Cortagen (20mg Vial) Dosage Protocol
Khavinson brain-cortex short-peptide bioregulator (AEDP) — research-only; not approved, benefits unproven.
Pre-filled with this protocol’s recommended BAC water and documented starting dose — edit any field to run your own numbers. Reconstitution math only — not dosing advice. U-100 syringe: 100 units = 1 mL. Full reconstitution guide → · Advanced calculator →Mix & measure Cortagen · 20 mg
Dosing & Reconstitution Guide
Two short, weight-scaled model courses transposed from rodent data — educational only
This is a model educational example, not a validated human protocol. The figures below are raw mg/kg rodent transpositions without allometric scaling and should be read as illustrative arithmetic only.[2][3]
Standard / Gradual Approach — 10-Day Course (3.0 mL = 6.67 mg/mL)
Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water to one 20 mg vial → 6.67 mg/mL (6,670 mcg/mL).
Schedule: 0.01 mg/kg/day for ~10 days, drawn from rodent intramuscular nerve-injury models[4].
Easy measuring: At 6.67 mg/mL, 1 unit (0.01 mL) ≈ 66.7 mcg. Example @ 70 kg: 0.70 mg/day ≈ 10.5 units.
Storage: Lyophilized at −20 °C (−4 °F); reconstituted at 2–8 °C, protected from light; do not freeze.
Why Cortagen draws research interest
These are the directions researchers and the peptide community most often explore Cortagen for — so you know you’re in the right place. They describe what is being studied, not proven benefits, approved uses, or promised results.
Neuroprotection
Investigated in preclinical research as a Khavinson cortex-derived bioregulator for its proposed neuroprotective activity; not approved.
Cognition / nootropic
Explored in animal-only research on learning, memory and brain function; effects on cognition remain unproven and investigational.
Nerve regeneration
Studied in preclinical work on peripheral nerve and neural tissue recovery; findings are experimental and not clinically established.
Longevity / bioregulation
Researched as an AEDP short-peptide bioregulator within Khavinson geroprotection studies; benefits are unverified and not approved.
Evidence ranges from early laboratory work to clinical trials depending on the use — the sections below cover the actual data and sources.
Quickstart Highlights
Cortagen is a synthetic ultrashort tetrapeptide — sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP) — designed by the Khavinson group as a defined synthetic analog modeled on the crude bovine brain-cortex extract Cortexin[1]. It is studied as a putative cortical-neuron bioregulator, and a peptide-DNA gene-modulation mechanism has been proposed by the originating group[8] — a hypothesis that is not independently validated. This page reproduces a model educational schedule built on raw rodent mg/kg figures. Cortagen is an unapproved research chemical, not a medicine; there is no Western human RCT of the Cortagen tetrapeptide and its proposed benefits are unproven — presented for research and educational use only.
Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water to one 20 mg vial → 6.67 mg/mL (6,670 mcg/mL), the maximum practical vial fill for accurate dosing.
Rodent-derived ranges: 0.01 mg/kg/day × ~10 days (standard) and 0.03 mg/kg/day × ~5 days (advanced). Raw mg/kg figures, no allometric scaling.
At 6.67 mg/mL, 1 unit (0.01 mL) ≈ 66.7 mcg. Example @ 70 kg: 0.70 mg ≈ 10.5 units (standard) or 2.10 mg ≈ 31.5 units (advanced).
Lyophilized: store at −20 °C (−4 °F); once reconstituted, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), protected from light, and do not freeze the solution.
Important: Start with the Prep & Injection Guide — it covers the preparation and safety basics every protocol on this site assumes.
Dose (mg) = 0.01 × body weight (kg). Units on a U-100 syringe = Dose (mg) ÷ 0.0667. If calculated units fall below ~10 even at 3.0 mL, consider 50-unit or 30-unit syringes for finer graduation.
Advanced / Aggressive Approach — 5-Day Course (3.0 mL = 6.67 mg/mL)
Evidence base: in mice, intraperitoneal 0.01–0.10 mg/kg once daily for 5 days produced dose-dependent behavioral effects; 0.03 mg/kg is a commonly reported mid-range[5].
Units (U-100) = Dose (mg) ÷ 0.0667. At 0.03 mg/kg most subjects sit well above the ~10-unit threshold with the 3.0 mL dilution.
Reconstitution Steps
Draw 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe (the maximum fill for a 3 mL vial).
Release it slowly down the vial’s inner wall to limit foaming.
Swirl or roll gently until the 20 mg fully dissolves — don’t shake.
