n=41 ED, PMID 25051774; n=32 polymorbidity, PMID 26390612) reported no adverse events but did not use formal AE reporting protocols, so absence of reported events is not evidence of safety.. Contraindications and drug interactions have not been formally studied. Treat the antihypertensive, anticoagulant, and PDE5-inhibitor monitor-combination interactions on this page as directional logic, not validated data.. Pregnancy, lactation, renal or hepatic impairment, and pediatric use have not been studied; default to non-use in these populations.. The 2021 Pharmaceuticals mouse paper (PMID 34071923) has a published correction (PMID 39861198, January 2025); the corrected content is not specified in the public correction abstract, which means the mouse Alzheimer findings should be cited with the correction notice.. Sold in Russia as a BAFS dietary supplement, not as a registered pharmaceutical. Not FDA approved, no EMA marketing authorization, no ClinicalTrials.gov-registered studies..

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