Cartalax
Also referenced as: Cartlax, AED tripeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp, Cartalax 20 mg vial
A short synthetic tripeptide from Russian peptide research, studied in cell models of cartilage and connective tissue, with no human trial data.
- Evidence grade
- EExperimental / Limited Evidence
Experimental / Limited Evidence
- Regulatory status
- Research Use Only
Not approved as a medicine in any major jurisdiction. Sold as research-use-only material and not intended for human use.
- Human data
- No
No registered clinical trials identified
- Last reviewed
- September 14, 2026
Overview
Cartalax is a synthetic tripeptide (alanine-glutamate-aspartate) developed within the Russian short-peptide research programme that also produced epitalon and similar sequences.
Published claims centre on gene expression in chondrocytes and connective-tissue cell models. The evidence base is small, largely from one group, and has not been reproduced in independent human research.
Commonly supplied for research as a 20 mg lyophilised vial. Community discussion of joint and cartilage benefit is not supported by clinical evidence.
Why It's Being Studied
- Chondrocyte gene expression and cartilage matrix proteins in cell culture.
- Age-related changes in connective tissue in laboratory models.
- Short-peptide epigenetic regulation, a recurring theme in this research tradition.
Mechanism of Action
It is a very short peptide proposed to influence which genes cartilage cells switch on. This has only been examined in laboratory dishes.
Proposed mechanisms describe short peptides binding DNA promoter regions and histones to modulate transcription of matrix and differentiation genes in chondrocyte cultures. The binding model is theoretical and has limited independent structural or in-vivo confirmation.
The stages of tissue repair
Tap each stage to see what happens.
Background: Recovery & Tissue Research
Tissue-repair peptide research looks at the stages of healing — inflammation, new blood-vessel growth, cell migration and remodelling — and asks whether a signal can speed or improve any of them.
Most of this literature is animal and cell work. Rodent tendon, gut and wound models heal quickly and differently from human tissue, so strong-looking preclinical results often do not translate.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Cartilage cell biology
- Connective tissue ageing
- Gene expression
- In-vitro cell culture
- Subcutaneous injection (animal research)
Evidence Summary
Published work is limited to a small number of laboratory and cell-culture papers from a single research tradition. No controlled human trials have been identified.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for Cartalax; tap to read it.
- Animal data are minimal and mostly descriptive, published within a single research tradition.
2 cited sources.
- In-vitro study1
- Narrative review1
In-vitro studies
- Cell-culture reports describe changes in chondrocyte differentiation and matrix gene expression after exposure to the tripeptide.
Preclinical evidence
- Animal data are minimal and mostly descriptive, published within a single research tradition.
Anecdotal / community information
- Joint-comfort claims circulate in peptide communities. No controlled human study supports them.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- No systematic human safety data exist.
- Injection-site reactions and contamination risk apply to any research-use-only injectable material.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- No registered clinical trials and no controlled human data of any kind.
- Findings originate largely from one research group and have not been independently replicated.
- Cell-culture gene expression does not predict clinical benefit.
How to Read This Research
- Was the study in humans, animals or cells?
- Was healing measured by function (strength, pain, movement) or only by tissue appearance?
- Was there a control group receiving the same care without the compound?
- Growth-promoting signals raise theoretical questions about unwanted growth; absence of reported harm in short animal studies is not proof of safety.
- Rodent injury models are often surgically created and heal in days — be cautious extrapolating time frames.
- Angiogenesis
- Formation of new blood vessels.
- Fibroblast
- A cell that produces collagen and connective tissue.
- Preclinical
- Research done before human testing — in animals or cells.
Compare With Other Compounds
| Cartalax | BPC-157 | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | E — Experimental / Limited Evidence | D — Preclinical Research |
| Regulatory status | Research Use Only | Not FDA Approved |
| Human data | No | Limited |
| Clinical trials | None identified | None identified |
| Research routes | In-vitro cell culture, Subcutaneous injection (animal research) | Subcutaneous injection (animal research), Intraperitoneal (animal research), Oral (animal research) |
| Cited sources | 2 | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why It Is Used
- Longevity
Healthy Ageing and Longevity
The category with the largest gap between ambition and evidence, and the one where the quality of the underlying research matters most.
Read the case study
Research References
- In-vitro study
Short peptides and chondrocyte gene expression in cell culture
- Narrative review
Short regulatory peptides: mechanisms and claims