Also known as: Cartilage Bioregulator, AED, Cartalax Khavinson Peptide
Half-life: Short (minutes); biological effect persists via gene-expression modulation
Last reviewed: · Published:
Cartalax is a short peptide bioregulator from the Khavinson family, designed for cartilage and connective-tissue applications. Reported as a tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp, AED) in some Khavinson-group publications, it is presumed to target chondrocyte gene expression to support cartilage matrix synthesis, slow age-related cartilage degradation, and aid in connective-tissue repair. The compound has been studied in Russian clinical-observational settings for osteoarthritis, sports injury recovery, and age-related joint dysfunction.
Russian clinical reports have described improvements in joint pain, range of motion, and functional capacity in elderly osteoarthritis patients and in athletes recovering from cartilage injuries. The mechanism is presumed to involve restoration of more youthful chondrocyte gene expression patterns and increased synthesis of cartilage matrix components including type II collagen and proteoglycans.
Western clinical data on Cartalax specifically is essentially absent. The compound is sold by research-chemical vendors and used in self-experimentation for joint-support purposes. As with the broader Khavinson family, the Russian observational evidence base is real but lacks Western replication, and the compound should not replace evidence-based joint therapies in patients with significant osteoarthritis.
Cartalax was developed in the 2000s as part of the Khavinson group's tissue-specific bioregulator program. The cartilage-targeting member of the family was based on bioactive fractions of cartilage tissue extracts, with the active short-peptide sequence identified through fractionation and synthesis. The compound entered Russian clinical observational use in the 2000s and 2010s.
Russian clinical use has reported good tolerability across multiple study populations. Western safety validation is essentially absent. The compound has a small enough molecular footprint that systemic side effects are unlikely at typical doses, but as with all Khavinson bioregulators the absence of independent Western data limits how confidently the tolerability profile can be generalized.
Dose Range
1-5 mg
Frequency
Once daily (SubQ) or sublingual
Duration
10-20 day cycles, repeated 2-3 times per year
Dosing information is for educational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional before using any peptide.
Typical Vial Size
20 mg
Water Type
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water)
Mixing Volume
2 mL
Half-Life
Short (minutes); biological effect persists via gene-expression modulation
Molecular Weight
~333 Da (AED tripeptide)
Store reconstituted vial refrigerated at 2-8°C. Use within 21-30 days. Sublingual or subcutaneous administration is typical.
FDA Status
Not FDA approved.
Legal Status
Unregulated research chemical outside Russia.
USA
Not approvedResearch-only
EU
Not approvedNot authorized as medicinal product
UK
Not approvedClassified as research chemical
Russia
Used in clinical practiceUsed as bioregulator in Russian rheumatology and sports medicine
Australia
Not approvedTGA has not evaluated
Canada
Not approvedNot authorized for human use
Khavinson VK, Kuznik BI, Tarnovskaya SI, Linkova NS
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2015)
Foundational Khavinson-group review covering the full short-peptide bioregulator family including Cartalax.
View Study →Khavinson VK, Anisimov VN, Linkova NS, Bakhmet AA
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2020)
Modern review of the gene-expression modulation mechanism proposed for all Khavinson bioregulators including Cartalax.
View Study →Khavinson VK, Linkova NS, Trofimova SV
Advances in Gerontology (2018)
Russian-group review of short peptide bioregulators in cartilage homeostasis, providing the specific mechanistic and observational context for Cartalax.
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