Label with the date and concentration (6.67 mg/mL), then refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), shielded from light.
3.0 mL is the maximum reconstitution per vial — do not exceed it. Avoid freezing the reconstituted solution, since freeze–thaw can denature the peptide.
Supplies Needed
Quantities below assume a single short course (choose one approach): a 10-day standard course or a 5-day advanced course of once-daily injections.
One 20 mg vial covers a full short course at example 70 kg weights (10-day course ≈ 7 mg total; 5-day course ≈ 10.5 mg total). Higher weights or repeat courses may need an additional vial.
- 10-day course (0.01 mg/kg): ~1 vial
- 5-day course (0.03 mg/kg): ~1 vial
- Repeat courses: +1 vial each
- Per injection: 1 syringe
- 10-day course: ~10 syringes
- 5-day course: ~5 syringes
Use 3.0 mL per 20 mg vial for reconstitution.
- Per course (1 vial): 3.0 mL → 1 bottle
- One 10 mL bottle covers several courses
One for the vial stopper + one for the injection site each day.
- Per injection: 2 swabs
- Per short course: ~10–20 swabs → 1 box
Protocol Overview
A concise summary of two short-course, weight-scaled model regimens transposed from preclinical literature.
- ▪Molecule: Cortagen — a synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP), a Khavinson-designed analog modeled on the bovine cortex extract Cortexin[1]. Sequence AEDP is distinct from Epitalon (AEDG).
- ▪Schedules: (A) 0.01 mg/kg/day × 10 days (rodent i.m. nerve-injury models); (B) 0.01–0.10 mg/kg/day × 5 days (mouse i.p. behavioral models)[4][5].
- ▪Dose Examples (70 kg model scaling): 0.70 mg/day (≈10.5 units) or 2.10 mg/day (≈31.5 units) at the 3.0 mL dilution.
- ▪Reconstitution: 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water per 20 mg vial gives 6.67 mg/mL (66.7 mcg per unit).
- ▪Storage: Lyophilized at −20 °C (−4 °F); reconstituted at 2–8 °C, protected from light; do not freeze.
Dosing Protocol
Weight-scaled calculations for your lab model, using the two cited short courses.
- ▪Daily Dose Formula: 0.01–0.03 mg/kg per the cited models; compute mg, then convert to units using 6.67 mg/mL (Units = mg ÷ 0.0667).
- ▪Frequency: Once daily for the selected course — 10 days (standard) or 5 days (advanced).
- ▪Route: Per the study you are modeling — published work used i.m. (10-day) and i.p. (5-day). Document the route used.
- ▪Timing: Dose at a consistent daily time; record weight, route and exact volume for reproducibility.
- ▪Caveat: These are raw mg/kg rodent figures without allometric scaling — a model educational example, not a validated human protocol.
Storage Instructions
Correct storage is what preserves the peptide’s stability and activity.
- ▪Lyophilized: Hold the dry vial at −20 °C (−4 °F) in dry, dark conditions and limit moisture exposure[7].
- ▪Reconstituted: Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F) and use within about 28 days; do not freeze the mixed solution, as freezing can denature peptides[8].
- ▪Handling: Let frozen vials warm to room temperature before opening so condensation won’t form, and keep the solution clear of heat and direct light.
- ▪Freeze–thaw: Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles of the reconstituted solution.
Important Notes
Practical points for safe, consistent administration in a research model — this page is educational only.
- ▪Sterile technique: Use a fresh sterile U-100 insulin syringe each time and drop it straight into a puncture-proof sharps container afterward.
- ▪Site rotation: Move between abdomen, thighs and upper arms to reduce local irritation and lipohypertrophy[9].
- ▪Slow injection: Push the plunger slowly and pause a few seconds before withdrawing the needle to prevent backflow.
- ▪Recordkeeping: Log the daily dose, injection site and any observations to keep the protocol consistent.
- ▪Regulatory note: Cortagen is an unapproved research compound — not approved by the FDA or EMA for any use, and not for human or veterinary administration. As an unlisted peptide it falls under WADA’s S0 catch-all (non-approved substances) for athletes[10].
How This Works
Cortagen is a synthetic ultrashort tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP). It was designed by the Khavinson group as a defined synthetic analog of Cortexin — a crude bovine brain-cortex polypeptide extract — and is studied as a putative bioregulator acting on the cerebral cortex and cortical neurons[1][7]. (Note that the AEDP sequence is distinct from Epitalon, which is AEDG.)
