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The Peptide Effect
preclinicalCognitive Enhancement

Cortagen

Also known as: AEDP, Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro, Cortagen bioregulator, Khavinson cortex peptide

Cortagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) from the Khavinson peptide family, designed to target the cerebral cortex. Developed at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, Cortagen is proposed to normalize gene expression in cortical neurons, enhance neurotransmitter synthesis, and improve neuronal resilience under stress. It sits within the broader Russian bioregulatory medicine tradition alongside compounds like Pinealon (pineal gland), Epithalon (telomerase/pineal), and Thymalin (thymus). Western research on Cortagen specifically remains very limited, and the compound should be considered highly experimental.

Key Facts

Mechanism
Cortagen follows the Khavinson bioregulator model in which short peptides (2–4 amino acids) are theorized to penetrate cell nuclei and interact with complementary DNA sequences in gene regulatory regions, modulating transcription in a tissue-specific manner. Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) is proposed to target neurons in the cerebral cortex, where it may: (1) normalize gene expression patterns disrupted by aging, stress, or neurodegeneration, (2) enhance synthesis of key neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, dopamine, and glutamate, (3) upregulate neuroprotective proteins such as Bcl-2 while downregulating pro-apoptotic factors like caspase-3, and (4) improve neuronal survival under conditions of oxidative stress, hypoxia, and excitotoxicity. The proposed mechanism of sequence-specific DNA binding by a tetrapeptide remains controversial and has not been independently validated by Western molecular biology laboratories.
Research Status
preclinical
Half-Life
Very short (minutes — typical of small peptides; effects attributed to lasting gene expression changes)
Molecular Formula
C₁₅H₂₃N₃O₈
Primary Use
Cognitive Enhancement
Table of Contents

Benefits

  • Neuroprotective effects in cortical neuron cultures — reduced cell death under oxidative stress and hypoxic conditionspreliminary
  • May improve cognitive function under chronic stress by normalizing cortical gene expression patternspreliminary
  • Potential benefit for age-related cognitive decline — proposed mechanism of restoring youthful gene expression in aging cortexpreliminary
  • Supports neuronal resilience and survival under excitotoxic and ischemic conditions in cell modelspreliminary
  • Enhanced mental clarity and focus reported anecdotally by users, particularly during demanding cognitive tasksanecdotal

Dosage Protocols

RouteDosage RangeFrequencyNotes
Oral / sublingual10–20 mgOnce daily, typically in the morningStandard Khavinson bioregulator protocol. Morning dosing is preferred for cortex-targeting compounds to align with peak cognitive demand. Sublingual may improve absorption.
Intranasal spray100–300 mcgOnce daily in the morningIntranasal route may provide more direct CNS access. Some suppliers offer pre-made nasal spray formulations. Dosing is not clinically standardized.
Oral / sublingual (cycling protocol)10–20 mgDaily for 10–30 day cycles, 2–4 cycles per yearTraditional Khavinson cycling approach. Effects are proposed to persist for months after each course through lasting gene expression changes. Continuous use not typically recommended.

Medical disclaimer

Dosage information is provided for educational reference only. Always follow your prescriber's instructions and consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide protocol.

Side Effects

  • Generally well tolerated in available literature — no significant adverse effects reported in published preclinical studiesrare
  • Mild headache — occasionally reported during initial dosing periodcommon
  • Subtle mood changes — some users report increased emotional sensitivity or vivid dreams during cyclingrare
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort — mild nausea reported by some users with oral administrationrare
  • Extremely limited safety data — no controlled human trials; long-term effects of modulating cortical gene expression are entirely unknownserious

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Cortagen fit into the Khavinson bioregulator family?
The Khavinson bioregulator family consists of ultra-short peptides (2–4 amino acids each) developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson, where each peptide targets a specific organ or tissue system. Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) targets the cerebral cortex. Its siblings include Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg) for the pineal gland, Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) for telomerase activation and pineal function, Thymalin for the thymus, Prostamax for the prostate, and Cardiogen for the heart. The theoretical framework proposes that each peptide's specific amino acid sequence allows it to interact with complementary DNA sequences in the target tissue, selectively modulating gene expression.
How does Cortagen compare to other nootropic peptides like Semax or Selank?
Cortagen, Semax, and Selank are all nootropic peptides from Russian research, but they work through fundamentally different mechanisms. Semax is an ACTH(4-10) analog that enhances BDNF expression, dopaminergic transmission, and neuroprotection. Selank is a tuftsin analog that modulates serotonin, enkephalins, and immune function for anxiolytic-nootropic effects. Cortagen is a bioregulator proposed to directly modulate gene expression in cortical neurons. Semax and Selank have significantly more published research, including clinical studies and approved medication status in Russia. Cortagen has considerably less data and should be considered more experimental even within the Russian peptide research landscape.
What is the quality of evidence for Cortagen?
The evidence for Cortagen is very limited by Western scientific standards. Published research consists primarily of in vitro studies (cell cultures) and some animal models, overwhelmingly from Khavinson's institute and collaborating Russian laboratories. There are no randomized controlled human trials, no independent replication by Western labs, and the proposed mechanism of action (tetrapeptide-DNA binding) has not been validated using modern molecular biology techniques like chromatin immunoprecipitation or CRISPR-based approaches. Users should understand that Cortagen is a highly experimental compound with theoretical promise but minimal proven clinical efficacy.
What cycling protocol is recommended for Cortagen?
Following the standard Khavinson bioregulator approach, Cortagen is typically used in defined courses of 10–30 days, repeated 2–4 times per year. A common protocol is 10–20 mg daily for 20 days, followed by 3–4 months off. Some practitioners stack Cortagen with complementary bioregulators — for example, combining a Cortagen cycle (cortex) with Pinealon (pineal gland) for comprehensive CNS support, or sequencing Cortagen followed by Epithalon for combined cognitive and anti-aging benefits. These stacking protocols are based on practitioner experience rather than clinical trial data.
Where can I find quality Cortagen and how do I verify purity?
Cortagen is available from research peptide suppliers, typically sold as a lyophilized powder, capsules, or sublingual tablets. Because there is no pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing standard or regulatory oversight, quality varies enormously between suppliers. Look for vendors that provide third-party certificates of analysis (CoA) with HPLC purity testing (>98%) and mass spectrometry confirmation of molecular identity. Be especially cautious of suppliers that do not offer batch-specific testing. Some Russian pharmacies carry bioregulator products (under the Cytogens brand), but importing pharmaceuticals across borders involves legal considerations that vary by jurisdiction.

References

  1. 1
    Peptide regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis in bronchial epithelium(2010)PubMed ↗
  2. 2
    Neuroprotective properties of short peptides in the cerebral cortex cell culture model(2007)PubMed ↗
  3. 3
    Short peptides stimulate cell regeneration and regulate gene expression(2012)PubMed ↗
  4. 4
    Peptide bioregulators: a new class of geroprotectors (review)(2018)PubMed ↗

Last updated: 2026-02-14