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PeptideLimited humanNot FDA approved

Pancragen

Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp tetrapeptide

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · 18 sources · Written for general readers · Compare with another compound →

The bottom line

Pancragen is a four amino acid peptide from the Khavinson group, sold online for the pancreas and blood sugar. It lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats and in a few old monkeys, and one small study in older adults with type 2 diabetes reported better sugar control.[1][2][3] The developers' patent describes a small placebo comparison in 36 people with diabetes, but it was never published in a journal, and all of this comes from one research network.[4]

Where the evidence stands

What it is

Pancragen is the trade name for KEDW, a chain of four amino acids: lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and tryptophan. The group describes it as a copy of peptides that boost insulin release.[5] It comes from the short peptide program of Vladimir Khavinson in St. Petersburg. A dish study from the group names Pancragen as KEDW directly.[13]

Some of the group's papers test a slightly changed form with an amide cap on one end, so products and studies may not use the exact same molecule.[8][10]

Name
Pancragen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp tetrapeptide)
Other names
KEDW, lysyl glutamyl aspartyl tryptophan
Type
Peptide
Sequence
KEDW

What it does in the body

Pancragen is a lab made chain of four amino acids, lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and tryptophan, which its developers describe as a copy of peptides that boost insulin release.[5] It is not a known hormone and has no known receptor. The group says it acts on genes that help pancreas cells mature, which has been shown only in cells in a dish.[6]

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.

Blood sugar and insulin

Measured in people

In 33 older adults with type 2 diabetes, those given Pancragen had lower fasting blood sugar, lower sugar during a sugar drink test, lower insulin and a lower insulin resistance score, while untreated patients did not change.[3] In a study of nine old female monkeys, the five given Pancragen had lower resting sugar and had insulin and C peptide, a marker of the body's own insulin output, brought back toward normal over 10 days, while the other four got a diabetes pill instead.[2] The human study gives no group sizes for treated and untreated patients and had no placebo.[3] In the developers' patent, insulin needs fell in 8 of 16 insulin users given the amide capped form, versus none of 16 given salt water.[4]

Pancreas

Lab finding

In aging cultures of pancreas cells, KEDW raised master genes such as PDX1 that guide cells to become insulin making cells, and changed the chemical tags on their DNA that switch genes on and off.[6][7] In aged pancreas cells it raised growth markers and lowered p53, a protein linked to cell aging.[8] In pancreas tissue from young and old rats grown in a dish, it boosted tissue growth.[9]

Heart and blood vessels

Seen in animals

In rats with chemically caused diabetes, Pancragen given by injection made the walls of small blood vessels less sticky but did not change how leaky they were.[1]

Sleep

Measured in people

In the same human study, people with type 2 diabetes made about 70% less of the sleep hormone melatonin at night than healthy people of the same age. The authors linked low melatonin to insulin resistance, but the summary does not say whether Pancragen changed melatonin.[3]

Energy and cells

Seen in animals

In diabetic rats, a slightly changed form with an amide cap changed a set of markers of cell death, according to a short summary with no numbers.[10] Computer models predict KEDW can sit in the grooves of the DNA spiral, and in test tubes it bound histones, the proteins DNA wraps around.[5][11]

How it works

The group says Pancragen switches on genes that help pancreas cells mature.

  • Computer models predict KEDW can sit in both grooves of the DNA spiral, with a likely binding site in a short DNA stretch.[5]
  • In test tube work, KEDW and related peptides bound histones, the proteins DNA wraps around.[11]
  • In pancreas cells from young and aged cultures grown in a dish, it raised master genes that guide cells to become insulin making or digestive enzyme making cells.[6]
  • In aging human pancreas cell cultures, KEDW changed DNA methylation, chemical tags that switch genes off, at the PDX1, PAX6 and NGN3 genes, and these changes tracked with gene activity.[7]
  • In a dish study of human embryo pancreas and airway cells and prostate fibroblasts, KEDW raised maturity markers in the pancreas cells, with a stronger effect in aged cultures.[13] A 2020 review by the group lists KEDW among peptides that steer lung and pancreas cell maturity.[14]
  • In aged human pancreas cells in a dish, it raised markers of cell growth and lowered p53, a protein linked to cell aging.[8]

This is a lab based theory from the developer's group and has not been confirmed by others.