The proposed mechanism is a peptide-DNA gene-modulation model: the originating group hypothesizes that such short peptides bind regulatory regions of DNA and influence gene-expression programs and neuronal plasticity[8][9]. This is the originating laboratory’s hypothesis, not an independently validated mechanism — it should be read as a working model rather than established science.
The supporting evidence is preclinical: in-vitro work on cortical and induced neurons[7], and rodent nerve-injury and ischemia models[4][6]. Reported effects include modulation of transcriptional activity and support for neurite outgrowth in those models — outcomes that vary with dose, route and species.
Important — do not conflate Cortagen with Cortexin. Cortexin (the crude extract) carries a larger Russian clinical and registration footprint, but that footprint does not transfer to the synthetic Cortagen tetrapeptide. There is no Western human randomized controlled trial of Cortagen itself, and cognitive, neuroprotective or “brain-rejuvenation” benefits in healthy people are not established.
Cortagen is not an approved medicine. It is an unapproved research chemical presented here for research and educational purposes only; its benefits are unproven.
Lifestyle Factors
General habits commonly associated with cognitive and neurological health — supportive context only, not effects attributed to Cortagen.
- ▪Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep, which supports memory consolidation and normal brain function.
- ▪Nutrition: A balanced diet with adequate protein and omega-3 fatty acids supports general neurological health.
- ▪Cognitive activity: Regular mental engagement and physical exercise are broadly associated with cognitive maintenance.
- ▪Stress: Manage stress with evidence-based practices, since chronic stress affects cognition and mood.
Potential Benefits & Side Effects
What the preclinical literature describes for the Cortagen tetrapeptide. These are not clinical claims — there is no completed human trial of Cortagen, and the figures are model-based.
Reported in Preclinical Models
- ▪Nerve regeneration (rodent): Improved nerve-regeneration metrics in rat sciatic-injury models at 0.01 mg/kg over a 10-day course[4].
- ▪Behavioral modulation (mouse): Dose-dependent behavioral effects in mice within the 0.01–0.10 mg/kg i.p. range over 5-day courses[5].
- ▪Cell-level activity (in vitro): Reported modulation of gene-expression activity and neurite outgrowth in cultured cortical/induced neurons[7] — mechanism proposed, not validated.
- ▪Note on humans: These outcomes are not established in humans; there is no Western RCT of the Cortagen tetrapeptide, and Cortexin’s clinical data do not transfer to it.
Safety & Unknowns
- ▪Limited adverse-effect data: Tolerability and adverse-event data for Cortagen are sparse; use standard lab safety and monitor per protocol.
- ▪Injection-site reactions: Mild redness, tenderness or soreness can occur; rotating sites helps.
- ▪Unknown long-term/human profile: No human safety dataset exists for the Cortagen tetrapeptide, so caution is warranted.
- ▪Regulatory status: Unapproved by FDA/EMA; falls under WADA S0 for athletes.
Injection Technique
General subcutaneous (SC) technique, following established clinical best-practice guidance. Note that the cited Cortagen studies used intramuscular (10-day) and intraperitoneal (5-day) routes in animals — confirm and document the route appropriate to the model you are reproducing[14][15].
Pre-Injection Preparation
- ▪Wash your hands well with soap and water.
- ▪Wipe the vial stopper with an alcohol swab and let it air-dry.
- ▪Choose a site (abdomen, thigh, or upper arm) and clean it with a fresh alcohol swab, letting it dry fully[15].
- ▪Draw the intended dose, then check for air bubbles and push any out.
Injection Procedure
- ▪Pinch a skinfold at the chosen site between thumb and forefinger.
- ▪Insert the needle into the pinch at a 45–90-degree angle (use 45 degrees if the fat layer is thin)[14].
- ▪Skip aspiration for subcutaneous shots — it isn’t needed[14].
- ▪Press the plunger slowly and steadily until it’s fully down.
- ▪Wait 5–10 seconds, then pull the needle straight out to prevent leakage.
Post-Injection Care
- ▪Drop the used syringe straight into a puncture-proof sharps container — never recap a needle.
- ▪Return the reconstituted vial to the fridge right away.
- ▪Rotate the injection site each day to prevent irritation and lipohypertrophy[9].
- ▪Watch the site for excess redness, swelling, or signs of infection.
Recommended Source
For high-purity research peptides and supplies, we point researchers to Prime Lab Peptides. Note: Cortagen is a niche bioregulator and may not be listed; check current availability directly with the supplier.
