Side-by-side · Research reference

CartalaxvsVilon

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

AAnimal-MechanisticHUMAN-REVIEWED10/32 cited

BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED13/49 cited

Cartalax

Bioregulator Peptide · Khavinson School

CartilagePrimary tissuePovorozniuk 2007

MSC → ChondrocyteDifferentiation axisLinkova 2023

BMD ↑Bone density effectPovorozniuk 2007

SQ · Protocol Unspecified

Vilon

Khavinson Bioregulator · Dipeptide

2 AADipeptide

T-helperStimulatesLinkova 2011

MouseModel basisKhavinson 2002

Literature lacks standardised clinical route

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

Cartalax

Vilon

Primary target

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) undergoing chondrogenic differentiationLinkova 2023

Immune cell differentiation pathways, chromatin modification

Pathway

Modulation of WNT, ERK-p38, and Smad 1/5/8 signaling pathwaysLinkova 2023

Vilon → Thymocyte sphingomyelinase activation → T-helper & cytotoxic T-cell differentiation; epigenetic suppression of aging markers (CCL11, HMGB1)

Downstream effect

Upregulation of chondrogenic genes (COL2, SOX9, ACAN); increased bone mineral density; osteoprotective effects in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosisLinkova 2023 Povorozniuk 2007

Enhanced T-cell differentiation (CD4+, CD8+, B-cells), thymocyte proliferation, modulated IL-1β comitogenic activity, proposed chromatin decondensation in aged lymphocytesLinkova 2011 Khavinson 2002 Lezhava 2023

Feedback intact?

—

Unknown — no HPA/HPG axis data

Origin

Derived from cartilaginous tissue extracts (Khavinson bioregulator methodology)Povorozniuk 2007

Synthetic dipeptide derived from Khavinson thymic peptide extraction studies (Thymalin fraction)Morozov 1997

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

Cartalax

Vilon

Animal model dose

Unspecified (cartilaginous tissue extract protocol)

Rat study; extract preparation details not indexed in available abstracts.

In vitro: 0.01–10 μg/mL culture medium (mouse thymocytes)

Not translatable to human mg/kg without pharmacokinetic data.

Human dosing

Not established in PubMed-indexed literature

Russian-tradition protocols exist but lack peer-reviewed Western validation.

—

Evidence basis

Animal mechanistic studies only

Mouse / in vitro only

Standard dose

—

No clinical standard — literature lacks human dosing

Russian practice: often combined with other Khavinson peptides; no FDA/EMA trials.

Frequency

—

Unknown — literature does not specify chronic administration protocols

Duration

—

Not characterised in humans

Route

—

Likely SQ or oral (Khavinson school uses both); no published ROA validation

Half-life

—

Not published — dipeptides typically <10 min plasma t½

03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence

Parameter

Cartalax

Vilon

Fat loss evidence

None — primary target is cartilage and bone tissue, not adipose

—

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

Cartalax

Vilon

Documented adverse effects

None reported in indexed animal studies

—

Human safety data

Not available in PubMed-indexed literature

Absent from PubMed-indexed literature

Theoretical risk

—

Immune hyperactivation in autoimmune-prone individuals (T-cell differentiation enhancement)

Antibody formation

—

Not reported; dipeptides generally low immunogenicity

Animal models

—

No adverse effects noted in mouse thymocyte or pineal lymphoid cultures

Absolute Contraindications

Cartalax

·Unknown due to lack of human clinical trial data

Vilon

·Active autoimmune disease (theoretical — no clinical data)

Relative Contraindications

Cartalax

·Active malignancy (theoretical; peptide bioregulators may influence cell proliferation pathways)

Vilon

·Pregnancy / lactation (no safety data)
·Acute infection with cytokine storm risk (immune modulation unknown)

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

Cartalax

Vilon

1. Route

Subcutaneous injection typical for Khavinson bioregulators; specific protocols not detailed in indexed literature.

No clinical protocols exist in Western peer-reviewed literature. Russian gerontological practice may use 1–10 mg ranges, but dosing is empirical.

2. Frequency

Russian-tradition protocols often employ 10-day cycles; precise frequency unspecified in available abstracts.

Subcutaneous injection (common for Khavinson peptides) or oral (some bioregulators reportedly active orally due to small size). No validated ROA.

3. Storage

Lyophilised peptide bioregulators typically stored at 2–8 °C, light-protected. Reconstitution details not indexed.

Unknown — no circadian or meal-timing data. Khavinson school often recommends morning administration.

4. Storage

—

Likely lyophilised powder, refrigerated. Reconstitution protocols not published.

06Stack Synergy

Cartalax

— no documented stacks

Vilon

+ Epitalon

Moderate

View Epitalon →

Both are Khavinson bioregulators targeting aging pathways. Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) acts on telomerase and pineal function; Vilon on immune differentiation and chromatin decondensation. Combined in Russian gerontological protocols for multi-system aging intervention. Lezhava et al. (2023) tested both on aged lymphocyte chromatin, showing distinct epigenetic effects. Complementary, not synergistic in strict pharmacological sense.

Vilon: Empirical — no standard
Epitalon: Empirical — often 10 mg cycles
Frequency: Sequential or concurrent (literature ambiguous)
Primary benefit: Multi-system aging modulation (immune + pineal/circadian)

+ Thymalin

Weak

View Thymalin →

Thymalin is the parent polypeptide complex from which Vilon was isolated. Both target immune differentiation, but Thymalin is a complex mixture (multiple peptides), whereas Vilon is a purified dipeptide. Morozov & Khavinson (1997) described Vilon as a synthetic successor designed to replicate Thymalin's immunomodulatory effects with greater specificity. Redundant in practice; no published combination studies.

Vilon: No standard
Thymalin: 10–100 mg IM (polypeptide complex)
Primary benefit: Redundant — both target T-cell differentiation

Morozov 1997 Khavinson 2020