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Vesugen

Evidence: C

Mitochondrial / Cellular Aging

2 min readLast reviewed July 30, 2026

Evidence Snapshot

Evidence: CLimited Human Evidence
2026-07-30Last updated

What this grade covers

A for canonical sequence identity; C for selected laboratory findings; C/D for small regional human reports; E for vascular rejuvenation, erectile-dysfunction treatment, neurogenesis, anti-aging, approval, safety, or dosing.

Regulatory Context

No FDA-approved Vesugen product was identified. Available evidence is limited and the identity of commercial preparations should not be assumed from the trade name alone.

In Plain English

A quick, research-focused overview. It does not replace, and cannot outrank, the detailed evidence below.

What is it?

Vesugen is a short synthetic tripeptide, commonly identified as Lys-Glu-Asp (KED), studied mainly in vascular cell and rodent microcirculation models. One small human report exists, but its title/abstract mismatch and limited methods require cautious interpretation.

Why are researchers interested in it?

The originating literature proposes that KED can influence gene-expression and cell-aging pathways in vascular and neural models. These mechanisms remain experimental and are not established as a clinically validated receptor-based pharmacology.

What does the evidence look like?

Evidence grade C. Evidence types and limitations are separated below.

Biggest things to know

Human evidence is limited to a small report with incomplete modern trial details and a title/abstract mismatch.

Research Takeaway

Vesugen is associated with the tripeptide Lys-Glu-Asp (KED) and is distinct from Pinealon/EDR, Cartalax/AED, and Livagen/KEDA.

Evidence boundary: One-amino-acid or naming similarities among short bioregulators do not make them interchangeable.

See all 6 evidence claims →

Quick Summary

Mitochondrial / Cellular Aging

Vesugen is a short synthetic tripeptide, commonly identified as Lys-Glu-Asp (KED), studied mainly in vascular cell and rodent microcirculation models. One small human report exists, but its title/abstract mismatch and limited methods require cautious interpretation.

Mechanism & Research Overview

The originating literature proposes that KED can influence gene-expression and cell-aging pathways in vascular and neural models. These mechanisms remain experimental and are not established as a clinically validated receptor-based pharmacology.

Evidence Claims

Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.

Mechanism

Supported

Vesugen is associated with the tripeptide Lys-Glu-Asp (KED) and is distinct from Pinealon/EDR, Cartalax/AED, and Livagen/KEDA.

Does not establish

Evidence boundary: One-amino-acid or naming similarities among short bioregulators do not make them interchangeable.

Sources: Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging; Molecular aspects of vasoprotective peptide KED activity in aging

Efficacy

Supported

Experimental studies report endothelial proliferation and gene-regulatory effects of KED/Vesugen in aging-related cell models.

Does not establish

Evidence boundary: These are mechanistic/preclinical outcomes and do not establish prevention or treatment of atherosclerosis in controlled modern trials.

Sources: Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging; KED/Vesugen and Tissue-Specific Cell Differentiation

Regulatory Status

Supported

No FDA-approved drug product under Vesugen or KED was identified in the current Drugs@FDA search used for this package.

Does not establish

Evidence boundary: Marketing as a bioregulator does not establish U.S. drug approval.

Sources: Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs Database

Safety

Supported

The frozen evidence does not establish a modern controlled human safety profile for Vesugen/KED.

Does not establish

Evidence boundary: Lack of reported toxicity in limited literature is not evidence of established safety.

Sources: Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging; Molecular aspects of vasoprotective peptide KED activity in aging; Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs Database

Evidence Boundary

Supported

Mechanistic endothelial findings must not be represented as proven cardiovascular-event reduction, plaque regression, vascular rejuvenation, or anti-aging efficacy.

Does not establish

Evidence boundary: No pivotal human cardiovascular-outcomes program is represented in the frozen package.

Sources: Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging; Molecular aspects of vasoprotective peptide KED activity in aging; KED/Vesugen and Tissue-Specific Cell Differentiation

Study/Trial Dosing Context

Supported

Only named experimental exposure may appear as Preclinical Study Dosing; no consumer vascular, anti-aging, reconstitution, or injection protocol is authorized.

Does not establish

Evidence boundary: No validated human dosing regimen is established.

