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PeptideLimited humanNot FDA approved

Vilon

Lys-Glu dipeptide

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · 20 sources · Written for general readers · Compare with another compound →

The bottom line

Vilon is a two amino acid peptide from the Khavinson group in St. Petersburg, sold online for immunity and anti aging. Nearly all of its research is cell and rodent work from that group, and the few human reports are small Russian studies in diabetes and cancer that give no clear patient numbers.[1][2] There is no good proof that it boosts immunity, slows aging or prevents cancer in people.

Where the evidence stands

What it is

Vilon is a synthetic peptide made of just two amino acids, lysine and glutamic acid, described as an immune modulator.[3] PubChem lists this dipeptide with the formula C11H21N3O5.[4]

It was developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and is one of the most studied peptides in the Khavinson group's program.[5] Russian papers often call it a thymomimetic, meaning a drug meant to copy the effects of the thymus, the gland where key immune cells mature.[1]

Name
Vilon (Lys-Glu dipeptide)
Other names
KE, lysyl glutamic acid
Type
Peptide
Sequence
KE
Formula
C11H21N3O5
Molecular weight
About 275.3 g/mol

How it works

The group says Vilon acts on genes in immune cells and in aging cells.

  • The group reports that Vilon changes activity of the IL2 gene, which helps control immune cells.[5]
  • Its review says Vilon changed the activity of 36 genes, and computer models suggest it can bind DNA.[6]
  • In a human immune cell line from Italy, run with Khavinson as a coauthor, Vilon turned on a signal called STAT1 and lowered the inflammation signals IL6 and TNF after a bacterial toxin.[3]
  • In blood cells from older adults grown in a dish, Vilon loosened tightly packed DNA and reactivated genes that had gone quiet with age.[7]
  • In aging human skin cells in a dish, KE lowered inflammation signals and raised sirtuin 6, a protein tied to DNA repair.[8]
  • In aging human stem cells in a dish, the group reported that KE changed genes tied to DNA repair and aging, such as SIRT1 and PARP1.[9]

These mechanisms come from lab work tied to the developer and are not proven in the body.

What the research shows

We keep animal and human evidence apart. A result in animals is a reason to study something in people, not proof that it works in people.

Animal and lab studies

Many rodent studies, with mixed tumor results

  • In female mice given Vilon from young adulthood, the group reported more activity, longer life and fewer spontaneous tumors.[10]
  • In rats given a chemical that causes bladder tumors, tumors appeared in 56% of rats on Vilon versus 75.5% of untreated rats, and early precancer changes were halved.[11]
  • In mice given a different cancer causing chemical, tumors appeared in 14.3% of treated mice that lived long enough versus 60% of controls.[12]
  • In mice with lung tumors, Vilon alone improved survival, but adding it to the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide lowered survival.[13]
  • In mice bred to get breast cancer, Vilon did not slow tumors the way its sister peptide Epitalon did.[14]
  • In old male rats, the group reported better sexual function and lower blood prolactin, a hormone that can dampen sex drive, but gave no numbers.[15]

Limit: The animal work is mostly from one network of labs, often with small or unreported group sizes, and has not been independently repeated.

Human studies

A few small Russian reports, none clearly described

  • In people with type 1 diabetes of different ages, Vilon added to usual treatment was reported to reduce or remove a dangerous pattern of abnormal blood clotting. The effect was weaker in older people with severe disease. PubMed lists it as a randomized trial, but the summary gives no patient numbers or length.[1]
  • In older people with diabetes, a related report said Vilon raised the body's natural clot blockers, helped break down clots, lowered the insulin dose needed in most cases, and shifted immune cell counts. No numbers are given.[16]
  • In older people with stage 3 colon or rectal cancer, an early report added Vilon to standard surgery and other treatment. The authors said it may improve two year survival and cut complications and relapse, but called the results preliminary and gave no numbers in the summary.[2]
  • A 2013 review by Khavinson and colleagues summarizes their clinical studies of seven peptide drugs, including Vilon, but its summary gives no trial sizes or results for Vilon.[17]
  • Some studies used blood cells taken from people and treated in a dish, which is not the same as people taking it. In cells from patients with an inherited thick heart muscle disease, Epitalon lowered chromosome damage more than Vilon did.[18]
  • None of the human summaries we found describe side effects, and we found no independent or Western trials.