Why Prime Lab Peptides?
- ▪Top-rated on Trustpilot: Independently reviewed as the highest-rated peptide lab on Trustpilot — making it the best current source in the USA.
- ▪Third-party tested: Every batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirming purity and composition.
- ▪Consistent quality: ISO-aligned manufacturing and handling keep product integrity reliable batch to batch.
- ▪Cold-chain integrity: Temperature-controlled shipping and storage across the whole fulfilment chain.
- ▪Research-grade purity: Fit for educational and research use that demands high-quality peptides.
Note: Product availability and specifications subject to change. Verify current product details on supplier website.
References
- 1
Cortexin / Cortagen backgroundKhavinson-line short peptide bioregulators — synthetic AEDP tetrapeptide modeled on the bovine cortex extract Cortexin.
- 2
Allometric scaling (FDA guidance)Estimating a safe starting dose — why raw mg/kg animal doses must be scaled, not transposed directly to other species.
- 3
Interspecies dose conversionReardon et al. — human equivalent dose calculation from animal studies (body-surface-area scaling).
- 4
Turchaninova LN et al. (2000)Cortagen 0.01 mg/kg i.m. over ~10 days in a rat sciatic-nerve regeneration model.
- 5
Adriani W et al. (2009), Bentham OpenCortagen 0.01–0.10 mg/kg i.p. once daily for 5 days — dose-dependent behavioral effects in mice.
- 6
Kurkin DV et al. (2021), PMCNeuroprotective action of peptide drugs — context for the Cortexin/Cortagen line in ischemia models.
- 7
Kraskovskaya N et al. (2024), MDPI/PMCUltrashort peptides protect induced cortical neurons in vitro — cell-level evidence.
- 8
Khavinson VK et al. (2020)EDR / short-peptide gene-expression mechanisms — the proposed peptide-DNA modulation hypothesis.
- 9
Anisimov SV et al. (2004), PubMedCortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) and gene expression — originating-group transcriptional data.
- 10
WADA Prohibited ListNon-approved substances fall under class S0; Cortagen is unapproved by FDA/EMA for any use.
- 11
Caputi S et al. (2019), PMCShort peptides and neuronal differentiation — supporting in-vitro context.
- 12
Khavinson VK et al. (2016 review)Short peptides regulate gene expression — mechanistic review (preclinical).
- 13
ClinicalTrials.govSearch for registered human trials of the Cortagen tetrapeptide — none completed in the Western registry.
- 14
Peptide handling & storage guidanceGenScript peptide handling — reconstitution, storage, and freeze-thaw best practice.
- 15
Subcutaneous Injection TechniqueGeneral patient-education guidance on aseptic SC injection technique.
- 16
Cortexin clinical context (do not transfer)Dose-dependent effects of Cortexin in chronic cerebral ischemia — clinical data for the extract, NOT the Cortagen tetrapeptide.
Cortagen — frequently asked questions
How do I reconstitute a 20 mg vial of Cortagen?
Wipe the stopper with an alcohol swab, then inject your bacteriostatic water slowly down the inside wall of the vial. Let it sit and gently swirl until dissolved — never shake. Store the mixed vial in the refrigerator and draw doses with an insulin syringe. Use the calculator above to turn any dose into syringe units.
How much bacteriostatic water should I add to Cortagen?
There is no single correct amount — more water simply spreads the same 20 mg of peptide across a larger volume, which makes small doses easier to measure accurately. 1 to 3 mL per vial is typical. Enter your chosen volume in the calculator above to see the resulting concentration and syringe units.
What do the "units" on an insulin syringe mean?
On a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units equal 1 mL, so 1 unit equals 0.01 mL. The calculator above converts your draw volume into these units automatically so you can measure without doing the math by hand.
How should I store Cortagen after mixing?
Keep the reconstituted vial refrigerated at roughly 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, away from light, and avoid freezing it. Reconstituted research peptides are generally used within a few weeks. Always follow the specific guidance supplied with your product.
How many doses does a 20 mg vial of Cortagen provide?
Divide the vial strength of 20 mg by the amount you use per injection. The calculator above reports this as "doses per vial" the moment you enter a dose.
Is Cortagen approved for human use?
No. Cortagen is sold strictly for laboratory and research purposes and is not approved by the FDA or other regulators for human use. Everything on this page is research information, not medical advice — consult a licensed healthcare professional before any use.
New protocols & dosing updates
Reconstitution charts, new peptide protocols and safety updates — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.