Sources: Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging; KED/Vesugen and Tissue-Specific Cell Differentiation

Safety & Evidence Limitations

Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.

  • Safety Consideration

    Human evidence is limited to a small report with incomplete modern trial details and a title/abstract mismatch.
  • Safety Consideration

    Most evidence is preclinical and comes from a narrow research lineage.
  • Safety Consideration

    Product identity, purity, pharmacokinetics, route-specific safety, and long-term safety are not established.
  • Safety Consideration

    Important uncertainties include: endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis; blood-pressure and vascular-tone effects; bleeding, thrombosis, or interaction with antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy; tumor angiogenesis or proliferative effects; context-dependent pro-oxidant activity; altered hematopoietic markers reported in a small combined Pinealon/Vesugen study; reproductive and sexual-function effects; unknown cardiac, renal, hepatic, neurologic, pregnancy, pediatric, and developmental effects; peptide identity, purity, aggregation, immunogenicity, sterility, endotoxin, and route-specific risks; and lack of long-term or repeated-course safety data.

Research Areas Being Studied

Research areas discussed on this page reflect the Mitochondrial / Cellular Aging category and the sources cited below.

Findings Reported in Studies

Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.

  • The efficacy of peptide bioregulators of vessels in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in older adults (2014):
  • Pinealon and Vesugen in 32 People With Polymorbidity and Organic Brain Syndrome ():
  • Pinealon and Vesugen in Professional Truck Drivers ():

Study Tables by Evidence Type

Human Studies & Clinical Data

TitleYearPopulation / ModelDose / Duration / FindingSafety NotesSource
The efficacy of peptide bioregulators of vessels in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in older adults201441 patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction associated with atherosclerosis

The report described improved clinical and instrumental measures of penile arterial blood flow after Vezugen monotherapy. The English title and abstract describe different clinical framing, so the record requires manual source-language review.

Small uncontrolled or incompletely described clinical report; adverse-event reporting and methodology are insufficient for broad conclusions.
Pinealon and Vesugen in 32 People With Polymorbidity and Organic Brain Syndrome

A 32-person study of Pinealon and Vesugen in participants with polymorbidity and organic brain syndrome reported changes in biological-age indicators, but also reported pro-oxidant activity and reduced circulating CD34-positive hematopoietic markers. The small sample, mixed compounds, unclear control methods, surrogate endpoints, and concerning laboratory signals prevent anti-aging, geroprotective, or safety claims, and prevent attribution to either compound alone.

Pinealon and Vesugen in Professional Truck Drivers

A study of professional truck drivers and metal-worker controls reported the best psychoadaptive effect with combined Pinealon and Vesugen. Combination exposure, occupational confounding, unclear treatment allocation, and subjective endpoints prevent attribution of this result to either compound alone.

Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data

TitleYearPopulation / ModelDose / Duration / FindingSafety NotesSource
Short Peptides Protect Fibroblast-Derived Induced Neurons from Age-Related Changes2024Human fibroblast-derived induced neurons in vitro

EDR and related short peptides partially protected induced neurons from age-associated cellular changes and influenced dendritic measures.

Induced-neuron findings are preclinical and do not establish cognitive benefit in humans.
Effects of vascular peptide bioregulator on cerebral microcirculation in old hypertensive rats2017Old spontaneously hypertensive rats

The report described changes in pial microvascular density and oxygenation after exposure to a vascular peptide bioregulator.

Animal model; the abstract does not independently establish equivalence to every commercial Vesugen preparation.
Functional cumulation of influence of vascular peptide bioregulator on brain microcirculation2017Spontaneously hypertensive rats of different ages

Repeated-course effects on cerebral microcirculation were reported in rats.

Animal study from a narrow research lineage; independent replication was not verified.
Effects of vascular peptide bioregulator on the density of pial microvascular network in aged rats2016Aged rats

The vascular peptide bioregulator was associated with increased pial microvascular density in aged rats.

Animal model; product identity and translational relevance require confirmation.
The effect of vascular peptide bioregulator on cerebral microcirculation in rats of different ages2016Rats of different ages

The study reported age-dependent microcirculatory changes after a course of vascular peptide bioregulator.

