PinnyPeptide

Cortagen vs Pinealon

Side-by-side comparison: effects, dosing ranges, side effects, regulatory status, and reconstitution.

Peptide A

Cortagen

Bioregulators

Khavinson short peptide bioregulator targeting cortical neurons and CNS gene expression.

Peptide B

Pinealon

Cognitive

Neuroprotective tripeptide bioregulator that penetrates the nuclear membrane to directly regulate gene expression in brain tissue.

Typical vial

20 mg

Typical dose

1,000-5,000 mcg

Half-life

Short (minutes); biological effect persists via gene-expression modulation

FDA status

Not FDA approved.

Typical vial

20 mg

Typical dose

100-500 mcg

Half-life

~1-2 hours (estimated; formal pharmacokinetic data in humans is not published — biological effects on gene expression persist beyond plasma clearance)

FDA status

Not FDA approved. No IND or NDA has been submitted to the FD…

Cortagen effects

  • Reported support of cortical neuron function and gene expression
  • Improvements in memory and attention (Russian observational)
  • Neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia models
  • Possible support for post-stroke and post-concussive recovery
  • Modulation of neuroplasticity-related gene expression

Pinealon effects

  • Suppresses reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in neuronal cells, reducing oxidative stress-driven cell death
  • Preserves dendritic spine morphology in models of Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease, protecting synaptic integrity
  • Modulates gene expression via direct nuclear membrane penetration, regulating genes involved in neuronal survival (SOD2, GPX1, CASP3, APOE)
  • Supports serotonin biosynthesis by promoting 5-tryptophan hydroxylase expression, with potential mood-regulatory effects
  • Reduces apoptotic signaling in neurons by downregulating pro-apoptotic proteins including caspase-3
  • Reported improvement in memory, cognitive performance, and reduced headache duration in patients with traumatic brain injury sequelae

Cortagen side effects

  • Generally well-tolerated in Russian clinical use
  • Mild injection-site reactions
  • Limited Western safety validation
  • Possible mild sleep disturbance with late-day dosing

Pinealon side effects

  • Injection site reactions: mild redness, itching, or transient swelling at subcutaneous injection site
  • Headache or mild dizziness, particularly early in a dosing cycle
  • Vivid dreams or mild sleep disturbance if administered late in the day (likely related to CNS activity)
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort (more commonly reported with oral capsule form)
  • Rare: transient mild anxiety or fatigue; allergic hypersensitivity reactions are possible but not well-documented in the literature

Cortagen dosing ranges

Cognitive support

1-5 mg · Once daily morning (SubQ) or intranasal · 10-20 day cycles, repeated 2-3 times per year

Pinealon dosing ranges

Cognitive support and neuroprotection (subcutaneous)

100-500 mcg · Once daily · 10-20 days per cycle, repeated 2-4 times per year

Traumatic brain injury sequelae / cerebral asthenia (oral, clinical study protocol)

0.2 mg (200 mcg) twice daily · Twice daily · 20-30 days

General anti-aging and brain longevity (oral supplement)

10-20 mg per day (1-2 capsules of 10 mg each) · Once or twice daily, 30 minutes before meals · 1 month on, then reassess

Full Cortagen guide → Full Pinealon guide →

Cortagen vs Pinealon — common questions

What is the difference between Cortagen and Pinealon?

Cortagen: Khavinson short peptide bioregulator targeting cortical neurons and CNS gene expression. Typical dose 1,000-5,000 mcg. Pinealon: Neuroprotective tripeptide bioregulator that penetrates the nuclear membrane to directly regulate gene expression in brain tissue. Typical dose 100-500 mcg. Both fall under the Bioregulators and Cognitive categories.

Can you stack Cortagen and Pinealon?

Stacking Cortagen with Pinealon is a protocol-design question best raised with a clinician — it depends on your goal, current bloodwork, and whether both peptides target overlapping mechanisms. Both peptides should be tracked independently with separate injection sites and timing. PinnyPeptide supports multi-peptide stacks with automatic injection site rotation.

Which is dosed more frequently, Cortagen or Pinealon?

Cortagen is typically dosed: Once daily morning (SubQ) or intranasal for Cognitive support. Pinealon is typically dosed: Once daily for Cognitive support and neuroprotection (subcutaneous); Twice daily for Traumatic brain injury sequelae / cerebral asthenia (oral, clinical study protocol); Once or twice daily, 30 minutes before meals for General anti-aging and brain longevity (oral supplement).

Are Cortagen and Pinealon FDA approved?

Cortagen: Not FDA approved. Pinealon: Not FDA approved. No IND or NDA has been submitted to the FDA. Classified as a research chemical in the United States.

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