Side-by-side · Research reference

HexarelinvsVilon

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

APhase 1HUMAN-REVIEWED19/45 cited

BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED13/49 cited

Hexarelin

Hexapeptide GHRP · Cardio-tropic

100–200 mcgPer doseSmith 1996

Phase 1Evidence levelGhigo 1997

~70 minHalf-lifeSemenistaya 2010

SQ · Multiple sites · 1–3×/day

Vilon

Khavinson Bioregulator · Dipeptide

2 AADipeptide

T-helperStimulatesLinkova 2011

MouseModel basisKhavinson 2002

Literature lacks standardised clinical route

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

Hexarelin

Vilon

Primary target

Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) + cardiac CD36Smith 1996 Ghigo 1997

Immune cell differentiation pathways, chromatin modification

Pathway

GHS-R1a → Gαq → Ca²⁺ → GH release. CD36 engagement → direct cardio-tropic actionGhigo 1997

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

Downstream effect

Strong GH pulse + IGF-1 elevation; cardio-protective effects in animal MI modelsGhigo 1997

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?

Yes initially; tachyphylaxis with chronic useGhigo 1997

Unknown — no HPA/HPG axis data

Origin

Synthetic hexapeptide His-D-2-Methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂Smith 1996

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

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

Hexarelin

Vilon

Standard dose

100–200 mcg per injectionSmith 1996

No clinical standard — literature lacks human dosing

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

Frequency

1–2× per day max (tachyphylaxis with chronic 3× daily)

Unknown — literature does not specify chronic administration protocols

Lower / starter dose

50 mcg per dose

—

Evidence basis

Phase 1 / Phase 2 trialsSmith 1996 Ghigo 1997

Mouse / in vitro only

Duration

4–8 weeks on / 4–8 weeks off (tachyphylaxis mitigation)

Not characterised in humans

Reconstitution

Bacteriostatic water

—

Timing

Pre-sleep + fasted preferred

—

Half-life

~70 minSemenistaya 2010

Not published — dipeptides typically <10 min plasma t½

Animal model dose

—

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

Not translatable to human mg/kg without pharmacokinetic data.

Route

—

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

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

Hexarelin

Vilon

Cortisol elevation

Modest at high dosesGhigo 1997

—

Prolactin elevation

Modest at high dosesGhigo 1997

—

Hunger

Strong appetite increase via ghrelin agonism

—

Tachyphylaxis

Receptor desensitisation with chronic dosingGhigo 1997

—

Cardiac effects

Direct cardio-tropic; potential benefit in MI but unstudied in humansGhigo 1997

—

IGF-1 elevation

Strong; monitor with chronic high-dose use

—

Cancer risk

Contraindicated in active malignancy (GH/IGF-1 axis)

—

Pregnancy / OB

Avoid

—

Human safety data

—

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

Hexarelin

·Active malignancy
·Pregnancy / breastfeeding
·Disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary axis

Vilon

·Active autoimmune disease (theoretical — no clinical data)

Relative Contraindications

Hexarelin

·Untreated diabetes
·Severe hyperprolactinemia

Vilon

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

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

Hexarelin

Vilon

1. Reconstitution

Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water to 5 mg vial → 2.5 mg/mL = 250 mcg per 0.1 mL.

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

2. Injection site

SQ — abdomen or thigh. Rotate sites.

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

3. Timing

Pre-sleep + fasted preferred. Cycle on/off to avoid tachyphylaxis.

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

4. Storage

Lyophilised: room temp, light-protected. Reconstituted: refrigerate ≤30 days.

Likely lyophilised powder, refrigerated. Reconstitution protocols not published.

5. Needle

29–31G, 4–8 mm insulin syringe.

—

06Stack Synergy

Hexarelin

+ CJC-1295 (no DAC)

Strong

View CJC-1295 (no DAC) →

Hexarelin (GHRP) + CJC-1295-no-DAC (GHRH analogue) is the higher-amplitude variant of the standard GHRH+GHRP stack. Hexarelin produces a stronger pulse than ipamorelin but with cortisol + prolactin signal — choose this stack for maximum GH amplitude when side-effect tolerance is acceptable. Cycle aggressively.

Hexarelin: 100 mcg SQ · pre-sleep
CJC-1295 (no DAC): 100 mcg SQ · same injection
Primary benefit: Maximum GH pulse amplitude (with side-effect signal)

Smith 1996 Teichman 2006

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