Vesugen

Overview

Vesugen is a synthetic tripeptide, Lys-Glu-Asp (KED), from the Khavinson short-peptide 'bioregulator' series, positioned as a short-peptide analog of a bovine vascular-tissue polypeptide complex and claimed to be vasoprotective. Marketed on the Russian/Ukrainian grey market; not FDA-approved in the US; research-use only.

Mechanism of Action

Khavinson-group studies propose Vesugen interacts with the promoter region of the MKI67 gene (docking analyses) and restores age-related decline in Ki-67 expression in vascular endothelial cell cultures, implying an epigenetic-regulation mechanism. Mechanistic claims are confined to the Khavinson lab and have not been independently characterized in Western vascular pharmacology.

Research Summary

Evidence base is single-lab (Khavinson/Linkova and collaborators). Preclinical work includes organotypic neuroimmunoendocrine cultures (Bull Exp Biol Med 2012) and endothelial-cell epigenetics studies (Adv Gerontol 2014). No FDA-registered trials; no Western RCTs in vascular disease.

Dosing Information

Reported Side Effects

• Injection site irritation
• Rare hypersensitivity

Research References

• Chalisova et al. — Effect of tripeptide Lys-Glu-Asp on physiological activity of neuroimmunoendocrine system cells (Bull Exp Biol Med) (2012)
• Khavinson et al. — Epigenetic aspects of peptidergic regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation during aging (covers Vesugen / Lys-Glu-Asp, Adv Gerontol, Russian) (2014)