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

Lower blood sugar in diabetic rats and old monkeys

  • In rats with chemically caused diabetes, Pancragen by mouth clearly lowered blood sugar during treatment. Given by injection, it made small blood vessel walls less sticky but did not change how leaky they were.[1]
  • In nine old female rhesus monkeys aged 20 to 25 years, five got Pancragen by muscle injection and four got the diabetes pill glimepiride for 10 days. Both lowered resting blood sugar. Pancragen brought insulin back toward normal, while glimepiride lowered sugar more strongly.[2]
  • In old monkeys, 10 days of Pancragen sped up how fast sugar left the blood after a sugar drink and normalized insulin, and the effect partly lasted three weeks after stopping.[12]
  • In the developers' patent, 21 rats with diabetes caused by the chemical alloxan were split into treated and untreated groups. Blood sugar was about 38% lower with the amide capped form, and by day 84, 36.4% of treated rats had died versus 70% of untreated rats.[4]
  • In diabetic rats, the amide capped form changed a set of markers of cell death, according to a short summary with no numbers.[10]
  • In pancreas tissue from 3 week old and 18 month old rats grown in a dish, Pancragen boosted tissue growth, as did sister peptides in their own tissues.[9]
  • Pancreas cell culture studies from the group reported more signs of cell maturity, with bigger effects in aged cultures.[6]

Limit: The animal studies are small, from the developer's network, and have not been repeated by outside teams.

Human studies

One small journal study and one patent report

  • A 2011 study looked at 30 healthy older adults and 33 older adults with type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes made about 70% less of the sleep hormone melatonin at night than healthy people of the same age.[3]
  • In the diabetes patients who got Pancragen, fasting blood sugar, sugar tolerance test results, insulin and insulin resistance went down, while untreated patients showed no change.[3]
  • The summary does not say how patients were split into groups, how long treatment lasted, how it was given, whether there was a placebo, whether melatonin changed, or whether any side effects occurred.[3]
  • The developers' US patent describes 36 people aged 16 to 83 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, 20 given the amide capped form and 16 given salt water as a placebo, on top of usual care. Among insulin users, insulin needs fell in 8 of 16 treated people and none of 16 on placebo, and rose in 2 versus 14.[4]
  • The patent does not describe blinding, gives few blood sugar results beyond a few case reports, and lists no side effects. Patent data are not checked by outside experts the way journal articles are.[4]
  • Other human work used pancreas cells grown in a dish, which is not the same as people taking it.[7]
  • We found no placebo controlled trial published in a journal.

Limit: One small journal study and one unpublished patent report, both from the developer's network, are not enough to show it works or is safe for diabetes.

Claims check

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

Lowers blood sugar in diabetes

Mixed results

In one study of 33 older adults with type 2 diabetes, those given Pancragen had lower fasting sugar and better sugar tolerance, while untreated patients did not change. The summary gives no group sizes, length or placebo.[3] In nine old monkeys, a standard diabetes pill lowered sugar more strongly.[2] The developers' patent reports a small placebo comparison with fewer insulin users needing more insulin, but it was never published in a journal.[4]

Improves insulin sensitivity

Mixed results

The same small human study reported lower insulin and a lower insulin resistance score in treated patients.[3] In old monkeys, it normalized insulin after a sugar drink.[12] No controlled trial has confirmed this.

Regenerates the pancreas

Only in animals

In pancreas cells grown in a dish, it raised genes that guide cells to become insulin making cells, and raised growth markers in aged cells.[6][8] No study has shown new pancreas tissue in animals or people.

Reverses pancreas aging

Only in animals

Old monkeys cleared sugar faster after 10 days of treatment, and aged pancreas cells in a dish showed fewer signs of aging.[12][8] These are small studies from one group.

