Pancragen
also known as Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp, KEDW, H-Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2
Four-amino-acid bioregulatory peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp) developed by the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Demonstrated restoration of glucose tolerance and pancreatic endocrine function in aged non-human primates. Stimulates expression of pancreatic differentiation factors (Pdx1, Pax6, Ptf1a) in both acinar and islet cells during cellular senescence. Russian-tradition peptide bioregulator with tissue-specific pancreoprotective activity.
At a glance
IM · 10-day cycle
Primary target — Pancreatic acinar and islet cell differentiation pathways [khavinson-2013].
Pathway — Transcription factor activation → Pdx1/Pax6/Pax4/Ptf1a/Foxa2/NKx2.2 upregulation → Cell differentiation [khavinson-2013].
Downstream effect — Enhanced pancreatic beta-cell function, normalized insulin/C-peptide dynamics, improved glucose clearance [goncharova-2014].
Origin — Synthetic tetrapeptide derived from pancreatic tissue extracts (Khavinson bioregulator methodology).
Feedback intact — Yes — preserves physiological glucose-insulin response.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Primate dose (rhesus macaque) | 50 μg / animal / day [goncharova-2014]20–25-year-old females, 10-day IM protocol. |
| Effective concentration (in vitro) | 0.05 ng/mL [zakutski-2006]Organotypic tissue culture, both young and aged rat explants. |
| Route | Intramuscular [goncharova-2015] |
| Frequency | Once daily for 10 days [goncharova-2014] |
| Treatment cycle | 10-day course, effects persist 3+ weeks post-withdrawal [goncharova-2014] |
| Evidence basis | Non-human primate RCT, in vitro cell culture [goncharova-2015][khavinson-2013] |
| Diabetes model | STZ-induced diabetes (rat)Evaluated via metabolic markers characterizing apoptosis. |
Reconstitution
A pure mass-to-volume utility. Enter what you have in the vial; the atlas computes the volume per dose. No prescription information.
Evidence base: Russian-language clinical literature, primarily from the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology (Khavinson school), 1985 onward. Not extensively peer-reviewed in Western journals.
- — Active pancreatic malignancy (proliferation marker upregulation)
- 01Reconstitution
Lyophilised tetrapeptide reconstituted in sterile saline or water per manufacturer protocol. Concentration not specified in literature.
- 02Route
Intramuscular injection. Primate studies used daily IM dosing for 10 consecutive days. [goncharova-2015]
- 03Timing
No specific timing constraints documented. Administered once daily in primate protocols.
- 04Cycle structure
10-day treatment course. Restorative effects on pancreatic function persist for at least 3 weeks post-discontinuation. [goncharova-2014]
Sources
of 39 rendered claims carry a resolvable citation.
- [goncharova-2014]Goncharova 2014 — [Impact of tetrapeptide pancragen on endocrine function of the pancreas in old monkeys].
journal, 2014 - [goncharova-2015]Goncharova 2015 — [Correction of impaired glucose tolerance using tetrapeptide (Pancragen) in old female rhesus monkeys].
journal, 2015 - [khavinson-2012]Khavinson 2012 — [Tetrapeptide stimulates functional activity of the pancreatic cells in aging].
journal, 2012 - [khavinson-2013]Khavinson 2013 — Effects of pancragen on the differentiation of pancreatic cells during their ageing.
journal, 2013 - [zakutski-2006]Zakutskiĭ 2006 — [The tissue-specific effect of synthetic peptides-biologic regulators in organotypic tissues culture in young and old rats].
journal, 2006