Animal study; clinical implications are unknown.
Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging2014Aging tissue-specific cell cultures

Vesugen/KED influenced Ki-67-related endothelial-cell proliferation in aging cell models and was modeled interacting with promoter DNA. This is mechanistic evidence, not controlled clinical cardiovascular evidence.

In vitro finding; does not establish clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics, or safety.
EDR and KED Effects on Serotonin Expression in Brain-Cortex Cells

An in-vitro study reported effects of EDR and KED on serotonin expression in brain-cortex cells. This cell finding does not establish human neurogenesis, cognitive benefit, or a validated clinical mechanism, and cannot be assigned to KED/Vesugen alone.

KED and AEDG in Aging Human Oral Stem Cells

An in-vitro stem-cell study reported effects of KED and AEDG on aging human oral stem cells. This cell finding does not establish human anti-aging benefit or clinical tissue specificity.

KED and Short Peptides in Neuronal Differentiation and Cell Senescence

A 2025 in-vitro study reported effects of KED and other short peptides on neuronal differentiation and cell senescence. This cell finding does not establish human neurogenesis, anti-aging, or clinical benefit.

KED/Vesugen and Tissue-Specific Cell Differentiation

A laboratory study reported effects of KED/Vesugen on tissue-specific cell differentiation markers. This cell finding does not establish vascular rejuvenation, reversal of atherosclerosis, or clinical benefit.

Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries

TitleYearPopulation / ModelDose / Duration / FindingSafety NotesSource
Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs Database2026

Current Drugs@FDA name searches performed for this frozen package did not identify approved drug products under the names AHK-Cu, FOXO4-DRI, Pinealon, or Mechano Growth Factor. A negative name search does not exclude differently named products but establishes that no approval was identified under these research names.

FDA 503A Bulk Drug Substances Categories, Updated May 14, 20262026

Cardiogen, Cortagen, Pinealon, and Vesugen were not identified in FDA's current 503A nominated bulk-drug-substance category document, updated May 14, 2026. Absence from that document is not approval, a safety determination, or authorization to compound.

ClinicalTrials.gov Search Portal

No modern registered interventional development program for Cardiogen, Cortagen, Pinealon, or Vesugen was identified in the reviewed ClinicalTrials.gov searches.

Review Articles / Secondary Sources

TitleYearPopulation / ModelDose / Duration / FindingSafety NotesSource
Transport of Biologically Active Ultrashort Peptides Using POT and LAT Transporters2022Review and transport experiments involving ultrashort peptides

The paper’s tables identify Crystagen as EDP (Glu-Asp-Pro) and discuss transport of ultrashort peptides.

Useful for identity context, not proof of clinical immune effects.
Peptide KED: molecular-genetic aspects of neurogenesis regulation in Alzheimer disease models2021Review of KED peptide and experimental neurogenesis models

The article summarizes KED (Lys-Glu-Asp) research involving neuronal differentiation and Alzheimer disease-related models.

Secondary source; mechanistic and disease claims require confirmation in the underlying primary studies.
Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review2021

The review identifies AED as Cartalax and summarizes short-peptide gene-regulatory work. The literature is predominantly mechanistic/preclinical and cannot establish clinical disease-modifying efficacy.

PMCID: PMC8619776. STRUCTURAL BLOCKER: frozen scope also includes Cartalax/AED, Vilon/Lys-Glu, and Livagen/KEDA, none of which have a Peptide document yet; schema's peptideNameFallback field is a single string and cannot hold more than one missing-subject name, so only the one already-existing subject (Vesugen) is linked here. See Stage 2 report.

Molecular aspects of vasoprotective peptide KED activity in aging2016

The publication describes KED (Lys-Glu-Asp) as a short vasoregulatory peptide and summarizes proposed endothelial mechanisms. It does not provide modern pivotal cardiovascular-outcomes evidence.

Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice

Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice

Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.

Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician

Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.

complete blood countliver and kidney functionblood pressure and cardiovascular assessment

FAQ

Vesugen is a trade name commonly associated with the tripeptide Lys-Glu-Asp, abbreviated KED.

Disclaimer

Educational information only. This page summarizes published and official research and does not provide medical advice, a recommendation, or instructions for human use.

Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.

Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.

Content status: Published. Last updated 2026-07-30.

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