Cortagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator with the amino acid sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro and a molecular weight of 430.4 g/mol. Developed at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology as part of the Khavinson peptide bioregulator series, Cortagen was designed based on peptide fractions isolated from cerebral cortex tissue. Its structure pairs two acidic residues (glutamic acid and aspartic acid) with a proline residue, a conformationally constrained amino acid that introduces a characteristic backbone turn. Produced via solid-phase peptide synthesis, Cortagen is associated with central nervous system gene expression and cortical signalling pathways.

Cortagen has been investigated in preclinical neurobiology as part of the broader programme of ultra-short peptide bioregulators developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson. In common with related bioregulator peptides such as Pinealon (EDR), Epithalon (AEDG) and Cortexin, Cortagen has been proposed to exert its biological activity through direct interaction with DNA rather than conventional cell-surface receptor-mediated signalling. Published research has documented that Cortagen modulates gene expression on a broad scale, with microarray analysis identifying significant expression changes across multiple functional gene categories following tetrapeptide administration [1]. In vivo rodent studies have documented that Cortagen administration accelerates nerve regeneration, with administration after sciatic-nerve transection and suture increasing the growth rate and conduction velocity of regenerating fibres relative to untreated controls [2], making Cortagen a reference compound in preclinical neuroscience research examining ultra-short peptide-bioregulator modulation of gene expression and nervous-tissue parameters in rodent models.

Cortagen is manufactured in a cGMP compliant, ISO9001 certified laboratory to a guaranteed purity of 98% or above. Every batch is independently tested using HPLC and MS-UPLC analysis before dispatch. Vials are vacuum sealed and stored in a temperature controlled, monitored cold storage system. Certificates of Analysis are available on request.

Sold strictly for in vitro research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Intended for use by qualified researchers in laboratory settings only.

Editorial Team

Dr. Martina Rossi, PhD

Scientific Contributor and Reviewer

Reviewed and approved 14 June 2026

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