Limit: These are small, hard to check studies in a few Russian journals, so they cannot show that Vilon works or is safe.

Claims check

The most common claims about this compound, and what studies actually found. Verdicts rate the evidence, not whether you should use it.

Strengthens the immune system

Mixed results

In older people with diabetes, Vilon added to usual care was reported to shift immune cell counts and normalize antibody levels, but the report gives no patient numbers.[16] Lab work found lower inflammation signals in a human immune cell line.[3] No study has shown fewer infections or less illness in people who took it.

Slows aging and extends life

Only in animals

Female mice given Vilon lived longer and stayed more active in a study by the developer's group.[10] In blood cells from older adults treated in a dish, it reactivated genes silenced with age.[7] No study has measured aging or lifespan in people taking it.

Prevents cancer

Only in animals

Rodent results go both ways. It cut chemically caused bladder and other tumors in rats and mice,[11][12] but did not slow breast tumors in mice bred to get them, and it lowered survival when added to chemotherapy in mice.[14][13] The only human report was in people who already had cancer and was preliminary.[2]

Improves skin and collagen

Only in animals

In aging human skin cells grown in a dish, KE lowered inflammation signals and raised sirtuin 6. In the same study, the clearer collagen gain came from a different peptide, AED.[8] No study has tested Vilon on skin in animals or people.

Helps control diabetes

Mixed results

One small Russian report said older people with diabetes needed less insulin in most cases when Vilon was added to their treatment, with no numbers given.[16] Another reported less abnormal clotting in type 1 diabetes.[1] Neither summary describes a placebo group, and blood sugar results are not reported.

Boosts sex drive in men

Only in animals

In old male rats, the group reported better sexual function and lower prolactin, without numbers.[15] No study has tested this in people.

Known risks and side effects

  • Unregulated products. It is sold online outside pharmacies with no FDA review, so what is in the vial or capsule, how pure it is, and how much it holds are unknown.[19]
  • May clash with cancer drugs. In mice, adding Vilon to a chemotherapy drug lowered survival compared with Vilon alone.[13]
  • Mixed tumor results. Mouse results on tumors went both ways, so its effect on cancer risk is unclear.[10][14]
  • Unknown side effects in people. The few human reports do not describe side effects or how many people took part, so its safety in people is not known.[1][16]
  • Banned in sport. WADA bans unapproved drugs at all times, in and out of competition.[20]

Regulatory status

Today: It is not approved by the FDA for any use. It is not named on FDA's list of risky bulk substances for compounding as updated April 22, 2026.[19] WADA bans at all times any drug not approved by a government health agency for human use, so athletes should treat it as banned unless their anti doping agency says otherwise.[20]

