Epitalon: research, legal status and who sells it

What it is

Epitalon, also spelled epithalon or epithalone, is the tetrapeptide alanine–glutamic acid–aspartic acid–glycine (AEDG) [10]. It was synthesized based on the amino-acid composition of epithalamin, an extract of bovine pineal gland [10].

Research status

Laboratory studies report antioxidant and neuroendocrine effects and increased telomerase activity [10]. A 2025 cell study found that epitalon lengthened telomeres in normal human cells by raising telomerase, and in breast cancer cell lines through a different mechanism called alternative lengthening of telomeres [11]. FDA’s 2026 review noted that most pharmacological studies of epitalon have been conducted and published by a single research group in Russia [2]. A 2025 review described the physico-chemical and structural data on epitalon as “quite limited” [10].

Regulatory status

Epitalon is not FDA-approved [1]. FDA staff reviewed it for insomnia and recommended against adding it to the 503A compounding list [2]. FDA’s advisory committee voted to recommend it in July 2026; the vote is not binding and FDA has not added it [12][3]. No epitalon medicine is authorized in the UK, the EU or Canada [4][5][6][7]. It is not named in Australia’s Poisons Standard [8] or on WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List, although WADA’s section S0 bans substances with no current approval for human therapeutic use [9].

Quality and testing considerations

FDA has encountered multiple salts and derivatives sold under the epitalon name [2], and its earlier review flagged potential aggregation and peptide-related impurities [13]. Because epitalon is a very small peptide, identity confirmation by mass spectrometry and a measured purity are essential to distinguish it from mislabeled material.

Where it’s sold

Epitalon is sold online by research-chemical vendors; the tables below track listings.