Skip to content
PeptideHormone

Epitalon

A synthetic tetrapeptide promoted for longevity; limited independent evidence.

Research peptideLimitedCompounding restricted

Four residues carrying a very large claim. The longevity literature here is thin, largely from one group, and has not been independently reproduced.

Identity

Class
Synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)
Source
Synthetic; modeled on a pineal peptide preparation
Receptor
No established receptor; proposed effects on telomerase and pineal signaling

Key properties

Evidence floorPreclinicalREF1PRE1
Molecular weight
~390.4 Da
REF
Half-life (native)
Minutes (rapidly cleared)
PRE

Approximate values for the native hormone; engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting. Each figure carries its own provenance tier, and the floor is the weakest of them - the Standard.

Mechanism

Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide promoted for anti-ageing effects, with proposed influence on telomerase activity and pineal/melatonin signaling. Much of the supporting work comes from a small number of research groups, and rigorous, independent human evidence is limited.

Reference notes

  • Its claims (telomerase, longevity) rest on limited and largely single-source evidence.
  • No well-established receptor or mechanism in humans.
  • A clear case for reading the evidence badge rather than the marketing.

Regulatory status

United States · reviewed September 2026
Compounding restrictedEpitalon is an unapproved substance the FDA has placed in Category 2 of its 503A bulk-substances list, citing significant safety risks, so it may not lawfully be compounded.
Basis
FDA 503A bulk-substances list, Category 2 (substances that may present significant safety risks), September 2023. In July 2026 the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 7–4 with one abstention to recommend adding it to the 503A list, against FDA staff advice; the vote is non-binding and the status stands pending rulemaking.

Status describes the molecule as a drug substance under US law and is an editorial reading of the public record — approvals, trial registrations, and the FDA 503A bulk-substances list. It is not legal advice and it changes; the review date above is the last time the table was checked. Other jurisdictions are noted only where they differ materially.

Common questions

What is Epitalon?
A synthetic tetrapeptide promoted for longevity; limited independent evidence. Structurally it is Synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly).
How does Epitalon work?
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide promoted for anti-ageing effects, with proposed influence on telomerase activity and pineal/melatonin signaling. Much of the supporting work comes from a small number of research groups, and rigorous, independent human evidence is limited.
How strong is the evidence for Epitalon?
PeptideHormone grades Epitalon at the "Limited" evidence tier — the evidence is sparse, older, or mostly community-reported. It is catalogued as a community research peptide outside the approved-drug system, and the tier is an editorial judgment about the public literature that can change as the science does.
What is the half-life of Epitalon?
The reported circulating half-life of Epitalon is Minutes (rapidly cleared).
Is Epitalon FDA-approved?
No — as of September 2026, Epitalon is an unapproved substance the FDA has placed in Category 2 of its 503A bulk-substances list, citing significant safety risks, so it may not lawfully be compounded. FDA 503A bulk-substances list, Category 2 (substances that may present significant safety risks), September 2023. In July 2026 the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 7–4 with one abstention to recommend adding it to the 503A list, against FDA staff advice; the vote is non-binding and the status stands pending rulemaking. Status is US-centric and can change; check the FDA record for the current position.

In the literature

Live registry counts · retrieved
Registered trialsREF
0
  • Ph 10
  • Ph 20
  • Ph 30
  • Ph 40
Open on ClinicalTrials.gov
PubMed recordsREF
62
Since 202210 · 16%
Open on PubMed

Searched as Epitalon. Counts are search hits from the primary registries, not a curated set and not a grade – a measure of how much work exists on Epitalon, not how it turned out.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

  1. 1.Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties · International journal of molecular sciences, 2025 · PMID 40141333
  2. 2.Peptides and Ageing · Neuro endocrinology letters, 2002 · PMID 12374906

External references

Epitalon in the public knowledge graph — the same entity resolved across the authoritative chemistry and protein databases.