Last updated 18 September 2026 · SARMs Store editorial team. Products on this site are supplied strictly for laboratory research and are not for human consumption. This guide summarises published research; it is not medical advice and contains no instructions for use. 18+ only.
Epithalon at a glance
| Class | Tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, synthetic version of the pineal extract epithalamin |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Vladimir Khavinson, St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, 1990s |
| Highest evidence | Cell culture telomerase data; small, non-blinded Russian elderly cohorts; no Western controlled trial |
| Studied for | Telomerase activation in cells, melatonin rhythm, ageing markers in rodents and elderly cohorts |
| Format | Lyophilised vial (10mg) |
| Storage | 2 to 8°C unopened, frozen long term, away from light |
| UK status 2026 | Research chemical; not a licensed medicine; not named on the WADA list |
What Epithalon is
Epithalon, also spelled epitalon, is a four-amino-acid peptide (alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine) designed by Vladimir Khavinson's group in St Petersburg as a synthetic stand-in for epithalamin, an extract of the pineal gland. Almost the entire literature comes from that institute. It is sold in the research market as a longevity peptide on the strength of a telomerase finding in cultured cells.
What the research found
Cell culture. Khavinson and colleagues reported in 2003 that Epithalon induced telomerase activity and lengthened telomeres in cultured human fibroblasts. This single finding is the origin of the anti-ageing claim. It has been cited widely and replicated rarely outside the originating group.
Animal studies. Rodent work from the same group reported effects on melatonin secretion, tumour incidence in some strains and lifespan in fruit flies and mice, with mixed results between studies.
Human cohorts. Khavinson's institute published follow-ups of elderly patients given epithalamin or Epithalon over several years, reporting lower mortality and improved cardiovascular and endocrine markers. These were not blinded or placebo-controlled in the modern sense, and no independent group has run a controlled trial.
What is missing. Any controlled human trial outside the originating institute. A buyer should treat the telomerase claim as a cell-culture observation, not a demonstrated effect in people.
Stability, storage and handling
Supplied lyophilised in a sealed vial. Keep unopened vials at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius or frozen for long storage, away from light. Reconstituted solutions degrade over days to weeks. The certificate should show HPLC purity and mass spectrometry identity.
Legal status in the UK, 2026
Not a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Not a licensed medicine in the UK or EU, so it cannot be sold or advertised for human use; supplied strictly for laboratory research. Not named on the WADA Prohibited List.
What to check before buying
Milligrams per vial, HPLC purity, mass spectrometry identity, a batch number matching the certificate, and cold-chain shipping. Every Origin Peptides batch is independently tested and its certificate of analysis is published on the product page and the Lab Testing page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Epithalon lengthen telomeres?
In cultured cells in one 2003 study from the originating group. No controlled human data.
Who developed Epithalon?
Vladimir Khavinson's institute in St Petersburg, which has produced nearly all of the literature.
Is it the same as epithalamin?
Epithalamin is the pineal extract; Epithalon is the synthetic tetrapeptide designed to mimic it.
Is Epithalon legal in the UK?
Legal to buy and possess as a research compound; not lawful to sell or advertise for human consumption.
Key references
Khavinson VK, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2003;135(6):590-592. Khavinson VK, Morozov VG. Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2003;24(3-4):233-240. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK. Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects. Biogerontology. 2010;11(2):139-149.
Related guides
- NAD+ research guide
- SARMs vs peptides: what the research compares
- How to read a certificate of analysis
- SARMs 101 hub
Research products: Origin Peptides Epithalon 10mg · NAD+ 500mg · Full Origin Peptides range · Lab Testing