Epithalon vs Ovagen

Molecular formula

C₁₄H₂₂N₄O₉

Molecular weight

390.35 g/mol

Half-life

2-4 hours (estimated)

Bioavailability

High when injected subcutaneously

CAS number

307297-39-8

Molecular formula

C₁₅H₂₅N₃O₈

Molecular weight

375.4 g/mol

Half-life

Short plasma half-life typical of tripeptides; biological effects persist for weeks through epigenetic modifications to hepatic gene expression; metabolized to constituent amino acids (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucine)

Bioavailability

Effective via oral capsule (10 mg twice daily), sublingual liquid (0.1 mg/mL), and subcutaneous injection routes; penetrates cell membranes and nuclear membranes as a cell-penetrating peptide; tissue-specific activity demonstrated in organotypic hepatic cultures at 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁹ M

CAS number

Not assigned (proprietary Khavinson peptide)

Common

• Injection site redness
• Mild headache
• Temporary fatigue

Uncommon

• Vivid dreams
• Sleep pattern changes

Serious

• Allergic reaction

Common

• Mild digestive discomfort
• Mild fatigue
• Mild headache
• Minor appetite changes

Uncommon

• Mild nausea

Serious

• No documented serious adverse effects

Evidence level

Limited human trials

FDA status

Research compound

Safety overview

Two different substances share this page's name, and almost all of the human data belongs to the older one. Epithalamin is an extract of the pineal gland. Epitalon (also written Epithalon, sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is the synthetic four-amino-acid peptide later identified within it [4]. The long-term human studies people cite for this compound used **Epithalamin, the extract** — not the synthetic peptide. Those studies report the outcomes plainly. In 266 elderly people followed 6-8 years, mortality in the Epithalamin group fell 1.6-1.8-fold against control [6]. In a separate 12-year randomised study in elderly patients with coronary disease, deaths in the epithalamine group were 28% lower than control on the same basic therapy, and cardiovascular mortality was 2-fold lower [8]. For the synthetic peptide itself, a 2025 peer-reviewed review identifies only two human uses: 5.0 micrograms per eye injected parabulbarly for 10 consecutive days in retinitis pigmentosa, and 0.5 mg per day sublingually for 20 days in a circadian rhythm study [3]. That same review states that before Epitalon could be approved as a new active ingredient, further studies of short- and long-term toxicity are essential, including genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential and food-drug interactions [3]. Reported side effects across this literature are limited to mild injection site reactions. Nearly all of it comes from one research group in Russia [3][6].

Contraindications

• Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant
• Currently breastfeeding
• Active cancer or history of cancer
• Known allergy to peptide components
• Children and adolescents

Evidence level

Limited human trials

FDA status

Research compound

Safety overview

Ovagen demonstrates favorable safety in reproductive endocrinology applications with no serious adverse events reported in clinical ovulation induction studies. As a kisspeptin analog, primary safety consideration is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) risk, requiring careful hormone monitoring and patient education on abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea symptoms. Mild headaches and injection site reactions occur in <10% of users. Reproductive safety in animal models shows normal fetal development with no teratogenicity.

Contraindications

• Known hypersensitivity to peptide bioregulators or constituent amino acids (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, leucine)
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding — insufficient reproductive safety data
• Severe glutamic acid metabolism disorders (extremely rare)
• Active autoimmune hepatitis in flare without physician supervision