Helps with weight loss

Not tested

No study has tested Pancragen for weight loss. The one human study measured blood sugar, insulin and melatonin, not weight.[3]

Improves digestion

Not tested

Pancragen is sold for the digestive role of the pancreas, but the published work measured blood sugar, insulin and cell markers, not digestive enzymes or digestion.[6][3]

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.[15]
  • Blood sugar effects. It lowered blood sugar in rats and monkeys, so in theory it could add to diabetes medicines and push sugar too low. This has not been studied.[1][2]
  • Side effects unknown. The journal study does not report side effects, and the patent calls the peptide non toxic without showing the data, so how often problems occur is unknown.[3][4]
  • Not a diabetes treatment. The only human study was small and poorly described, so people with diabetes should not swap proven medicine for it.[3]
  • Banned in sport. WADA bans unapproved drugs at all times, in and out of competition, and keeps that rule in its 2027 list.[16][17]

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.[15][18] WADA does not name Pancragen, 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.[16][17]

Sources

  1. Khavinson VKh, Gavrisheva NA, Malinin VV, Chefu SG, Trofimov EL. Effect of pancragen on blood glucose level, capillary permeability and adhesion in rats with experimental diabetes mellitus. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2007;144(4):559-62. PMID 18642713
  2. Goncharova ND, Ivanova LG, Oganyan TE, Vengerin AA, Khavinson VK. [Correction of impaired glucose tolerance using tetrapeptide (Pancragen) in old female rhesus monkeys]. Adv Gerontol. 2015;28(3):579-585. PMID 28509500
  3. Korkushko OV, Khavinson VKh, Shatilo VB, Antonyk-Sheglova IA, Bondarenko EV. Prospects of using pancragen for correction of metabolic disorders in elderly people. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2011;151(4):454-6. PMID 22448364
  4. Khavinson VKh, Malinin VV, Grigoriev EI, Ryzhak GA. Tetrapeptide regulating blood glucose level in diabetes mellitus. US Patent 7,491,703 B2. Granted February 17, 2009. US Patent 7491703
  5. Tarnovskaya SI, Yakutseni PP, Khavinson VKh. Study of interactions between DNA and tetrapeptides using methods of molecular mechanics. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2014;156(5):689-93. PMID 24770759
  6. Khavinson VKh, Durnova AO, Polyakova VO, Tolibova GH, Linkova NS, Kvetnoy IM, Kvetnaia TV, Tarnovskaya SI. Effects of pancragen on the differentiation of pancreatic cells during their ageing. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2013;154(4):501-4. PMID 23486591
  7. Ashapkin VV, Linkova NS, Khavinson VKh, Vanyushin BF. Epigenetic mechanisms of peptidergic regulation of gene expression during aging of human cells. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2015;80(3):310-22. PMID 25761685
  8. Khavinson VKh, Sevost'ianova NN, Durnova AO, Lin'kova NS, Tarnovskaia SI, Dudkov AV, Kvetnaia TV. [Tetrapeptide stimulates functional activity of the pancreatic cells in aging]. Adv Gerontol. 2012;25(4):680-4. PMID 23734516
  9. Zakutskii AN, Chalisova NI, Ryzhak GA, Aniskina AI, Filippov SV, Zeziulin PN. [The tissue-specific effect of synthetic peptides-biologic regulators in organotypic tissues culture in young and old rats]. Adv Gerontol. 2006;19:93-6. PMID 17152728
  10. Khavinson VKh, Gapparov MM, Sharanova NE, Vasilyev AV, Ryzhak GA. Study of biological activity of Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2 endogenous tetrapeptide. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2010;149(3):351-3. PMID 21246099
  11. Fedoreyeva LI, Smirnova TA, Kolomijtseva GYa, Khavinson VKh, Vanyushin BF. Interaction of short peptides with FITC-labeled wheat histones and their complexes with deoxyribooligonucleotides. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2013;78(2):166-75. PMID 23581987
  12. Goncharova ND, Ivanova LG, Oganian TE, Vengerin AA, Khavinson VKh. [Impact of tetrapeptide pancragen on endocrine function of the pancreas in old monkeys]. Adv Gerontol. 2014;27(4):662-7. PMID 25946840
  13. Khavinson VKh, Linkova NS, Polyakova VO, Kheifets OV, Tarnovskaya SI, Kvetnoy IM. Peptides tissue-specifically stimulate cell differentiation during their aging. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2012;153(1):148-51. PMID 22808515
  14. Khavinson V, Linkova N, Diatlova A, Trofimova S. Peptide Regulation of Cell Differentiation. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2020;16(1):118-125. PMID 31808038
  15. 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
  16. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List, World Anti-Doping Code International Standard. In force January 1, 2026. WADA 2026
  17. World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2027. In force January 1, 2027. WADA 2027
  18. 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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