Immune & antimicrobial
Vilon
Also called KE dipeptide, Lys-Glu, lysylglutamic acid, Вилон
Vilon is the smallest of Vladimir Khavinson's Russian 'peptide bioregulators': just two amino acids (lysine and glutamic acid). It was developed as an immune-supporting and anti-aging agent based on a thymus extract. Mouse studies and small Russian clinical reports exist, but they come almost entirely from the developing group and have not been independently confirmed.
Overview
Vilon is the smallest of Vladimir Khavinson's Russian 'peptide bioregulators': just two amino acids (lysine and glutamic acid). It was developed as an immune-supporting and anti-aging agent based on a thymus extract. Mouse studies and small Russian clinical reports exist, but they come almost entirely from the developing group and have not been independently confirmed.
How it works
Proposed, not established. The developers propose that KE enters cells and binds DNA, adjusting genes involved in immune and nerve-cell differentiation 7. In human immune-cell lines it lowered release of inflammatory signals (TNF, IL-6) after a bacterial-toxin challenge 4, and in blood cells from elderly people it loosened tightly packed chromatin 5. These are lab findings; how Vilon acts in the body is not established.
What research shows
- Mouse study (female CBA mice, 2000): long-term injected Vilon was reported to increase activity and endurance, extend lifespan and reduce spontaneous tumors (Khavinson, Anisimov et al.) 3.
- Mouse study (2002): effects of Vilon and Epitalon on breast-tumor development in HER2/neu transgenic mice 6.
- Cell study (THP-1 human monocytes; Italian–Russian team, 2022): KE reduced TNF and IL-6 release under inflammatory stimulation and reduced monocyte adhesion 4.
- Human reports (summarized in a 2014 developer review): a double-blind randomized study in 63 surgical/gynecologic patients reported faster tissue recovery; a 150-patient type 1 diabetes comparison reported immune and clotting improvements; a 57-patient colorectal-cancer comparison reported better 2-year survival. Methods and raw data were not independently checked here, and the studies are small and Russian-only 2.
- Almost all research comes from Khavinson's group and collaborators; independent replication is lacking.
Doses studied in people
| Study or label | Dose used | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Double-blind randomized study (n=63) in acute purulent maxillofacial disease and cervical dysplasia, as reported in a 2014 developer review (original trial not reviewed) | 10 µg intramuscularly once daily for 7–10 days, added to standard treatment | 2 |
The only dose listed comes from a small Russian study known through the developers' own review; it is not an established or approved dose.
Read this first: these are the amounts given to participants in published studies or written on official prescribing labels, reported for reference. They are not recommendations. Trial doses were chosen for specific patients under medical supervision, and a dose that is safe in one person can be harmful in another.
Vial math
Many research vials hold 5 or 10 mg of powder. This table shows how much ends up in each mark on a U-100 insulin syringe for common amounts of added liquid. It is arithmetic only, not a dose.
| Vial | Liquid added | Concentration | Per unit (0.01 mL) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 1 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg | Open in calculator |
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg | Open in calculator |
| 5 mg | 3 mL | 1.67 mg/mL | 16.7 mcg | Open in calculator |
| 10 mg | 1 mL | 10 mg/mL | 100 mcg | Open in calculator |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg | Open in calculator |
| 10 mg | 3 mL | 3.33 mg/mL | 33.3 mcg | Open in calculator |
More sizes: all vial sizes · How this works: Syringes and units · Reconstitution guide.
Safety
- The developer review reports no unwanted side effects in its double-blind study but gives no systematic adverse-event data 2.
- Long-term human safety is unknown.
- Unregulated 'research' products may vary in purity and content.
Report side effects of any drug or product to the FDA through MedWatch. For a possible poisoning in the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Legal status
- FDA
- Not FDA-approved.
- Compounding
- Not listed in any category of FDA's 503A bulk drug substance nominations (list updated May 14, 2026), so it has no recognized route for US pharmacy compounding 9.
- Sports (WADA)
- Not named on the 2026 List. If it has no current government approval as a human medicine anywhere, it would fall under S0 (non-approved substances, prohibited at all times). Confirm with your anti-doping organization 10.
- Other
- Russia: developers report a 2002 Ministry of Health permission for clinical study 2; the institute's own material claims adoption for production 8. No current Russian drug registration was verified in this review.
Rules change often. See Legal status of peptides for how these categories work.
History
Developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology 8. Mouse lifespan work was published in 2000 3. According to the developers, the Russian Ministry of Health permitted clinical study of Vilon in 2002 (permission no. 4, Feb 19, 2002) — a trial authorization, not an approval for medical use 2.
Common questions
Is Vilon an approved drug?
What does the human evidence show?
Small Russian studies, summarized by the developers, report faster healing and immune changes, but they have not been independently replicated or published in detail in international journals 2.
Does Vilon extend lifespan?
One 2000 mouse study by the developers reported longer lifespan and fewer tumors 3; there is no evidence of this in people.
Is Vilon banned in sport?
It is not named on WADA's 2026 list, but non-approved substances generally fall under S0, prohibited at all times 10.
Related compounds
Epitalon
epithalon · epithalone
Epitalon is a tiny four-amino-acid peptide made in the lab, modeled on an extract from the pineal gland.
Chonluten
Khonluten · Honluten
Chonluten is a very short lab-made peptide (three amino acids) from Vladimir Khavinson's Russian 'peptide bioregulator' series, aimed at the lungs and airways.
Livagen
KEDA peptide · Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala
Livagen is a small lab-made peptide (four amino acids) from Vladimir Khavinson's Russian 'peptide bioregulator' series, named for the liver.
Cortagen
Kortagen · AEDP peptide
Cortagen is a small lab-made peptide (four amino acids) from Vladimir Khavinson's Russian 'peptide bioregulator' program, aimed at the brain cortex.
Sources
- Khavinson VKh. Peptides, genome, aging. Advances in Gerontology 2014;4(4):337–345 (developer's review; Table 1 lists names, sequences and masses) Journal
- Khavinson VKh, Kuznik BI, Ryzhak GA. Peptide bioregulators: a new class of geroprotectors. Report 2: results of clinical trials. Advances in Gerontology 2014;4(4):346–361 Journal
- Khavinson VKh, Anisimov VN, Zavarzina NY et al. Effect of vilon on biological age and lifespan in mice. Bull Exp Biol Med 2000;130:687–690 Journal
- Avolio F et al. Peptides Regulating Proliferative Activity and Inflammatory Pathways in the Monocyte/Macrophage THP-1 Cell Line. Int J Mol Sci 2022;23(7):3607 Journal
- Khavinson VKh, Lezhava TA, Malinin VV. Effects of short peptides on lymphocyte chromatin in senile subjects. Bull Exp Biol Med 2004;137(1):78–81 Journal
- [Effect of Epitalon and Vilon treatment on mammary carcinogenesis in transgenic erbB-2/NEU mice] (2002) Journal
- Khavinson VKh et al. Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review. Molecules 2021;26(22):7053 PubMed review
- St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology – institute overview (developer's own material, c. 2007) Regulatory
- FDA: Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A (updated May 14, 2026) Regulatory
- WADA 2026 Prohibited List (official English text, Dutch Treaty Series Trb. 2026, 25) Regulatory
Last reviewed 2026-10-26 · How we research · Found an error? See our corrections policy.