Description
Vesugen
- A Khavinson-class short-peptide bioregulator with the sequence Lys-Glu-Asp (KED), originally derived from analysis of vascular tissue extracts. American Peptides
- Developed at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, Russia, as part of Vladimir Khavinson’s peptide bioregulator research program. Cenexa Labs
- Mechanism: proposed to penetrate cell nuclei and interact with DNA and histone proteins, influencing gene expression rather than acting via a classic membrane receptor. It’s mechanistically unusual for a small peptide in that it appears to interact directly with DNA promoter sequences rather than membrane proteins. Specific proposed targets include MKI67 gene promoter binding, SIRT1 activation, endothelin-1 normalization, VEGF restoration, and nitric oxide upregulation. Exploring Peptides + 2
- Proposed effects: normalizing endothelial synthesis of proteins important for vascular function and stimulating Ki-67 (a cell-proliferation marker), theorized to support blood vessel repair and blood flow. Primary research areas are vascular aging, endothelial function, epigenetic gene regulation, neuroprotection, and geroprotection. Exploring PeptidesCenexa Labs
Regulatory/evidence status: Human clinical data are extremely limited — small Russian studies without placebo controls — and preclinical (animal/cell) studies predominate, with no identified Western replication studies. Vesugen has no regulatory approval for human therapeutic use anywhere and is sold strictly as a research-use compound.
