Cartalax
Also known as: Cartilage bioregulator, AED
Cartalax (also called Cartilage bioregulator or AED) is a khavinson bioregulator. Cartalax is Ala-Glu-Asp, a synthetic tripeptide in the Khavinson series associated with cartilage and connective tissue. The proposed mechanism, shared across the series, is that the peptide reaches the nucleus and binds specific DNA promoter sequences, influencing transcription of genes governing chondrocyte protein synthesis.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 85806-95-7
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 317.3 g/mol
- Half-life
- Short (hours)
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- Insufficient Evidence
- Human dose established
- No
- Administration Route
- Not established in humans
- Frequency
- Not established in humans
- Last updated
- Sep 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- Chondrocytes (proposed)
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected between Dec 2025 and May 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 6
- Listed offers
- 6
- Median price per mg
- $2.75/mg
- Typical $2.49–$3.31/mg
Research summary
Ala-Glu-Asp, a synthetic tripeptide in the Khavinson bioregulator series, marketed for cartilage and connective-tissue research. Like others in the series it is proposed to act by influencing transcription in the tissue it is associated with, a hypothesis supported almost entirely by cell-culture and cytogenetic work from one research group. No controlled clinical evidence exists for joint or cartilage outcomes, and it is not FDA-approved.
Peptide Library's Cartalax profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Cartalax dosage: no established human dose
Cartalax has no established human dosage, and almost no primary literature of any kind. No trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and no human study is indexed. Searching for Ala-Glu-Asp returns one indexed study that tests it directly, in cell culture, alongside three other short peptides — and in that study the measured effects were attributed to KED and to the four-peptide combination, not to AED on its own.
No established human dosage.
Human clinical evidence: None identified.
Preclinical research: Cartalax is Ala-Glu-Asp, a tripeptide in the Khavinson bioregulator series, and it is the thinnest evidence base of any compound reviewed here. The series as a whole has a substantial body of publications, but they are dominated by other members — AEDG (epitalon), KED (vesugen), KE (vilon) — and are concentrated in a small number of Russian-language gerontology journals with limited independent replication. The distinctive series claim, that a short peptide enters the nucleus and binds specific DNA promoter sequences to regulate tissue-specific transcription, is a proposed mechanism. It has not been demonstrated for AED. There is no animal dosing study for AED to report, let alone a human one.
Animal dosing is not converted into a human dose anywhere on this page. Where research figures appear below, they are reported as studied, not recommended.
| Human dosing established | No |
|---|---|
| Route | Not established in humans |
| Evidence level | Insufficient Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In vitro — AED among four short peptides on neuronal differentiation of stem cellsPreclinical · Preclinical cell-culture study | Human periodontal ligament stem cells in culture | Concentration for AED alone is not reported in the abstract; AED was tested in cell culture, not administered to an organism | In vitro, added to culture medium | — | — | GAP43 and nestin expression increased with the four-peptide combination and with KED alone. An independent effect of AED on those markers was not reported. | Effect of short peptides on neuronal differentiation of stem cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2019. |
Where sources disagree
- Cartalax is sold with protocols in the range of a few milligrams daily for short cycles, usually described as cartilage or joint support. No study has administered AED to an animal or a person at any dose, and no primary source for those figures could be identified.
- The single indexed study that tests AED directly attributes its positive findings to KED and to the combination of all four peptides. Reading it as evidence for Cartalax specifically overstates what it reports.
- Search results for Cartalax are dominated by AEDG (epitalon), a different tetrapeptide with a much larger literature. Evidence for epitalon is routinely presented as though it applied to Cartalax; the two differ by a residue and have no shared dosing evidence.
- The cartilage and connective-tissue indication attached to Cartalax comes from the Khavinson series convention of assigning each peptide to a tissue, not from a study measuring a cartilage endpoint after giving AED.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 20 mg, 25 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mg | 2 mL | 10 mg/mL | 100 mcg per 0.01 mL |
| 25 mg | 2.5 mL | 10 mg/mL | 100 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- 3 mL BAC water for 25 mg vial
- Injection Sites
- Midsection
- Concentration Example
- 25 mg / 3 mL = ~8.33 mg/mL
- Timing Notes
- Morning
- Expected Onset
- Weeks
How to reconstitute Cartalax
- Check the vial size and diluent volume. The profile example for Cartalax is: 3 mL BAC water for 25 mg vial.