Sources

  1. Kuznik BI, Kolesnichenko LR, Kliuchereva NN, Pinelis IuI, Ryzhak GA, Khamaeva TsB. [Effect of thymomimetic vilon on blood coagulation system and fibrinolisis in diabetes mellitus type 1 patients of different age]. Adv Gerontol. 2006;19:107-15. PMID 17152731
  2. Ias'kevich LS, Krutilina NI, Kostetskaia TV, Ryzhak GA, Khavinson VKh. [Application of peptide bioregulator in complex treatment of elderly cancer patients]. Adv Gerontol. 2005;16:97-100. PMID 16075684
  3. Avolio F, Martinotti S, Khavinson VK, Esposito JE, Giambuzzi G, Marino A, Mironova E, Pulcini R, Robuffo I, Bologna G, Simeone P, Lanuti P, Guarnieri S, Trofimova S, Procopio AD, Toniato E. Peptides Regulating Proliferative Activity and Inflammatory Pathways in the Monocyte/Macrophage THP-1 Cell Line. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(7):3607. PMID 35408963
  4. PubChem. Lys-Glu, Compound CID 7010502. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem CID 7010502
  5. Khavinson VKh, Lin'kova NS, Tarnovskaya SI. Short Peptides Regulate Gene Expression. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2016;162(2):288-292. PMID 27909961
  6. Khavinson VK, Popovich IG, Linkova NS, Mironova ES, Ilina AR. Peptide Regulation of Gene Expression: A Systematic Review. Molecules. 2021;26(22):7053. PMC8619776
  7. Lezhava T, Khavinson V, Monaselidze J, et al. Bioregulator Vilon-induced reactivation of chromatin in cultured lymphocytes from old people. Biogerontology. 2004;5(2):73-9. PMID 15105581
  8. Fridman NV, Linkova NS, Kozhevnikova EO, Gutop EO, Khavinson VKh. Comparison of the Effects of KE and AED Peptides on Functional Activity of Human Skin Fibroblasts during Their Replicative Aging. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2020;170(1):154-157. PMID 33231794
  9. Khavinson VK, Linkova NS, Ashapkin VV, Shilovsky GA, Borushko NV, Petukhov MG, Vanuyshin BF. [KE peptide regulates SIRT1, PARP1, PARP2 gene expression and protein synthesis in human mesenchymal stem cells aging]. Adv Gerontol. 2023;36(3):302-312. PMID 37782636
  10. Khavinson VK, Anisimov VN, Zavarzina NY, et al. Effect of vilon on biological age and lifespan in mice. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2000;130(7):687-90. PMID 11140587
  11. Pliss GB, Mel'nikov AS, Malinin VV, Khavinson VK. Inhibitory effect of peptide vilon on the development of induced rat urinary bladder tumors in rats. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2001;131(6):558-60. PMID 11586406
  12. Pliss GB, Mel'nikov AS, Malinin VV, Khavinson VKh. [The effect of vilon (Lys-Glu) on 1.2-dimethylhydrazine-induced neoplasia]. Vopr Onkol. 2005;51(4):466-9. PMID 16308980
  13. Barykina OP, Iuzhakov VV, Chalisova NI, Kvetnoi IM, Konovalov SS. [Combined effect of vilon and cyclophosphane on tumor transplants and lymphoid tissue explants in mice and rats of various age]. Adv Gerontol. 2003;12:128-31. PMID 14743610
  14. Alimova IN, Bashurin DA, Popovich IG, et al. [Effect of Epitalon and Vilon treatment on mammary carcinogenesis in transgenic erbB-2/NEU mice]. Vopr Onkol. 2002;48(1):57-60. PMID 12101568
  15. Kudriavtseva TA, Zaichenko IN, Efremov OM, Bairamov AA, Grigor'ev EI, Ryzhak GA. [Effect of vilon on neuroendocrine status and sexual function of old male rats]. Adv Gerontol. 2006;19:97-101. PMID 17152729
  16. Kuznik BI, Isakova NV, Kliuchereva NN, Maleeva NV, Pinelis IS. [Effect of vilon on the immunity status and coagulation hemostasis in patients of different age with diabetes mellitus]. Adv Gerontol. 2007;20(2):106-15. PMID 18306698
  17. Khavinson VKh, Kuznik BI, Ryzhak GA. [Peptide bioregulators: the new class of geroprotectors. Message 2. Clinical studies results]. Adv Gerontol. 2013;26(1):20-37. PMID 24003726
  18. Dzhokhadze TA, Buadze TZh, Gaiozishvili MN, Rogava MA, Lazhava TA. [Functional regulation of genome with peptide bioregulators by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (by patients and relatives)]. Georgian Med News. 2013;(225):94-7. PMID 24423684
  19. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. Content current as of April 22, 2026. FDA
  20. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List, World Anti-Doping Code International Standard. In force January 1, 2026. WADA 2026
Medical disclaimer

This page is educational information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace care from a licensed medical provider. Do not use this page to decide whether to take any substance. Talk to a licensed medical provider first.

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