What Types of Peptide Bioregulators Exist?

Peptide bioregulators as a therapeutic concept were developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson (that's why they are referred to as Khavinson Peptides) and colleagues, initially in the Research Laboratory of Bioregulators of the S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy and later at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Over several decades this group isolated organ‑specific peptide complexes from animal tissues and also created synthetic short peptides with defined sequences based on these natural regulators. You can read more here.​

Many peptide bioregulator formulations, including individual short peptides and organ‑specific complexes, are protected by Russian and international patents held by Khavinson and collaborating organizations (the Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, PeptideBio, and others). According to the Institute, more than 100 patents cover different peptide substances, compositions, and methods of obtaining tissue‑specific peptides, and several of these preparations have been registered as medicinal products in Russia.

Natural peptide bioregulators are extracted from animal organs and tissues. They closely resemble the body’s own regulatory molecules, allowing tissue-specific effects such as stimulating protein synthesis in the same organs from which they are derived. They may have a delayed but potentially longer‑lasting effect.

Synthetic peptides are lab-designed molecules modeled after natural peptides. They are shorter fragments, often derived from plant amino acids, and engineered to replicate natural activity. They act faster (effects in 2–3 days) but are shorter in duration.

We have a full PDF guide on these different types of bioregulators available in the Resources section.

Clinical data consist mainly of small, often single‑center studies in older adults or patients with chronic cardiovascular, immune, or neurodegenerative diseases receiving courses of organ‑specific peptide preparations. Some reports suggest improved functional scores, reduced incidence of certain age‑related conditions, and modest increases in survival over several years of follow‑up, but these studies frequently lack contemporary design features such as randomization, blinding, and rigorous endpoint adjudication.​

Because of these limitations, peptide bioregulators should currently be considered experimental geroprotective and organ‑support therapies with promising but not yet conclusively proven clinical benefits. Future research needs include large randomized controlled trials, standardized outcome measures, and independent replication of key findings outside the original research groups.

Peptide bioregulators represent a diverse class of molecules with potential organ-specific, geroprotective, and systemic effects. Preclinical and small clinical studies suggest benefits such as enhanced protein synthesis, immune modulation, and improved tissue resilience, but large, high-quality clinical trials are still needed to confirm these effects. Overall, peptide bioregulators are gaining popularity, are generally considered safe when used as directed, and continue to be an active area of research in biogerontology and therapeutic development. Read more about peptide bioregulators in the article Peptide Bioregulators Under The Microscope: All You Need To Know.