- Swab both vial stoppers and draw the bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Add the water slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial so it does not jet onto the powder, then swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake.
- Record the resulting concentration: 25 mg / 3 mL = ~8.33 mg/mL.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, refrigerate it (see Storage & stability below), and use the calculator preset to convert a dose in mcg into syringe units.
Sequence & molecular data
| Amino acid sequence | Ala-Glu-Asp |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C12H19N3O7 |
| Molecular weight | 317.3 g/mol |
| CAS number | 85806-95-7 |
| Half-life | Short (hours) |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
| Formulation | Lyophilized Powder |
| PubChem CID | 87815447 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Cartalax is Ala-Glu-Asp, a synthetic tripeptide in the Khavinson series associated with cartilage and connective tissue. The proposed mechanism, shared across the series, is that the peptide reaches the nucleus and binds specific DNA promoter sequences, influencing transcription of genes governing chondrocyte protein synthesis. The evidence consists of cell-culture and cytogenetic studies from one research group, published mainly in Russian-language journals. Controlled clinical evidence in cartilage or joint outcomes is absent, and no receptor-mediated pathway has been characterised.
Origin
Synthetic short peptide bioregulator.
Targets
Studies
- Peptides and Ageing (class-level)
- Tissue-specific effects of peptides (class-level)
- Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects (class-level evidence)
- Mechanisms underlying geroprotective effects of peptides (class-level evidence)
- Epigenetic mechanisms of peptide-driven regulation and neuroprotective protein FKBP1b (class-level evidence)
Regulatory & research status
Cartalax is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
Benefits
Cartalax side effects
Cartalax has no controlled human safety data. The effects below are reported, not established, and absence from the list is not evidence of safety.
Side Effects
- Not well characterized
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
Stacking
Common stacking partners
Combinations that include Cartalax, with the proposed rationale, an evidence grade and what is not established, are catalogued in the peptide stacks directory.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Cartalax: frequently asked questions
What is Cartalax?
Ala-Glu-Asp, a synthetic tripeptide in the Khavinson bioregulator series, marketed for cartilage and connective-tissue research. Like others in the series it is proposed to act by influencing transcription in the tissue it is associated with, a hypothesis supported almost entirely by cell-culture and cytogenetic work from one research group. No controlled clinical evidence exists for joint or cartilage outcomes, and it is not FDA-approved.
What are the side effects of Cartalax?
Cartalax has no controlled human safety data, so its side-effect profile is not well established. No specific adverse effects are well documented. Cautions recorded on this profile: hypersensitivity. This is reference information, not medical advice.
How does Cartalax work?
Cartalax is Ala-Glu-Asp, a synthetic tripeptide in the Khavinson series associated with cartilage and connective tissue. The proposed mechanism, shared across the series, is that the peptide reaches the nucleus and binds specific DNA promoter sequences, influencing transcription of genes governing chondrocyte protein synthesis.
Is Cartalax FDA approved?
No. Cartalax is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
What is the half-life of Cartalax?
Reported half-life for Cartalax is Short (hours). Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
What is the amino acid sequence of Cartalax?
Cartalax has the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp, giving a chain of 3 amino acids. Its molecular formula is C12H19N3O7.
What peptides are similar to Cartalax?
Compounds most often compared with Cartalax include Bonomarlot, Bronchogen, Cardiogen and Cerluten. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Class-level evidence — Khavinson VK. Peptides and Ageing. Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 2002External reference
- Class-level evidence — Tissue-specific effects of peptides. Bull Exp Biol Med, 2001External reference
- Class-level evidence — Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects — Biogerontology, 2010External reference
- Class-level evidence — Mechanisms underlying geroprotective effects of peptides — Bull Exp Biol Med, 2002External reference
- Class-level evidence — Epigenetic mechanisms of peptide-driven regulation and neuroprotective protein FKBP1b — Mol Biol (Mosk), 2019External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
Related peptides
Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Sep 26, 2026 · Version 4
This Cartalax profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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