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PeptideMostly animalNot FDA approved

Crystagen

Glu-Asp-Pro tripeptide

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · 10 sources · Written for general readers · Compare with another compound →

The bottom line

Crystagen is a three amino acid peptide from the Khavinson group, sold online for the immune system. Published research is only a computer model, one short spleen report and one rat skin tissue study.[1][2][3] The developers' US patent on the same tripeptide reports animal tests and a small study of older patients, but this has never appeared in a peer reviewed journal.[4]

Where the evidence stands

What it is

Crystagen is the trade name for EDP, a chain of three amino acids: glutamic acid, aspartic acid and proline. The group's 2016 paper spells it Cristagen.[1] It comes from the short peptide program of Vladimir Khavinson in St. Petersburg.

It is one of the least studied peptides in this family. A 2012 rat skin study lists the lab code T-36 as Glu-Asp-Pro, which matches the sequence given in the 2016 paper, though that skin study does not use the name Crystagen.[3] A 2011 US patent from Khavinson's team covers the same tripeptide as an immune and anti aging substance, also without using the name.[4]

Name
Crystagen (Glu-Asp-Pro tripeptide)
Other names
Cristagen, EDP, T-36, glutamyl aspartyl proline
Type
Peptide
Sequence
EDP
Formula
C14H21N3O8
Molecular weight
About 359.3 g/mol

What it does in the body

Crystagen is a lab made chain of three amino acids, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and proline. It has no known receptor, and its developers' idea that it binds DNA and adjusts immune genes comes from a computer model.[1] A slightly different, amide capped form of the same three amino acids occurs naturally in rat testes, but that is not the molecule sold as Crystagen.[5]

This is the biology, area by area. A change measured in the body, like a higher blood level, does not always mean a person feels a benefit. The claims check below covers that.

Immune system

Measured in people

A 2014 Russian paper reported that Crystagen activated B cells, the immune cells that make antibodies, in aging spleen, but did not cause the cell renewal seen with Thymogen.[2] In the developers' patent, the same tripeptide made thymus and spleen tissue from 24 month old rats grow about 24% and 28% more in a dish. In 38 older patients given it with usual care, immune measures returned to normal in 82%, versus 56% of 32 patients on usual care alone, and the share of T cells in the blood rose from about 44% to 56%.[4] These patient results were never published in a journal.

Energy and cells

Lab finding

In the patent, blood cells from 95 people aged 75 to 88 grown in a dish showed about twice as many signs of loosened, more active DNA after the tripeptide was added.[4]

Skin and hair

Lab finding

In skin tissue from young rats grown in a dish, a tripeptide coded T-36, listed as Glu-Asp-Pro, boosted cell growth, as did three of four sister peptides. In skin from old rats, a different tripeptide had the clearest effect.[3]

Hormones

Seen in animals

A Spanish team found natural tripeptides of the form Glu, then another amino acid, then Pro with an amide cap in rat testes. Given under the skin to rats, the Glu-Asp-Pro amide version raised testosterone without changing the pituitary hormones LH or FSH.[5] This was the capped form, not plain EDP, and Crystagen is not sold for hormones.

How it works

The group's general idea is that very short peptides enter cells and change which genes are switched on.

  • Computer models from the group predict EDP binds a short stretch of DNA, the same spot predicted for another of its peptides, Vilon.[1]
  • The group's review describes this kind of DNA binding as a proposed shared mechanism for its peptides, not a proven fact.[6]

This is a computer based hypothesis from one group, with no direct tests of EDP's mechanism.

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

Two short lab reports and patent animal data

  • A 2014 Russian paper reported that Crystagen activated B cells, the immune cells that make antibodies, in aging spleen, but did not cause the cell renewal seen with Thymogen.[2]
  • Its English summary does not say whether the work was done in animals or in tissue in a dish, or how many samples were used.[2]
  • In skin tissue from young rats grown in a dish, T-36 boosted cell growth along with three of four related tripeptides, with no numbers given.[3]
  • In the developers' patent, 40 young rats exposed to radiation to cause early aging showed less thymus shrinking and more dividing thymus cells when given the tripeptide.[4]
  • The same patent reports no toxic effects in mice, in rats treated for 90 days, or in guinea pigs treated for six months, based on blood tests and organ exams.[4]
  • A related but different molecule, the amide capped Glu-Asp-Pro found in rat testes, raised testosterone when injected into rats. No one has tested whether plain EDP does this.[5]

Limit: Two brief journal reports and a patent from the developer's network, with no independent replication, cannot show an immune or skin benefit.

Human studies

No published trials, only a patent report

  • We found no clinical trials of Crystagen published in a journal.
  • The developers' US patent describes 38 patients aged 62 to 83 who got the tripeptide on top of usual care and 32 who got usual care alone. Immune measures normalized in 82% versus 56%. In treated patients, T cells rose from 43.5% to 55.7% of blood immune cells and T helper cells from 28.5% to 34.6%, while antibody making B cells did not change.[4]
  • The patent does not describe a placebo, blinding or how patients were assigned, and it reports no side effects. Patent data are not checked by outside experts the way journal articles are.[4]
  • The patent also used blood cells from 95 people aged 75 to 88 grown in a dish, which is not the same as people taking it.[4]

Limit: One unpublished, unblinded patient report from the developers cannot show that it helps immunity 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

One short Russian report found it activated antibody making B cells in aging spleen.[2] The developers' patent reports that immune measures normalized in 82% of 38 older patients given the tripeptide versus 56% of 32 on usual care, with no placebo or blinding described.[4] No peer reviewed human study exists.

Renews aging immune organs

Only in animals

The only journal study to look reported that Crystagen did not cause the spleen cell renewal seen with Thymogen.[2] The developers' patent, by contrast, reports more growth of old rat thymus and spleen tissue in a dish and less thymus shrinking in rats aged early by radiation.[4] The evidence is thin and conflicting.

Protects against infections

Not tested

No study has tested whether it prevents or shortens infections in animals or people. The only biological study of immunity looked at spleen immune cells.[2]

Slows aging

Not tested

No study has measured aging or lifespan with Crystagen. The anti aging idea rests on the group's general theory that short peptides adjust genes.[6]

Renews skin and tissue

Only in animals

In young rat skin tissue in a dish, T-36, listed as Glu-Asp-Pro, boosted cell growth, but it was not the peptide with the clearest effect in old rat skin.[3] No study has tested skin in living animals or 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.[7]
  • Almost no independent data. The developers reported no side effects in their patent's patient study and no toxic effects in animals, but no outside team has checked this, so real side effects are unknown.[4][2]
  • Identity hard to check. The name is spelled more than one way and only one paper links the name to the sequence, while the patent does not use the name at all, so a product label may not match what was studied.[1][2][4]
  • Banned in sport. WADA bans unapproved drugs at all times, in and out of competition, and keeps that rule in its 2027 list.[8][9]

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, or on FDA's list of substances nominated for pharmacy compounding as updated May 14, 2026.[7][10] WADA does not name Crystagen, but its 2026 list and its 2027 list, in force January 1, 2027, ban 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.[8][9]

Sources

  1. Khavinson VKh, Lin'kova NS, Tarnovskaya SI. Short Peptides Regulate Gene Expression. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2016;162(2):288-292. PMID 27909961
  2. Chervyakova NA, Linkova NS, Chalisova NI, Koncevaya EA, Trofimova SV, Khavinson VK. [Molecular aspects of immunoprotective activity of peptides in spleen during the ageing process]. Adv Gerontol. 2014;27(1):224-228. PMID 28976144
  3. Voicekhovskaya MA, Chalisova NI, Kontsevaya EA, Ryzhak GA. Effect of bioregulatory tripeptides on the culture of skin cells from young and old rats. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2012;152(3):357-9. PMID 22803085
  4. Khavinson VKh, Grigoriev EI, Malinin VV, Ryzhak GA. Peptide substance revealing an immunogeroprotective effect, pharmaceutical composition on its base and the method of its application. US Patent 8,057,810 B2. Granted November 15, 2011. US Patent 8057810
  5. Ruiz-Alcaraz AJ, Del Rio-Garcia J. Gonadins, a novel family of glutamyl-tripeptide amides present in the testis with activity in the hypophyseal-gonadal axis. Regul Pept. 2005;129(1-3):93-101. PMID 15927703
  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. 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
  8. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List, World Anti-Doping Code International Standard. In force January 1, 2026. WADA 2026
  9. World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2027. In force January 1, 2027. WADA 2027
  10. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Updated May 14, 2026. FDA 503A list
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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